The need for certified nursing assistants is rising, and Enumclaw Health and Rehab is stepping up to fill that need.

Starting Monday, June 26, the Health and Rehab center is offering another round of free certified nurse training to anyone looking to start or change their career.

There’s a large need for certified nursing assistants both locally and around the nation, said Program Director Kathleen Michels.

“We’re always looking for CNAs. CNAs are a really fluid group, because they can get a job anywhere,” Michels said. “CNAs can work in a hospital, nursing home, assisted living, pretty much anywhere in health care.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment for nursing assistants will grow 11 percent between 2016 and 2026 for many reasons, including a large aging population and a predicted rise in adult dependency rates.

By 2030, it’s expected more than 20 percent of U.S. residents will be at least 65 years old, compared to the 13 percent in 2010 and less than 10 percent in 1970, a U.S. Census Bureau study states.

Whether or not there will be a rise in dependent adults by 2030 is controversial. According to a 2003 study published in the National Institute of Health, “we will see substantial increases in the incidence of institutionalization among the elderly.” However, another NIH study predicted adult dependency rates will improve between 1960 and 2030.

Michels said roughly 15 to 20 percent of residents at Health and Rehab require being lifted in order to help transport them, and all residents need 24/7 care.

The work is hard, “but people do this because this is the fun part of nursing,” Michels said. “With nursing, there’s a lot of technical stuff. With being a CNA, it’s not technical, it’s personal, hands-on care.”

The free CNA class starts June 26 and runs until July 24.

Theory and skills classes will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and clinical practice runs from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays; there are no classes on the weekend or holidays.

Class sizes are limited to 12 people total.

Call Michels at (509) 387-1621 or (360) 825-2541 for more information.