Take the next step in your healthcare career
Free LPN training in as little as 13 months
Avamere, RISE Partnership, and SEIU 503 have partnered to support you in taking the next step in your career. Licensed CNAs are eligible for a free licensed practical nursing (LPN) education program through the Institute of Technology (IOT).
Participants are enrolled in 13 months of college– level courses through IOT. During this time, you can keep your current employment status with Avamere. This means that you retain your employer-based benefits. You also have one-on-one mentorship with a program mentor throughout the duration of the program.
Applications are now open!
The application window for the 2025 cohort is May 1-15. Please watch the video in its entirety. Once it’s finished, you’ll be invited to complete your application.
It is more than just a sponsorship
You have the opportunity to get a fully paid LPN certification through the Institute of Technology. You engage in hands-on college courses to prepare you for the next step in your nursing career.
This hybrid learning model with both in-person and online instruction is designed with you in mind. From start to finish, we provide you with the support you need to be successful.
During the program you are eligible for:
- One-on-one mentorship throughout the program
- Supplemental wage replacement
- Continued access to your workplace benefits
- Opportunities to apply for additional wraparound supports such as transportation reimbursement, childcare stipends, and technology support
Minimum qualifications to participate in our program
We are offering six participants a pathway to continue their healthcare education and get their licensed practical nursing (LPN) certification. Avamere employees must meet four minimum requirements to qualify and move on to the initial stage of the interview process.
Minimum Requirements:
- Licensed CNA in Oregon
- Employed by Avamere for at least one year
- No disciplinary action in the last 12 months
- Commit to completing 2 years of employment with Avamere upon completion of the program
Do you have questions about the LPN program?
If you have questions about our new licensed practical nurse (LPN) program, please email lpnprogram@risepartnership.com.
A member of our team will reply to your email shortly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the toggle indicators to see the answer to each Frequently Asked Question.
For ease of navigation, the FAQs have been organized into four sections:
- General Program Overview
- Education & Training
- Work & Time Commitment
- Application & Screening Process
General Program FAQs
What is the RISE LPN Program?
The RISE LPN Program provides no-cost education and guided support for CNAs to develop professional skills and advance their careers into an LPN position. The nursing education portion of the program is a mix of both online and in-person education and training on campus in Salem, Oregon over the course of 13-months. At the end of the program, you are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and receive an LPN license.
If you’re selected for the program, you will continue to work at your current Avamere facility while attending courses. To help make this transition easier, RISE and Avamere provide ongoing support, including reduced working hours with a supplemental stipend, meeting with a support coach, and funding for supplies and travel.
What are the minimum requirements to apply?
To participate in this program, you must:
- Have a valid CNA license in Oregon (Washington licensure and employment does not qualify for this program at this time.)
- Be a current Avamere employee, employed for at least 12 months
- Have no disciplinary action in the past 12 months
- Commit to working in an Avamere facility for 2 years upon completion of the program
Do I have to be a union member to apply?
No, you don’t have to be a member of SEIU 503 to be considered for this program.
How long is the program?
The program takes 13 months to complete. There are 5 terms that are 10 weeks each.
Start Date: Sept. 2, 2025
End Date: September 27, 2026
How many people will be accepted into the program?
Six participants will be accepted into the Fall 2025 cohort.
Alternate participants will be chosen to fill a position in the cohort if any of the original 6 participants need to leave the program. There is no guarantee that an alternate participant will have the opportunity to join the program.
Am I expected to work while going back to school?
Yes. IOT’s LPN class schedule allows for students to work while they are learning. As a participant of this program, you must maintain your current position at Avamere and continue to have satisfactory job performance. You continue to earn your regular employer-based benefits while you’re enrolled in the program.
Is this program challenging?
Yes. While this program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals, it is an accelerated program. This means that the education materials are taught at a faster and more challenging pace than traditional college-level courses.
We recommend that you consider the needs and obligations in your personal and professional lives, and your specific support needs (family care, transportation, study schedule, etc.) as you consider applying.
What support is currently available for this program?
RISE Partnership, Avamere, and SEIU 503 are committed to supporting you throughout the program.
Academic support is provided through IOT instructors and faculty, as well as Student Services.
Program support is provided through RISE Partnership and our partners, though your RISE support coach serves as your primary source of support for any needs you may have. They can direct you to additional forms of support as needed.
