You can find additional vocational training courses in higher education institutions across California, including in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Bakersfield, Stockton, Sacramento, and many other regions. Financial aid is often available.
Vocational Training in California: Free Career Programs from Climb Hire
Vocational training for California residents
Climb Hire is a nonprofit providing vocational training opportunities in IT Support and Digital Marketing. We help disadvantaged, low-income residents of San Francisco, Alameda, Napa, Sonoma, Marin, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Solano, and Santa Clara counties develop in-demand skills and secure well-paying jobs in tech.
No-cost education and professional credentials
All vocational training programs through Climb Hire are completely free, thanks to funding from charitable foundations and government agencies. We also cover the cost of certification, including CompTIA A+ or the Meta Digital Marketing Associate, depending on which career path you take.
Comprehensive employment assistance
Beyond teaching you technical skills, we help you build the everyday job skills hiring managers look for. You'll get one-on-one career coaching, help with your resume, practice interviews, and a wide professional network. With this complete support package, over 80% of our alumni land jobs within 12 months of finishing our program.
IT Support
Our six-month IT Support program prepares you for an in-demand career in tech without any prior experience needed. You’ll work toward the industry-standard CompTIA A+ certification—which opens doors to help desk, technical support, and other entry-level IT positions. Plus, the program covers all costs for both certification exams (1101 and 1102).
During this vocational training course, you’ll:
- Master tech concepts from basic hardware to advanced networking.
- Develop troubleshooting skills by working on real technical issues.
- Build a portfolio through hands-on assignments.
- Earn an additional industry-recognized certification: the Google IT Support Professional Certificate.
The program runs part-time, requiring approximately 20 hours weekly: 9 hours of interactive virtual classroom sessions plus 11 hours of independent assignments. Plus, we incorporate soft skills development into the curriculum, making sure you build the professional abilities that get you hired.
Paid Search Marketing
Our Digital Marketing program takes four months to complete and focuses on paid search marketing—the placement of ads in search results and social media feeds to reach potential customers. Our training leads to three valuable industry certifications: Google Ads Search, Meta Digital Marketing Associate, and HubSpot Inbound Marketing.
In this program, you’ll:
- Create and manage strategic paid search campaigns on Google, Meta, and other platforms.
- Develop content strategies that connect with target audiences and drive conversions.
- Analyze campaign data to improve performance.
- Build a professional portfolio through hands-on projects with real-world business challenges.
We also help you develop workplace skills like client communication, presentation techniques, and collaborative teamwork—abilities that marketing agencies look for in new hires.
Career services
Both programs come with comprehensive job support to help you land a tech or marketing position after graduation:
- Six months of individualized guidance from a dedicated career specialist.
- Direct assistance creating your professional profile, elevator pitch, and LinkedIn account.
- Practice interview opportunities with constructive feedback.
- Twelve-month LinkedIn Premium membership for enhanced professional connections.
- Entry to our Alumni Network Portal, with unique employment opportunities and other job search resources.
Thanks to this support, our alumni have launched successful careers at major tech companies like Google, BetterUp, and IBM.
Extra support
Climb Hire recognizes that life challenges can make it hard to focus on learning. That’s why we’ve partnered with SNAP to help you access food benefits while you’re in our program.
We’re also in the process of adding programs to help with childcare costs, provide reliable internet, and offer learning support for students with different needs. Our goal is to remove as many barriers as possible so you can focus on your career journey.
We’ll keep you posted with updates on these new resources as they become available.
Program prerequisites
Our vocational training courses are available to individuals who:
- Live in California (or Colorado)
- Have an annual income under $30k
- Are between the ages of 24 and 40
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Are eligible to work in the US
- Have a computer with camera and audio capabilities
Our San Francisco address
2261 Market Street STE 10955
San Francisco, CA 94114
San Francisco, CA 94114
Additional vocational training options in California
If you're looking to enroll in something a little different than what Climb Hire offers, here are some other accredited trade school programs:
Job Corps
Job Corps offers free, in-person vocational training for low-income young adults, with locations across California. Training is in fields like healthcare, construction, and culinary arts. Housing, healthcare, and certification costs are all covered. Programs take from months to a few years to complete, with job placement support included.
High Road Training Partnerships
A state-funded program that connects California residents with free training for well-paying jobs in industries like healthcare, transportation, and media. You’ll work directly with employers and learn specific skills needed for in-demand positions with opportunities to advance in your career.
America's Job Centers of California (AJCC)
AJCC in Imperial County offers job training programs to eligible local residents. You can access vocational training programs and apprenticeships in industries that are hiring locally. They also help with job readiness and landing a role once you complete your training.
Path to Pro
Home Depot's Path to Pro program offers free, virtual vocational courses in skilled trades like HVAC, plumbing, and carpentry, available to all California residents. The courses are self-paced and include instructor support, hands-on training, certification exam fees, and job placement assistance.
California Employment Development Department (EDD)
EDD connects Californians with affordable or no-cost training through approved providers statewide. Vocational training is offered through workshops, apprenticeships, and certification programs in fields like healthcare, technology, and automotive services.
Vocational training through California colleges and universities
UEI College
This vocational school operates across 13 California campuses, where you'll learn job skills in different fields, such as auto repair, medical assisting, law enforcement, or heating and air conditioning systems. The programs mix class time with real workplace training at local companies.
InterCoast Colleges
This California trade school offers occupational degrees and certificates in HVAC, pharmacy tech, cybersecurity, behavioral health, solar installation, and more. You'll gain hands-on experience through community involvement while learning practical job skills remotely.
California Community Colleges
California has 116 community colleges that offer new career training in areas like construction, healthcare, agriculture, IT, and other fields. These short programs usually last a few months to a year and teach you what you need to know to get hired right away.
City College of San Francisco
CCSF offers apprenticeships where you learn trades like cybersecurity, plumbing, and HVAC technician, while getting paid. You'll split your time between working at actual job sites and taking classes, so you gain real skills that lead to full-time jobs after you finish.
San Jose State University
SJSU offers vocational training through bootcamps and vocational programs that teach skills for healthcare jobs, coding, IT, and business careers. You can study online at your own speed with support from teachers and advisors.