Retraining ReportJob training public funding can pay for

Find training

Short certificate programs: job training in 12 weeks or less

10,936 of the 39,192 programs that report a length (28%) take 12 weeks or less, and every one is approved for WIOA funding by a state.

The quickest fields are forklift training (98%), security guard training (94%) and CDL training (92%). Length is in weeks as the school reported it, and hours a week differ: a four-week course can be full time. 39,192 of the 53,815 programs report a length. How long each field takes

Which fields have the most short programs?

Share of each field's programs that report a length and take 12 weeks or less.

  1. Forklift certification98% 103 of 105
  2. Security guard training94% 96 of 102
  3. CDL training92% 1,659 of 1,810
  4. Merchant mariner training91% 108 of 119
  5. Crane operator training90% 55 of 61
  6. Home health aide training86% 124 of 144
  7. Medication aide training83% 177 of 214
  8. CNA classes78% 1,000 of 1,287
  9. OSHA safety training74% 69 of 93
  10. Flight school70% 88 of 125
  11. Heavy equipment operator training67% 102 of 153
  12. EKG technician programs66% 182 of 274
  13. Home inspector training63% 27 of 43
  14. Project management certification62% 429 of 694
  15. Phlebotomy training59% 508 of 856
Show the other 80 fields
  1. Insurance license courses52% 13 of 25
  2. Customer service training49% 57 of 117
  3. Real estate school48% 33 of 69
  4. Cybersecurity training46% 490 of 1,068
  5. RBT certification training44% 17 of 39
  6. Community health worker training43% 21 of 49
  7. Data analytics courses38% 185 of 485
  8. IT training37% 1,029 of 2,771
  9. Construction training programs37% 230 of 628
  10. Supply chain and logistics training35% 121 of 345
  11. Sheet metal training34% 15 of 44
  12. Manufacturing technician training33% 171 of 518
  13. Solar and wind technician training29% 29 of 99
  14. Patient care technician training29% 58 of 199
  15. Dental assistant programs29% 207 of 713
  16. Welding classes28% 450 of 1,596
  17. Administrative assistant training28% 304 of 1,089
  18. Human resources training27% 96 of 351
  19. Dialysis technician training27% 14 of 52
  20. Sterile processing technician training25% 34 of 135
  21. Mental health technician training24% 21 of 88
  22. Nail tech school24% 35 of 148
  23. Carpentry classes23% 62 of 274
  24. Pharmacy technician training21% 136 of 638
  25. Web and graphic design courses20% 133 of 656
  26. Electronics technician training20% 61 of 308
  27. Hospitality management programs19% 45 of 233
  28. Coding and software development courses19% 156 of 810
  29. Optician training19% 8 of 42
  30. Plumbing school18% 46 of 253
  31. Personal trainer certification17% 16 of 94
  32. Digital marketing courses17% 50 of 299
  33. AutoCAD and drafting courses17% 73 of 442
  34. Water treatment operator training16% 8 of 49
  35. Lineman school16% 33 of 203
  36. EMT classes16% 142 of 880
  37. CNC machinist training16% 109 of 682
  38. Fire academy16% 36 of 232
  39. Addiction counselor training15% 26 of 174
  40. Masonry training15% 8 of 54
  41. Teacher assistant certification14% 23 of 159
  42. Medical administrative assistant training14% 90 of 660
  43. Accounting and bookkeeping classes13% 153 of 1,139
  44. Medical billing and coding training13% 124 of 944
  45. Interpreter and translator training13% 8 of 61
  46. HVAC training13% 117 of 909
  47. Electrician training13% 92 of 724
  48. Culinary school13% 61 of 484
  49. Aircraft mechanic school13% 22 of 175
  50. Early childhood education programs12% 100 of 810
  51. Police academy11% 28 of 251
  52. Paralegal programs11% 37 of 339
  53. Healthcare administration programs10% 9 of 87
  54. Esthetician school10% 20 of 202
  55. Vet tech programs10% 15 of 153
  56. Health information technology programs10% 24 of 251
  57. Industrial maintenance technician training10% 89 of 933
  58. Business administration programs9% 107 of 1,146
  59. Medical assistant training9% 123 of 1,354
  60. Auto mechanic classes9% 75 of 829
  61. Sleep technician training8% 1 of 13
  62. Barber school8% 13 of 170
  63. Cosmetology school5% 14 of 265
  64. PTA programs4% 6 of 143
  65. Diesel mechanic training4% 12 of 287
  66. Human services programs4% 8 of 193
  67. Auto body repair classes4% 8 of 228
  68. Surgical tech programs3% 7 of 255
  69. Medical lab technician programs2% 4 of 174
  70. LPN programs2% 15 of 681
  71. Criminal justice programs2% 7 of 399
  72. Respiratory therapy programs2% 2 of 132
  73. RN programs2% 12 of 801
  74. Massage therapy school1% 3 of 227
  75. Sonography school1% 1 of 112
  76. Dental hygiene programs1% 1 of 121
  77. Cardiovascular technology programs0% 0 of 22
  78. MRI tech school0% 0 of 27
  79. OTA programs0% 0 of 70
  80. Radiology tech programs0% 0 of 231