RISE partnership currently offers the following forms of support for participants:
- 1:1 weekly support coaching and program guidance
- Financial support for scrubs, shoes, and stethoscopes
- Financial support for laptops and additional study resources
- Wage replacement
- (16 hours/week for full-time)
- (8 hours/week for part-time)
- Travel reimbursement
- Lodging assistance
Education & Training FAQs
What school provides the education and training for the program?
Participants attend classes at the Institute of Technology (IOT) which offers a licensed practical nursing (LPN) program designed to meet the needs of today’s busy healthcare workers. Some of the instruction happens online and some happens in-person.
What does the acronym PN-IDL mean?
The acronym stands for practical nursing interactive distance learning. You may also see it referenced as “IDL.”
This type of learning is a blended mix of in-person and online classroom environments.
Where is the school located?
IOT is located at 3993 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE, Salem, OR 97302.
Their newly built facility features 5 classrooms, 3 labs, and a learning resource center.
Are prerequisites included in the coursework at IOT?
Yes. All prerequisite courses are included in the coursework at IOT. For a full list of prerequisite courses, CLICK HERE.
What are the attendance requirements at IOT?
There are different requirements for courses labeled as “campus” (in-person), “online” (virtual, asynchronous, not live), and “blended” (some in-person and some virtual).
NOTE: For specific attendance policies and criteria, see the IOT Student Catalog (pages 47-52).
Campus (in-person) attendance: Specific days of the week may be subject to change, but weekly meeting requirements still apply.
Term 1:
- Students must attend in person on their start date.
- If enrolled in BIO101, MT101, or MTH95, in-person attendance is also required in weeks 5 and 10 for midterm and final exams.
- Exams are proctored on campus on Thursdays.
Terms 2-4:
- Students attend in-person classes 1 day per week, with scheduled makeup days on Thursdays if needed.
Term 5:
- Classes meet on Tuesday during the first week of the term. Weeks 2-10, classes take place on Mondays.
Is there a clinical nursing practicum at IOT?
Yes. The course includes a 210-hour practical nursing clinical practicum rotation during Term 5. It takes place 2-3 days per week, Monday – Friday, and hours may vary.
NOTE: IOT works hard to place students close to home, but close placement isn’t guaranteed. IOT may need to place students up to 50 miles from their campus or home location.
Are transfer credits accepted at IOT?
In many cases, applicable prerequisite credits may be accepted. IOT determines which credits will transfer.
Please contact a campus administrator to assess eligibility of any existing credits.
Work & Time Commitment FAQs
What is the overall time commitment of the program?
The education portion of the program lasts for 13 months. After you earn your LPN license through IOT, you are expected to work at an Avamere facility for 2 years.
The total time commitment for this program is about 3 years (37 months) from the start of the program to the end of your expected employment with Avamere.
What is the weekly time commitment of the program?
RISE Partnership
As part of your initial orientation process, you will attend a RISE Partnership Welcome Orientation virtual meeting (date TBD). You’ll also have regular 1:1 meetings with your RISE support coach at a frequency and duration that is to be determined. Once every 3 months, the entire cohort will have a virtual meeting to share successes and address challenges that come up as you participate in the program.
IOT
The weekly time commitment for the program’s education portion varies from term to term. You can look at the course schedule (below) before the term start date to figure out an accurate time commitment.
Term One: The first term is mainly online, self-paced coursework, however in-person attendance is required on your start day (Sept. 2, 2025) and on one day in Week 5 for Midterm exams and one day in Week 10 for final exams. While this style of learning is more flexible, you are expected to submit all assignments by the due date provided by the instructor and outlined in the syllabus.
Terms 2-4: In-person attendance is required in class on campus one day per week.
Term 5: In-person attendance is required in class on campus one day per week, and at your clinical site 2-3 days per week.
What is my full list of courses at IOT?
Term 1 (10 weeks) |
Term 2 (10 weeks) |
Term 3 (10 weeks) |
Term 4 (10 weeks) |
Term 5 (10 weeks) |
| Anatomy & Physiology 1 (Online) | Anatomy & Physiology II (Online) | Anatomy & Physiology III (Online) | Life Span & Development (Online) | Fundamentals of Nursing IV Practical (Online) |
| Intermediate Math (Online) | Fundamentals of Nursing I (Blended) | Fundamentals of Nursing II (Blended) | Fundamentals of Nursing III (Blended) | Nursing Clinical Practicum (Off-site) |
| Medical Terminology (Online) | Alternative Nursing Methods (Online) | Mother/Baby Pediatrics in Nursing (Online) | Nursing Leadership & Ethics (Online) | |
| Pharmacology I (Online) | Pharmacology II (Online) | NCLEX Review Course I (Online) |
What if I need time off work to go to class and complete coursework/clinicals?
