While many positions in a health care facility require certain schooling or certifications, there are jobs for workers of all education levels.

Hillary Harlan, chief compliance officer and vice president of professional services at the Butler Health System, said registered nurses and licensed practical nurses must attend a nursing program and receive their certifications and state licenses to work at Butler Memorial Hospital.

She said a high school diploma is required for nursing assistants and laboratory specimen processors at the hospital.

She said nursing assistants hired by the hospital may have no experience, minimal experience, or may be a certified nursing assistant.

While the hospital does not offer a nursing assistant certification program, all assistants that are hired are provided with education during an orientation week that includes lecture, hands-on demonstrations, and equipment and product training to ensure the success of each assistant.

New nursing assistants are followed for four weeks after orientation to set weekly goals and for observation of their progress, as well as to look for opportunities to improve the nursing assistant program, Harlan said.

Phlebotomists, or those who draw patients' blood, can be a high school graduate or G.E.D. holder who gained experience in a previous job or who completed a post-high school phlebotomy program.

Housekeeping candidates must have a high school diploma or G.E.D., Harlan said.

At Concordia Lutheran Ministries, all RNs and LPNs must be certified and hold a state license.

A high school diploma or G.E.D. is required for food service employees, nursing assistants and custodial workers, said Laurie Roy, vice president of human resources at Concordia.

Nursing assistants are trained and certified at Concordia.

Roy said nursing assistants and LPNs can apply for Concordia's tuition sponsorship program if they wish to attend a local program to become an LPN or RN at Concordia.

“That means we will pay their tuition and they sign a contract with us,” Roy said. “It's a great way to get your tuition covered.”

She said while Concordia partners with Butler County Community College, nursing assistants and LPNs can attend any accredited program in the area.

She said an LPN class at BC3 starts in January.

“We've got some employees in that program and in the RN program as well,” Roy said.