Lincoln Land to Launch CNA-to-CMA Bridge Program in Jacksonville

Lincoln Land Community College's Jacksonville campus will open registration for a CNA to Clinical Medical Assistant Bridge program that begins Jan. 26 and runs through April 13, 2026. Classes will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the curriculum includes a required 60-hour clinical externship at partner health care facilities. Upon successful completion, students will be eligible to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam administered by the National Healthcareer Association.

The program is targeted at certified nurse assistants seeking a pathway to higher credentialing without pausing employment or family responsibilities. The schedule—two half-day classroom sessions per week plus the externship—is designed to limit disruption to working CNAs while providing the clinical experience necessary to qualify for national certification.

For Morgan County, the new offering has immediate workforce implications. Local clinics and hospitals that provide externship placements will gain direct access to a pool of trainees familiar with regional patient needs, and employers may see a steadier pipeline of candidates qualified for expanded clinical roles. The bridge program also creates a local upskilling pathway that could reduce recruitment pressure on facilities that often compete for certified clinical staff across the region.

From an institutional perspective, the Jacksonville program strengthens Lincoln Land Community College's role in aligning vocational education with local labor market demand. The combination of classroom instruction, supervised clinical hours, and eligibility for a national credential reflects a model that can shorten the time between education and employability compared with longer training pipelines.

Residents considering career advancement in health care should evaluate how the program's timing and requirements fit their work schedules, and local employers that host externships can use the opportunity to build relationships with prospective hires. Contact Lincoln Land Community College-Jacksonville for registration and program details.

The rollout comes at a moment when many communities are weighing strategies to bolster the health care workforce. By offering a targeted bridge from CNA to CMA with a pathway to national certification, the Jacksonville campus is positioning local workers to move into clinical medical assistant roles while keeping training close to home.