The great diversity of our Valley is certainly represented in our schools. We have a robust mix of public and private educational institutions serving the needs of our community. The Yakima Valley is a great place to further your education and career with a number of excellent local colleges including Yakima Valley Community College, Heritage University, City University, Perry Technical Institute and extension classes from Washington State University and Central Washington University.

Coming in 2008, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, a private osteopathic medical school, is scheduled to open. Currently there are only 25 osteopathic medical schools in the entire U.S.

The Yakima community provides a rich learning environment for family physicians. Central Washington Family Medicine’s graduate Family Practice Residency Program is affiliated with the University of Washington’s School of Medicine’s top-ranked department of family medicine and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The internship year is also approved by the American Osteopathic Association.

Yakima’s medical community is continuing to grow. In addition to Memorial’s growing Family of Services and the talent that has relocated to Yakima as a result of these innovative research- and technology-driven care centers, the educational opportunities in the Valley have more than quadrupled in the past decade. Area students have many options for degrees in nursing, advanced health care, physical therapy assistants, x-ray, medical records, dental hygiene and the Family Practice Residency Program. Through any one of the area’s campus or satellite locations, education is available for certification and continuing credits.