Press contact: Lynn Whalen

SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College is accepting applications for free nursing and other health care training through the PATH (Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce) program. 

PATH, funded through an Illinois Community College Board grant, seeks to address the worker shortage in health care by removing financial or other barriers so individuals may train for nursing and health care careers. 

Free tuition, fees and books are provided to eligible students, along with a monthly stipend; rental, childcare and transportation assistance; a loaner laptop and Wi-Fi hotspot; and tutoring, job readiness and placement services. 

Eligible individuals must meet at least one of these criteria: low income, a first-generation college student (parent(s) did not complete a college degree), minority student, or incumbent worker (already employed in a health care career but needing training to advance). 

“PATH is committed to meeting the needs of students to lead them to a path of success,” said Roslyn Simmons-Lindsay, LLCC PATH program director. “We’re asking for help in spreading the word about this opportunity so eligible individuals can train for a steady, well-paying health care career.” 

In addition to three levels of nursing (CNA, LPN and RN), PATH covers training in central sterile service technician, ECG technician, emergency medical services (paramedic, A-EMT, EMT and EMR), exercise and sports science, massage therapy, medical assistant, medical coding, neurodiagnostic technology, occupational therapy assistant, phlebotomy, radiography, respiratory care, sonography and surgical technology. 

More information and a link to the PATH application are available at www.llcc.edu/path, by emailing PATH@llcc.edu or by calling 217-786-3440.