Colorado is facing a critical need for healthcare professionals, and the Care Forward Colorado Program is stepping up to address this challenge. This innovative initiative provides zero-cost, short-term training opportunities at community and technical colleges across the state, paving the way for individuals to quickly enter high-demand healthcare careers.
Even before recent global health events, Colorado’s healthcare sector was grappling with significant shortages in essential entry-level positions. The demand for healthcare professionals is projected to surge in the coming years. Reports indicate substantial growth for roles like phlebotomists (38%), pharmacy technicians (24%), and general healthcare support staff (16%) by 2023. Care Forward Colorado is strategically designed to revitalize the state’s healthcare workforce, offering accessible pathways to stable, well-paying careers for Coloradans.
How Care Forward Colorado Works: Your Pathway to a Healthcare Profession
Starting in Fall 2022, the Care Forward Colorado program makes healthcare training financially accessible. Eligible students enrolling in select healthcare certificate programs at participating colleges will have their tuition, fees, and course materials fully covered, as long as funding permits. This zero-cost opportunity removes financial barriers and allows aspiring healthcare professionals to gain the necessary skills for in-demand roles within a year or less.
The program supports training for a wide range of crucial healthcare professions, including:
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Phlebotomy Technician
- Pharmacy Technician
- Medical Assistant
- Dental Assistant
- Nurse Refresher
- Integrative Health Practitioner & Massage Therapy
- Sterile Processing Technician
- Paramedic Certificate
- Echocardiography Certificate
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Medical Office Certificate
- Practical Nursing
Participating Colleges and Program Variety
The Care Forward Colorado program is available at numerous community and technical colleges throughout Colorado. Each institution offers a variety of training programs within the Care Forward umbrella, with specific program availability and financial aid processes differing by college.
To explore the specific programs offered and learn more about enrollment at each college, please refer to the table below. You can click on the links provided for each college to visit their website and get detailed information on featured Care Forward Colorado programs.
| Certified Nursing Assistant | Emergency Medical Technician | Phlebotomy Technician | Pharmacy Technician | Medical Assistant | Dental Assistant | Nurse Refresher | Integrative Health Practitioner & Massage Therapy | Sterile Processing | Paramedic Certificate | Echocardiography Certificate | Medical Billing & Coding | Medical Office Certificate | Practical Nursing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aims Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
| Arapahoe Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||
| Colorado Mountain College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||
| CMU Tech | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
| Community College of Aurora | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
| Community College of Denver | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
| Emily Griffith Technical College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||||
| Front Range Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Lamar Community College | Yes | Yes | |||||||||||
| Morgan Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||||
| Northeastern Junior College | Yes | Yes | |||||||||||
| Otero College | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
| Pickens Technical College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||
| Pueblo Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||
| Red Rocks Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Technical College of the Rockies | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||||
| Trinidad State College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||||
| Certified Nursing Assistant | Emergency Medical Technician | Phlebotomy Technician | Pharmacy Technician | Medical Assistant | Dental Assistant | Nurse Refresher | Integrative Health Practitioner & Massage Therapy | Sterile Processing | Paramedic Certificate | Echocardiography Certificate | Medical Billing & Coding | Medical Office Certificate | Practical Nursing |
Connect with Care Forward Colorado for Employer Partnerships
The Colorado Community College System actively seeks partnerships with businesses and industries to enhance student success and meet the evolving workforce demands of Colorado communities. If your organization is interested in exploring partnership opportunities with Care Forward Colorado, or if you have any inquiries regarding the program, please reach out.
CONTACT US
The Backing Behind Care Forward Colorado
Care Forward Colorado is fully funded through Senate Bill 22-226, a dedicated allocation of $26 million in state recovery funds. This legislation, signed into law by Governor Polis in May, underscores Colorado’s commitment to strengthening its healthcare infrastructure by investing in the training of skilled healthcare professionals across the state. Senators Sonya Jacquez Lewis and Bob Rankin, along with Representative Kyle Mullica, championed this crucial bill.
