There are also many more community colleges to choose from in Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Orange County, and across the state of California.
California Job Training Programs: Free Courses from Climb Hire
Job training for Californians
Climb Hire is a nonprofit organization that offers job training programs in IT support and digital marketing. We serve low-income, residents of California, specifically in San Francisco, Sonoma, Alameda, Marin, Contra Costa, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano counties.
Free training and certifications
Climb Hire's job training programs are free for all students, made possible by support from government grants and philanthropic organizations. We also cover any certification costs associated with your program, such as CompTIA A+ or the Meta Digital Marketing Associate certificate.
Dedicated job search support
You’ll also learn the soft skills you need to land a job. You’ll receive one-on-one career coaching, resume preparation, mock interviews, and professional networking. As a result, more than 80% of Climb Hire alumni secure jobs within a year of completing our programs.
IT Support
Our six-month IT Support program equips you with the technical skills needed to earn CompTIA A+ certification—the starting point for many IT careers.
Throughout the program, you’ll:
- Study operating systems, hardware and software, networks, and security
- Diagnose and resolve real-world tech issues
- Get experience with hands-on IT projects
- Earn the Google IT Support Professional Certificate (optional)
This part-time program requires a commitment of 20 hours a week, including 9 hours of live instruction and 11 hours of assignments. It also includes soft skills training to help you stand out in interviews and the workplace.
Digital marketing
In our four-month paid search marketing program. you’ll prepare for three certifications—Google Ads Search, Meta Digital Marketing Associate, and HubSpot Inbound Marketing—at no cost to you:
- Learn the fundamentals of PPC for Google and social media
- Create strategies and campaigns to reach audiences and generate leads
- Track data to improve campaign performance
- Work on hands-on projects to build a portfolio
You'll need to dedicate 20 hours a week to this course, between nine hours of live online instruction and 11 hours on assignments. Part of your class time will be spent developing your work place skills.
Job placement support
Both programs offer career support to give you the best chance of employment after graduating. You’ll receive:
- 6 months of personalized career development coaching
- Support to hone your resume, LinkedIn profile, and elevator pitch
- Mock interview sessions with actionable tips to improve
- A year’s subscription to LinkedIn Premium
- Access to our Alumni Network Portal, for exclusive job postings
These resources have helped our alumni launch tech careers with top employers like Google, IBM, and Discord.
Additional support
At Climb Hire, we know everyday challenges can get in the way of your education. That’s why we’ve partnered with SNAP to help you access food support while you’re in our job training program.
We’re also working to add resources for childcare, internet access, and learning accommodations—so you can stay focused on reaching your career goals. Stay tuned to find out more about what we’ll offer in future.
Prerequisites
Our job training programs course are open to those who:
- Reside in California or Colorado
- Are between 24-40 years old
- Earn $30k or less annually
- Have an annual income of $30k or below
- Have work authorization in the US
- Can commit to four to six months of part-time training
- Own a computer with a webcam and microphone
Our San Francisco address
2261 Market Street STE 10955
San Francisco, CA 94114
San Francisco, CA 94114
Other job training programs in California
California residents have access to a range of job training services and programs. If you're looking for something a little different than Climb Hire, here are some options:
Employment Development Department (EDD)
California's EDD is a state agency that offers free or low-cost training programs statewide through its Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). These programs serve many job seekers, including laid-off workers, youth, and people with disabilities. Vocational training, apprenticeships, and career readiness workshops are available in industries such as healthcare, IT, and business.
High Road Training Partnerships
This state-funded program offers workforce training for California job seekers in industries like transportation, healthcare, and clean energy. Courses help you develop industry-specific skills through partnerships with employers and focus on in-demand jobs with sustainable wages and advancement opportunities.
Imperial County America's Job Centers of California (AJCC)
America's Job Centers of California provide job training programs to eligible Imperial County residents. Training options include adult work experience programs, vocational education, and apprenticeships in industries with high local demand. Programs also offer job readiness training and job placement services to help you secure employment.
Code Tenderloin
Code Tenderloin is a nonprofit in downtown San Francisco that offers free tech training programs for underserved communities. Their courses include coding, data analytics, AI automation, and other tech-focused bootcamps. Job readiness training is also offered, including things like soft skills and resume preparation.
General Assembly (GA)
General Assembly offers online job training courses in a variety of tech fields, including data analytics and software engineering. Programs are available full or part-time and include career coaching and networking opportunities.
California universities and colleges that offer job training programs
University of California - San Francisco
UC San Francisco offers California workforce development programs in health, science, and technology fields to employees and community members. These programs include hands-on technical training, internship opportunities, and career-readiness support.
UC Berkeley Extension
Job training programs through UC Berkeley Extension include fields like marketing, project management, finance, and web development. These certificate programs are available on the Berkeley campus and online, varying in cost and duration depending on your course of study.
City College of San Francisco (CCSF)
City College of San Francisco provides job training through apprenticeship programs in fields like plumbing, information security, and HVAC. Apprentices receive paid training, work experience, and ongoing instruction, with the potential of future job opportunities.
San Jose State University
Through San Jose State University, you can access career development programs and bootcamps in fields like healthcare, IT, coding, and business. They offer self-paced, online courses, with instructors and mentors available for guidance. These programs provide the skills and certifications needed to get started in each field.
California Community Colleges
This network of 116 colleges across the state offers career training opportunities in trade fields, technology, engineering, and more. Most job training programs take less than a year to complete and prepare you for entry-level positions.