Our Health Workforce team works very closely with local colleges, universities and community partners to expand access to healthcare education and training, improve student completion rates, reduce overhead costs and decrease health professional vacancy rates.
Fortunately for us, our regional academic partners are highly engaged in this process. They strive to meet the workforce demands of our local employers through credit-bearing and non-credit classes and workshops. These regional partnerships directly benefit both the community and students — whether it be through pre-certification, certificate, associates, bachelors or master’s level programs.
For example… Jefferson Community College has five Pre-Certification Allied Health Programs, and the Jefferson Higher Education Center partners with seven academic institutions that offer more than 17 advanced degree programs, including bachelor’s, master’s and advanced certificates — all right here in Watertown!
Local Healthcare Education Programs
We do our best to maintain a current list of local healthcare education programs, but we realize this list is not all-inclusive. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please click on the link for any program to be directed to that agency’s website.
Available at Jefferson Community College:
Associate of Nursing
(Both traditional and weekend classes offered)
Bachelor of Health Services Administration*
*Provided by Bryant and Stratton College
Master of Science: Family Nurse Practitioner*
*Provided by SUNY Upstate Medical University
Master of Science: Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (FPMHNP)*
*Provided by SUNY Upstate Medical University
Bachelor of Social Work*
*Provided by Keuka College
Master of Social Work*
*Provided by SUNY Brockport & Nazareth College
Bachelor of Nursing for RNs*
*Provided by Keuka College
Pre-certification Allied Health Programs
Clinical Medical Assistant
Medical Billing and Coding
Care Coordination
Pharmacy Technician
Phlebotomy Certificate
SUNY Upstate Medical University:
Bachelors in Medical Technology
Available on Fort Drum:
Associate in Science in Human Services
Provided by Columbia College
Degrees can be done completely online or some courses are available on Fort Drum
Bachelor of Arts in Human Services
Columbia College
Degrees can be done completely online or some courses are available on Fort Drum
Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management
Columbia College
Degrees can be done completely online or some courses are available on Fort Drum
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Columbia College
Degrees can be done completely online or some courses are available on Fort Drum
Jefferson-Lewis BOCES
Certified Nursing Assistant, Home Health Aid, and Licensed Practical Nursing
BOCES New Vision Health Careers and Medical Careers Programs
Courses for High School Students
Hospital-Based Nursing Assistant Certification Courses
Samaritan Medical Center
Lewis County General Hospital
Jefferson County EMS
Emergency Medical Technician/Emergency Medical Service Training
Contact Judy Brenon at 315-786-3760
CPR/First Aid Training
Contact Judy Brenon at 315-786-3760
Continuing Medical Education Training
Contact Judy Brenon at 315-786-3760
Continuing Medical Education Training
Contact Judy Brenon at 315-786-3760
Graduate Medical Education
Train locally to become a physician!

In the North Country, Samaritan Medical Center offers accredited Osteopathic (DO) and Allopathic (MD) Graduate Medical Education Programs, Internship Training Programs, and Residency Training Programs in both Family and Internal Medicine.
Other facilities in the region are exploring the feasibility of regional expansion of Graduate Medical Education in collaboration with Samaritan, so stay tuned!
Interested in what it takes to become a Physician? Check out FDRHPO’s “Health Career Close-up” to learn more about this career.
Want to learn more?
If you have questions about FDRHPO’s health workforce priorities or initiatives, our workforce team can help you out! Get to know us below to see who might be your best contact.