Some in-person attendance is required on the IOT campus for this program. It’s helpful to work with your management team at Avamere before each term to create a schedule that fits both your work and school needs.
Will I still get paid if I need time off work to go to class/attend clinicals?
RISE will pay for up to 16 hours per week for full-time employees and 8 hours per week for part-time employees participating in the RISE LPN Program. This allows for time off to attend classes, study and complete coursework, and attend clinicals with little to no disruption to your income.
Are participants guaranteed a job at the end of the program?
Participants who complete the program are invited to apply for open LPN positions within Avamere as they become available. Currently, participation in the RISE LPN Program and completion of the IOT PN-IDL program doesn’t guarantee employment as an LPN.
Application & Selection ProcessFAQs
What is the application and selection process for this program?
Phase 1:
Applications go live on the RISE LPN Program website on May 1, 2025, and are open until May 15, 2025.
To access the applications, you will watch the short informational video and then a link to the applications will become available to you.
The application form consists of the following:
- General information questions (name, email, address, etc.)
- Demographic information questions (age, race, nationality, etc.)
- NOTE: Demographic information questions are for grant reporting purposes only. They are optional to answer and aren’t evaluated as part of the candidate selection process nor shown to the selection committee.
- Questions of interest: Short answer questions determining your preparation, motivation, and readiness to enter the program
- NOTE: The short answer questions aren’t scored based on grammar, punctuation, or spelling.
Initial applications will be evaluated and screened based on the Minimum Qualification criteria by partners at Avamere.
All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications listed on the application will receive an email notification between the last week of May and the first week of June (2025) with the next steps. If you don’t meet the minimum qualifications, you won’t move on to the next phase of the process.
Phase 2:
An aptitude test must be completed by all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications. My Inner Genius, the testing company, then emails you with instructions for completing the aptitude test.
Each candidate is given a score based on their responses to the aptitude test and the short answer questions on the initial application.
PHASE 3:
Top scoring candidates are invited to a virtual interview with a panel of program partners (SEIU 503, Avamere) and subject matter experts (currently licensed LPN’s).
Interview questions will be emailed to applicants 24-48 hours ahead of time along with further instructions and meeting guidelines.
PHASE 4:
After all interviews have been completed, candidates are scored based on the interview, the questions of interest, and the aptitude test. (NOTE: The interview is only a part of the overall score that determines final status.)
Applicants who are accepted into the program will be notified by a representative from RISE Partnership no later than July 15, 2025.
Will I receive the results of my aptitude test?
No. Due to the complexity of the scoring system and the additional communication required during the selection process, we don’t share the scores of the aptitude test.
Will there be alternates in the selection process?
RISE will choose 6 alternate candidates to move through the IOT application process. If participants selected by RISE and IOT withdraw in the first 2 weeks of the Fall 2025 term, alternates will be called in the order of scoring placement to take their seat. All costs are still covered for the alternate participant, and wraparound support is available to help the new participant succeed.
When will final selections be made?
Final selections for the Fall 2025 cohort will be made by June 30, 2025. All candidates will be notified of their final acceptance status via email between July 1 and 15, 2025. Candidates and alternates invited to move forward are given a specific timeframe to read and sign the RISE participant agreement materials and accept the offer.
How frequently is the program offered?
This is a pilot program to test and refine RISE’s offerings. SEIU 503, RISE, and other partners will determine the frequency of future opportunities based on learnings from this pilot program.
Where can I get more information?
Information about our Partners
Avamere
Avamere is a trusted leader in senior healthcare services throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Avamere prioritizes workforce development by supporting employees in their professional growth and long-term career advancement.
SEIU 503
SEUI 503 is Oregon’s largest union representing care workers, public employees, and nonprofit staff.
Through initiatives like the RISE Partnership LPN Program, SEIU 503 helps remove barriers to education and supports its members in advancing their careers.
Institute of Technology (IOT)
The Institute of Technology in Salem, Oregon offers a hybrid interactive distance learning (IDL) license practical nurse (LPN) program designed to meet the needs of today’s busy healthcare workers.
Their newly built facility features five classrooms, three labs, and a learning resource center.