SkillUp Resource
Guide

Career Training Programs to Help You Find a Great Job

Explore some career training programs, as well as how you can use them to take the next steps to a long-lasting career.

There are plenty of career training programs to suit your needs, whether you’re looking for a skilled trade that has you working in the field or a remote job you can do right from home. Explore some career training programs, as well as how you can use them to take the next steps to a long-lasting career.

New Careers, No Degree Necessary

Many career training programs don’t have any prerequisites or other requirements and won’t shackle you to five or more figures in student loans. Here are some of the programs to watch if you’re looking for a new career:

  • In-person career training: Community colleges and other local organizations offer in-person career training programs across the country. These programs are affordable, easy to access in your area, and give you the hands-on experience you need to start a new career.
  • Online career training programs: Many organizations also offer legitimate online career training so you can prepare for a new career from anywhere in the US—or beyond. Even more, these programs are a great way to show employers that you know how to work in a remote role!
  • Rapid career training: If you have limited time before you want to start your new career, there are also online and in-person career training programs that let you become certified in days, weeks, or months.
  • Skilled trade programs: The skilled trades also offer career training programs with steady, high-paying work and plenty of benefits, growth opportunities, and more. Check with local trade unions about how their training programs can be a path to steady, stable work.

Remote Work Training

Not every remote career training program covers the same types of skills, and some may be closer than you’d expect. These are the basics to know about remote career training:

  • Local online training: Local online training provides you with the localized specialization you need for locally oriented careers in fields like human resources and real estate, all with the convenience of the remote classroom.
  • National-level training: With these programs, you can get the certifications for a well-paying career from anywhere in the US! All it takes is a willingness to learn, effort, and a stable internet connection.

Career Training for Specialized Groups

There may also be specialized training programs that make the most of what makes you unique, such as your life experiences and existing skills. Some of these programs include:

  • Career-transition training programs: Whether you need a work style assessment or career coaching, there are resources that can help you find the right career path and a training program that makes sense for your experience. 
  • Training programs for young adults: Career training programs are great for teenagers and young adults who are entering the workforce and want to have specialized skills—without saddling themselves with thousands of dollars in student loan debt.
  • Disability-focused training programs: For people with ADA-recognized disabilities, there are also career training programs that can help you enter the workforce and have a meaningful, long-lasting, equitable career.
  • Skilled training for ethnic and racial minorities: Whether you belong to an Indigenous, Black, Latino/a, or other groups that have a history of being marginalized in the workforce, there are also numerous career training programs that can provide stipends or other concessions to help you get access to the resources and equity you need to succeed.

How SkillUp Can Help

At SkillUp, we specialize in connecting people with the career training programs that are right for them. See who we’ve helped and how we can make your journey a success story today.

Find Opportunities Near You

We’re here to help you find the career path that’s best for you! Start the journey to your new career by creating a My Path profile today—with no obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How Can I Check the Credential Quality of Career Training Programs?

At SkillUp, we verify and vet the career training programs we work with to ensure they’re legitimate. When you search for career training programs we work with, you can guarantee that employers will recognize your hard-earned credentials and see the work you’ve done.
However, if you’re also looking at other types of programs, there are other steps you can take to verify their legitimacy. Check the program’s website and other information for accreditation from recognized agencies.

How Helpful Are Career Training Programs?

Extremely! Accredited career training programs give you the education, certifications, and experience you need to start a new career with a livable wage. Many career training programs also support careers with upward mobility and growth opportunities that you can use for a fulfilling work life.

Which Short-Term Training Programs Offer the Highest Salaries?

Tons of short-term career training programs can offer salaries that potentially make up to six figures. For example, these are some of the high-earning programs available through our career training paths:

  • Software development: Many software engineering programs take just a few months to complete and lead to careers that make over $100,000.
  • Software testing: This is technically a different path from development, but still commands a six-figure salary with a similar time frame.
  • Network administration: Becoming a system administrator typically takes up to two years at the very most and can earn you over $90,000 every year.
  • Power line installation: This skilled trade takes just days or months to complete and can earn over $80,000 annually on average.
    Web development: With a year of training or less, you can earn over $80,000 per year as a web designer and developer to help people launch and update their websites.

And that’s just a few of the options! There are dozens more career paths available that take less than a year to complete while offering competitive salaries.