Several other colleges across the state of California also offer free training programs online. Check what’s available in your area to find the best fit for your new career goals.
Free Training Programs in California Online
Training programs for Californians
Climb Hire provides free online training programs in digital marketing and IT support to underserved, low-income Californians. Our programs are available to residents of nine Bay Area counties: San Francisco, Sonoma, Alameda, Marin, Contra Costa, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano.
Free training plus certifications
Thanks to government grants and funding from charitable organizations, Climb Hire students pay nothing to attend our training programs. We also cover all industry certification expenses, whether it's CompTIA A+ or Meta Digital Marketing credentials
Getting you hired
Our priority is to get you a job. You'll work with a personal career coach, who will help you with building an effective resume, interview practice, and more. As a result, over 80% of participants find employment within 12 months.
IT Support
Our six-month remote IT Support training program fully prepares you for entry-level IT positions. The curriculum focuses on CompTIA A+ certification, a credential that many hiring managers in the field look for on resumes.
Throughout your training, you’ll develop expertise in:
- Troubleshooting techniques for common technology problems
- Network configuration and security fundamentals
- Computer hardware components and operating systems
- Practical technical support scenarios and solutions
You’ll also have the option to earn the Google IT Support Professional Certificate as part of your training.
The program requires 20 hours a week of study—9 hours of live instruction and 11 hours of independent assignments. We integrate soft skills training to help you excel in job interviews and thrive in professional IT environments.
Paid Search Marketing
We also offer a four-month online training program in Paid Search Marketing, a branch of digital marketing. You’ll become job-ready in the field and earn three industry-valued credentials: Google Ads Search, Meta Digital Marketing Associate, and HubSpot Inbound Marketing—with all certification costs covered.
You’ll master essential paid search marketing skills, including:
- Digital advertising campaign management
- Audience targeting and customer acquisition
- Performance analysis and optimization techniques
- Practical marketing portfolio development
This program requires a 20-hour weekly commitment divided between instructor-led Zoom classes and independent assignments. Professional workplace readiness is incorporated into the curriculum as well.
Support in your job search
Our free job training programs come with extensive career support to help you find a well-paying job in your field after graduation:
- Six months of personalized guidance from a career advisor.
- Support creating your resume, elevator pitch, and LinkedIn profile.
- Practice interview sessions with helpful feedback.
- A free one-year subscription to LinkedIn Premium for better networking.
- Our Alumni Network Portal with exclusive job listings and application tracking.
These resources and support have helped our graduates successfully start tech careers with employers like Google, IBM, and BetterUp.
Additional support
We provide real-world support to help you succeed. Climb Hire has partnered with the SNAP food assistance programs because we know that meeting basic needs is essential for learning.
Looking ahead, we’re building partnerships to address other common barriers like childcare needs, reliable internet access, and customized learning accommodations. We believe in removing obstacles so you can focus completely on your professional development and future career.
Prerequisites
To enroll in our no-cost training programs, you must:
- Be a resident of California (or Colorado)
- Have annual earnings below $30k
- Fall within the 24–40 age range
- Be authorized to work in the US
- Commit to 4–6 months of part-time training
- Have computer access with a microphone and webcam
Our San Francisco address
2261 Market Street STE 10955
San Francisco, CA 94114
San Francisco, CA 94114
Other free training programs in California
California offers numerous no-cost online training opportunities for residents. If Climb Hire doesn't match what you're looking for, you might consider these alternatives:
Independent job training
Southern California Health Institute
Based in North Hollywood, SOCHi offers free in-person, hybrid, and online career training for unemployed individuals in fields like healthcare, business, and technology. Programs are designed to help you quickly re-enter the workforce with job-ready skills.
Employment Development Department
The EDD offers free training programs in California through its Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). Choose between online training and vocational and apprenticeship programs. If you’re on Unemployment Insurance or your benefits have ended, the training may be available for free.
Code Tenderloin
Located in downtown San Francisco, Code Tenderloin is a nonprofit that helps marginalized residents access tech careers by providing no-cost training in areas like coding, data analytics, and AI automation. Courses are generally held online via Zoom.
Per Scholas
Per Scholas offers free hands-on tech training in IT Support and Software Engineering for eligible students in LA County. In-person and online classes are available, depending on the training course. Graduates are connected directly with employer partners.
Free training from California universities and colleges
Calbright College
Calbright offers free, self-paced online programs for working adults in California, with training in IT Support, Cybersecurity, Project Management, and more. You’ll get a career counselor and academic coach, plus earn industry-recognized credentials.
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College offers free training courses in fields like healthcare, construction, and information technology. Programs provide practical skills and certification programs to prepare you for in-demand jobs.
Stanford
Stanford offers free, self-paced, online courses in many different fields, including health, education, and engineering. All courses are created by Stanford instructors and industry experts, with the opportunity to meet with instructors.
San Diego College of Continuing Education
SDCCE provides free remote training in fields like Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, Health, and more. They also offer opportunities for you to transition into credit college programs and continue your education.
UCLA Extension
UCLA offers free online courses for professional development through UCLA Extension. Programs cover fields such as computer science, writing, and finance.
University of California, Berkeley
UC Berkeley offers a range of free online courses in areas like journalism, economics, and data engineering. Along with the courses, they provide supplementary lectures, webcasts, and RSS feeds to help you stay updated on your chosen topics.