In 1992, James and Renee sat on their back porch with a dream — to open a small school that could help meet the growing need for certified nursing assistants in Northwest Arkansas. As we talked and prayed about what to call it, a passage from Matthew 7:24–25 came to mind — the story of the wise man who built his house on the rock. The Greek word for “rock” is Petra — and in that moment, we knew we had found a name that captured everything we hoped our school would stand for.

From day one, our goal was simple: to offer affordable, training that truly prepared people to care for others using faith based operating principles. That heart for service has never changed — it’s still what guides us every single day, and we have weathered the challenges of over three decades.

What started as Petra CNA’s, a small training program for nursing assistants for the local community, began to grow beyond what we first imagined. By the mid-1990s, we added Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, and Phlebotomy programs — opening doors for even more students to pursue their calling in healthcare. That growth inspired a new name, Petra Allied Health. As we opened campuses throughout Arkansas, Petra earned a reputation as one of the state’s most trusted names in allied health education. Tens of Thousands of graduates have since gone on to build meaningful, lasting careers — and we’re so proud to be part of their stories.

Today, with the support of our sons and online team, Petra’s legacy continues through Petra Medical College, which offers quality healthcare education online. Although our classrooms now reach people around the world, the spirit of Petra remains unchanged: personal, faith-rooted, and dedicated to helping people build meaningful careers in healthcare.