How long does job training take?
The typical program approved for WIOA funding takes 30 weeks, about 7 months. Half take between 12 and 54 weeks. 28% take 12 weeks or less, and 47% take half a year or less.1
It depends most on the line of work: in transportation and logistics the typical program takes 4 weeks, in general healthcare 48. Lengths are in weeks as the schools reported them, and hours a week differ: a four-week course can be full time, and a year-long one evenings only.
How long certificates take compared with degrees
- Certificates and short courses20 weeksMost take 9 to 37 weeks. 31,898 programs report a length.
- Two-year degrees68 weeksMost take 62 to 90 weeks. 6,732 programs report a length.
- Bachelor's degrees128 weeksMost take 90 to 160 weeks. 240 programs report a length.
34% of certificates and short courses take 12 weeks or less. Short certificate programs in each state
Job training programs by length in weeks
The 39,192 programs that report a length.
How long training takes in each field
Typical length (the middle program), the range most programs fall in, and the share taking 12 weeks or less. Quickest line of work first.
| Field | Typical length | Most take | 12 weeks or less |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation and logistics training | 4 weeks | 3 to 11 weeks | 78% |
| Forklift certification | 1 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks | 98% |
| Merchant mariner training | 1 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks | 91% |
| CDL training | 4 weeks | 3 to 7 weeks | 92% |
| Flight school | 6 weeks | 2 to 16 weeks | 70% |
| Supply chain and logistics training | 24 weeks | 10 to 52 weeks | 35% |
| Aircraft mechanic school | 48 weeks | 29 to 72 weeks | 13% |
| Nursing and patient care programs | 18 weeks | 6 to 58 weeks | 42% |
| Home health aide training | 4 weeks | 2 to 6 weeks | 86% |
| Medication aide training | 5 weeks | 3 to 10 weeks | 83% |
| CNA classes | 8 weeks | 4 to 12 weeks | 78% |
| Patient care technician training | 20 weeks | 12 to 27 weeks | 29% |
| LPN programs | 50 weeks | 44 to 59 weeks | 2% |
| RN programs | 75 weeks | 60 to 104 weeks | 2% |
| IT certification programs | 22 weeks | 9 to 48 weeks | 34% |
| Cybersecurity training | 15 weeks | 5 to 36 weeks | 46% |
| Data analytics courses | 16 weeks | 8 to 30 weeks | 38% |
| IT training | 20 weeks | 8 to 48 weeks | 37% |
| Coding and software development courses | 30 weeks | 15 to 56 weeks | 19% |
| Web and graphic design courses | 32 weeks | 16 to 52 weeks | 20% |
| Medical certification programs | 26 weeks | 14 to 48 weeks | 23% |
| EKG technician programs | 10 weeks | 6 to 16 weeks | 66% |
| Phlebotomy training | 12 weeks | 7 to 16 weeks | 59% |
| Pharmacy technician training | 24 weeks | 14 to 40 weeks | 21% |
| Medical administrative assistant training | 30 weeks | 18 to 52 weeks | 14% |
| Medical assistant training | 32 weeks | 18 to 48 weeks | 9% |
| Medical billing and coding training | 32 weeks | 16 to 48 weeks | 13% |
| Health information technology programs | 50 weeks | 24 to 75 weeks | 10% |
| Healthcare administration programs | 52 weeks | 30 to 75 weeks | 10% |
| Medical lab technician programs | 76 weeks | 52 to 104 weeks | 2% |
| Beauty school | 30 weeks | 20 to 48 weeks | 10% |
| Nail tech school | 17 weeks | 13 to 23 weeks | 24% |
| Esthetician school | 26 weeks | 19 to 30 weeks | 10% |
| Barber school | 38 weeks | 28 to 50 weeks | 8% |
| Cosmetology school | 48 weeks | 40 to 55 weeks | 5% |
| Business and office training | 30 weeks | 14 to 56 weeks | 24% |
| Project management certification | 9 weeks | 3 to 21 weeks | 62% |
| Insurance license courses | 12 weeks | 8 to 26 weeks | 52% |
| Real estate school | 14 weeks | 8 to 22 weeks | 48% |
| Customer service training | 15 weeks | 6 to 30 weeks | 49% |
| Administrative assistant training | 26 weeks | 12 to 52 weeks | 28% |
| Digital marketing courses | 30 weeks | 16 to 54 weeks | 17% |
| Human resources training | 30 weeks | 12 to 52 weeks | 27% |
| Accounting and bookkeeping classes | 36 weeks | 22 to 60 weeks | 13% |
| Interpreter and translator training | 36 weeks | 18 to 45 weeks | 13% |
| Business administration programs | 48 weeks | 30 to 64 weeks | 9% |
| Paralegal programs | 52 weeks | 30 to 64 weeks | 11% |
| First responder training | 30 weeks | 16 to 60 weeks | 17% |
| Security guard training | 1 weeks | 1 to 4 weeks | 94% |
| EMT classes | 20 weeks | 15 to 55 weeks | 16% |
| Police academy | 22 weeks | 16 to 30 weeks | 11% |
| Fire academy | 31 weeks | 16 to 64 weeks | 16% |
| Criminal justice programs | 64 weeks | 52 to 80 weeks | 2% |