Short programs by line of work

  1. Transportation and logistics training78% 2,101 of 2,679
  2. Nursing and patient care programs42% 1,386 of 3,326
  3. IT certification programs34% 1,993 of 5,790
  4. Business and office training24% 1,287 of 5,329
  5. Medical certification programs23% 1,200 of 5,238
  6. Trade school programs21% 1,941 of 9,410
  7. First responder training17% 309 of 1,864
  8. Culinary and hospitality programs15% 106 of 717
  9. Child care and social services training14% 216 of 1,512
  10. Allied health programs12% 315 of 2,542
  11. Beauty school10% 82 of 785

Short programs approved in each state

Each state's page lists its short programs, shortest first. A state gets a page once it approves 10 of them. Some states report a length for few of their programs, so their short lists are incomplete.

DC13GU3MP4PR6VI11
Short programsup to 3233 to 9798 to 271more than 271
State12 weeks or lessOf programs reporting a lengthReport a length
Alabama2635%75 of 416
Alaska18550%369 of 371
Arizona6328%225 of 901
Arkansas2718%149 of 715
California88528%3,116 of 3,183
Colorado18551%364 of 1,138
Connecticut22055%401 of 401
Delaware8100%8 of 163
District of Columbia1359%22 of 22
Florida53627%2,012 of 2,040
Georgia39229%1,367 of 1,424
Guam360%5 of 6
Hawaii5136%142 of 142
Idaho6446%138 of 173
Illinois40216%2,590 of 2,600
Indiana96236%2,649 of 2,659
Iowa18223%805 of 806
Kansas3257%56 of 358
Kentucky8974%121 of 752
Louisiana38931%1,269 of 1,278
Maine4982%60 of 460
Maryland26141%644 of 644
Massachusetts24234%709 of 709
Michigan46024%1,881 of 1,945
Minnesota1under 1%1,946 of 1,956
Mississippi14520%726 of 751
Missouri48125%1,907 of 2,191
Montana138%160 of 166
Nebraska9717%569 of 572
Nevada22231%716 of 717
New Hampshire34652%662 of 666
New Jersey0no lengths reported0 of 482
New Mexico11822%535 of 549
New York27152%524 of 540
North Carolina49625%1,973 of 2,010
North Dakota3520%176 of 178
Northern Mariana Islands433%12 of 12
Ohio0no lengths reported0 of 3,706
Oklahoma2150%42 of 688
Oregon3417%197 of 240
Pennsylvania25924%1,076 of 1,076
Puerto Rico62%261 of 265
Rhode Island3452%65 of 65
South Carolina8048%166 of 178
South Dakota2010%204 of 208
Tennessee28924%1,222 of 1,282
Texas17072%237 of 4,183
US Virgin Islands1121%53 of 81
Utah8620%430 of 434
Vermont545%11 of 148
Virginia86351%1,679 of 1,694
Washington1,00032%3,145 of 3,487
West Virginia1100%1 of 128
Wisconsin877%1,256 of 1,569
Wyoming1523%64 of 287

Is there free short-term job training?

  • Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.123
  • Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.4 Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.3
  • Or pay yourself. Each state's field pages list every program with its price if you pay yourself.

How short programs are counted

  • Programs: every program in the site's 95 fields that a state approved for WIOA funding, from its eligible training provider list,5 in the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). A program counts for the state that approved it.
  • Short: the school filed a length of 12 weeks or less. Programs with no length, and lengths our checks removed as unlikely, are left out, so the shares are of programs that report a length.
  • How the site handles the data

Sources for the funding facts on this page

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  2. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  3. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  4. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  5. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List