WIA for LPN school

SpencerFLA · Sep 17, 2009

Hi, I used WIA to start LPN. The process is pretty easy. You attend an orientation, take an assessment and they provide you with a list of schools/classes that you can take. After choosing the PN class at Atlantic Tech, I had to take the orientation at the school, take the TABE and TEAS test, do the school required stuff (background, immunizations, etc.). Once that was complete and I was ready to register with school, WIA gave me a voucher for my books, tuition, parking, uniforms, etc. They pay each term individually. The process is pretty simple really. I used the central location on Oakland Park and start Oct 26th. They are SO great there. Good luck!

**~pouty~** · Sep 17, 2009

thanks for the reply. ive been dealing with WIA since february. its been a long process. im done with all of the requirements to get into school and right now just waiting to get that acceptance letter in the mail from sheridan tech. the counselor @ sheridan told me im "unofficially" in for october---which is totally kewl. but i wont be able to sleep well until i get that letter in my hand.

my wia counselor told me that they dont cover the health core classes. is this true? do i have to pay for this outta pocket too?? its stressful because i really dont have any extra money to spend----and to actually get someone @ wia on the phone is totally impossible (davie rd ext location).

im just a little worried everything wont be processed in time. they said i have to wait until the acceptance letter comes in, then for me to go see the counselor @ sheridan. school starts october 26th and the earliest appointment i got with my wia counselor is set for the 13th of october.

so is it safe to assume they pay for all the supplies you need for school? including shoes? how about gas? do i have to worry about any other out of pocket expenses? is the fact that they pay each term individually based on your grades?

sorry im asking sooo many questions, but unlike you, my experience with wia has been a long and grueling one.

btw, congrats on getting into the program!!

SpencerFLA · Sep 18, 2009

Thanks! Sorry to hear that your experience has been less than stellar. It def can be frustrating. :banghead:

I'm not sure about the core. I'm assuming (I guess I better check) but they paid for the full term, which I thought included the core. They paid for the shoes, two sets of uniforms and the books. The only out of pocket that I paid for was the TABE and TEAS. Now I wanted different shoes, so I paid for those out of pocket but they would pay for them. That's really all I can think of that I paid for out of pocket.

I never received a "letter", I just took the TEAS, took my completed orientation packet (immunizations, physical, etc.) and they gave me a registration slip. I took the slip to WIA and they issued me a voucher and I went back to school to pay for the term, books, etc. At that point, I was officially in the 10/26 class.

As far as grades, yes you have to pass and they will continue to pay term by term. If you start working, I believe (don't quote me) they quit paying. I was told that they will issue a $20 gas card monthly for gas.

I hope that helps! I'm willing to answer any questions you have!

**~pouty~** · Sep 18, 2009

THANK YOU so much for all your help! i really appreciate it! :)

yeah, i wish sheridan was like atlantic where you dont have to wait for the acceptance letter. it completely sucks and the anxiety of waiting is just killing me. im the type of person who needs to know everything. i hate surprises. lol.

im going to have to call sheridan again and ask about the process again. i would hate to have all my reqs done and then something crazy come up and not be able to start in october. UGH! you would think these tech schools would have some of the same procedures n stuff---especially since they are all in soFla.

since i dont have experience or background in nursing, i have to take the core class. i heard its about 5 weeks long. once passing that, i can then take the major classes. do you have to take core? or are you jumping rite into the LPN classes?

now im curious in knowing what the shoes looked like? please tell me theyre not some orthopedic looking shoes.....lol. if they are, im sure ill be out looking for shoes myself, even if i have to pay out of pocket. any suggestions? i heard new balance are pretty good.

SpencerFLA · Sep 18, 2009

You are very welcome! I hate suprises as well. I was so anxious to just "get it done" and be "official". Now that I am, I'm very excited to start but also very nervous. I haven't taken the "core". My impression is that it was "included" in Term 1. I hope that is correct or I am in BIG trouble.:imbar If you call, please let me know what you found out!

As far as the shoes, I'm not sure what they look like. My lower back bothers me sometimes so after reading a bunch of entries on this site, I decided to purchase the Nike Shox in all white. I found them online for $120 but if they help save my back then it was worth it!

Are you taking day or evening?

SmilesNoir · Sep 19, 2009

Is there a WIA office at Sheridian or Nursing School Counselor @ Sheridan ask them what they have done in the past?