| Trade school programs | 32 weeks | 15 to 60 weeks | 21% |
| Crane operator training | 1 weeks | 1 to 4 weeks | 90% |
| OSHA safety training | 3 weeks | 1 to 15 weeks | 74% |
| Home inspector training | 5 weeks | 2 to 40 weeks | 63% |
| Heavy equipment operator training | 8 weeks | 4 to 16 weeks | 67% |
| Construction training programs | 22 weeks | 8 to 52 weeks | 37% |
| Manufacturing technician training | 26 weeks | 10 to 52 weeks | 33% |
| Welding classes | 26 weeks | 12 to 42 weeks | 28% |
| Solar and wind technician training | 30 weeks | 8 to 40 weeks | 29% |
| Carpentry classes | 32 weeks | 15 to 60 weeks | 23% |
| CNC machinist training | 32 weeks | 16 to 60 weeks | 16% |
| Plumbing school | 32 weeks | 16 to 99 weeks | 18% |
| Water treatment operator training | 32 weeks | 24 to 96 weeks | 16% |
| AutoCAD and drafting courses | 33 weeks | 16 to 60 weeks | 17% |
| HVAC training | 36 weeks | 17 to 56 weeks | 13% |
| Masonry training | 38 weeks | 15 to 125 weeks | 15% |
| Auto body repair classes | 42 weeks | 30 to 62 weeks | 4% |
| Electrician training | 44 weeks | 20 to 86 weeks | 13% |
| Auto mechanic classes | 45 weeks | 30 to 64 weeks | 9% |
| Lineman school | 48 weeks | 15 to 150 weeks | 16% |
| Diesel mechanic training | 52 weeks | 32 to 67 weeks | 4% |
| Electronics technician training | 52 weeks | 17 to 75 weeks | 20% |
| Industrial maintenance technician training | 52 weeks | 25 to 64 weeks | 10% |
| Sheet metal training | 60 weeks | 4 to 132 weeks | 34% |
| Child care and social services training | 36 weeks | 18 to 64 weeks | 14% |
| Community health worker training | 15 weeks | 8 to 30 weeks | 43% |
| RBT certification training | 16 weeks | 12 to 18 weeks | 44% |
| Mental health technician training | 18 weeks | 14 to 48 weeks | 24% |
| Addiction counselor training | 34 weeks | 18 to 60 weeks | 15% |
| Early childhood education programs | 36 weeks | 22 to 64 weeks | 12% |
| Teacher assistant certification | 60 weeks | 28 to 64 weeks | 14% |
| Human services programs | 64 weeks | 36 to 76 weeks | 4% |
| Culinary and hospitality programs | 40 weeks | 20 to 60 weeks | 15% |
| Hospitality management programs | 32 weeks | 15 to 60 weeks | 19% |
| Culinary school | 40 weeks | 24 to 60 weeks | 13% |
| Allied health programs | 48 weeks | 22 to 75 weeks | 12% |
| Sterile processing technician training | 15 weeks | 12 to 24 weeks | 25% |
| Dialysis technician training | 22 weeks | 12 to 38 weeks | 27% |
| Dental assistant programs | 26 weeks | 12 to 40 weeks | 29% |
| Optician training | 26 weeks | 15 to 50 weeks | 19% |
| Personal trainer certification | 26 weeks | 18 to 50 weeks | 17% |
| Vet tech programs | 34 weeks | 24 to 64 weeks | 10% |
| Massage therapy school | 36 weeks | 28 to 47 weeks | 1% |
| Sleep technician training | 48 weeks | 30 to 60 weeks | 8% |
| MRI tech school | 52 weeks | 23 to 77 weeks | 0% |
| Surgical tech programs | 64 weeks | 41 to 75 weeks | 3% |
| PTA programs | 72 weeks | 60 to 80 weeks | 4% |
| OTA programs | 74 weeks | 64 to 91 weeks | 0% |
| Dental hygiene programs | 80 weeks | 66 to 104 weeks | 1% |
| Radiology tech programs | 80 weeks | 72 to 102 weeks | 0% |
| Respiratory therapy programs | 80 weeks | 72 to 99 weeks | 2% |
| Sonography school | 80 weeks | 60 to 90 weeks | 1% |
| Cardiovascular technology programs | 82 weeks | 72 to 96 weeks | 0% |
How many training programs report no length?
14,623 of the 53,815 programs (27%) have no length in the file, or one our checks removed as unlikely. Ohio and New Jersey report no lengths at all. These report a length for under a quarter of their programs: Texas (237 of 4,183), Arizona (225 of 901), Kentucky (121 of 752), Arkansas (149 of 715), Oklahoma (42 of 688), Maine (60 of 460), Alabama (75 of 416), Kansas (56 of 358), Wyoming (64 of 287), Delaware (8 of 163), Vermont (11 of 148) and West Virginia (1 of 128). The figures above come mostly from the other states. Ask the school how long its program runs.
How the training lengths are counted
- Programs: every program in the site's fields that a state approved for WIOA funding, from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).
- Length: the program's length in weeks as the school filed it. Lengths our checks found unlikely are left out: short courses over 104 weeks, degrees under 30 weeks, and the 260-week placeholder some states file.
- A typical length needs 5 programs reporting one and a quarter of the field's programs. How the site handles the data
To cite: Retraining Report, "How long does job training take?", retrainingreport.com/wioa-statistics/how-long-does-job-training-take/, from US Department of Labor data for program year 2024.