I cant understand WHY they would not pay for health core basically it's CNA.. Hmm

**~pouty~** · Sep 19, 2009

here is what i found out......

sheridan will be mailing out the acceptance letters along with the registration information by the end of the month. so, i have to wait. UGH!

they also cannot give me the form (for my core) to take to WIA because they dont have the "master list" yet. but was told they should have that in about 10 days.

either way i have to wait for the letter in order to do anything. when i get it, i have to go to sheridan, they will then give me a form to take to WIA, so WIA can give me a voucher.

i made sure i got all that in writing (sent sheridan an email)---just in case, and i received this info straight from the nursing program counselor.

ill be taking day classes. apparently sheridan will not be able to offer evening classes for another year or so---budget cuts, or at least thats what i was told.

it doesnt really bother me because im not working anyway. so its all good. and i do better going to school during the day anyway. i learned that the hard way when i had to take evening classes my last semester @ rutgers.

im so anxious to start. ive been out of work for quite some time now and the cabin fever is really getting to me. lol.

as for the shoes.....ive always owned a pair of nike shox. theyre the best. if the shoes they pay for are halfway decent, then ill go with them (times are hard). but if they do more damage than good, ill be asking my bfri to buy me a pair of shox. lol.

SpencerFLA · Sep 23, 2009

Well you made me nervous so I just sent an email to atlantic asking them about the core question. Don't feel bad, I've been out of work for a while now as well. That's why I'm so anxious to start school. I did read a comment from soneone else on here stating that the first weeks of class was core. Ill find out soon enough I guess. I'm going to days as well. My brain works better in the mornings. Lol

I ordered the shox online and so far I'm happy with them.

I've been reading about some of the things you can start studying in advance so I thinkk I'm gonna start now and hopefully won't feel so lost on the first day.

SpencerFLA · Sep 23, 2009

Well you made me nervous so I just sent an email to atlantic asking them about the core question. Don't feel bad, I've been out of work for a while now as well. That's why I'm so anxious to start school. I did read a comment from soneone else on here stating that the first weeks of class was core. Ill find out soon enough I guess. I'm going to days as well. My brain works better in the mornings. Lol

I ordered the shox online and so far I'm happy with them.

I've been reading about some of the things you can start studying in advance so I thinkk I'm gonna start now and hopefully won't feel so lost on the first day.

**~pouty~** · Sep 24, 2009

sorry if i made you nervous. that was not my intention.

being out of work has definitely taken a toll on me. :bugeyes:

this has been the first time ive ever been out of work since i started working at the age of 14. so, like you, im extremely anxious to at least start school. in the meantime, im still looking to see if i could at least find a part time job--this way i can have some cash for my odds and ends. even though my background is in business---collections/call centers, ive had a rough time finding a job. this economy really messed things up for me, especially in the financial aspect. but everything happens for a reason, right? i mean, if it wasnt for this, i probably wouldnt have thought, or been able to pursue what ive always really wanted to do. :nurse:

my brain definitely works better in the morning as well. all i need is a cup of joe and im ready to take on the world. lol. :smilecoffeecup:

ive also been searching for things i could start reading before starting school. from what ive looked at so far, i hear its the medical terminology and dosage calculations. what were some of the things you found? also, i noticed many people say to get yourself a PDA for school. what are your thoughts on that?

glad to hear you got your shox. are they all white? i came across some threads on this site about how strict they are with the dress/shoe code @ atlantic. some even said they were like "nazis". i havent really read any feedback on people who have gone to sheridan. it would be nice to hear what a current student's experience is like.

SpencerFLA · Sep 24, 2009

Well, I heard from school this morning and they stated that the core is included in the curriculum. Whew!! Lol no worries. What I've found so far is to get used fractions, roman numerals, military time, etc. Its funny that you were in call centers because that's what I did. Althought I hate no working I do not miss the stress and politics of the call center environment. 13 years was plenty. So,,,I'm really excited to start. I've been flipping through some of the books already. Let's hope the job market improves by this time next year. I found the same info you did, we must have read the same entries!! The shox are all white except for a piece in the back that's silver. I'm either going to buy some cheap all white shoes from walmart or paint the silver. At least until I know just how "nazi" they are. at least you've recently been to school. I haven't been in 20 or more years. I hope I can remember how to study!!!!!