Job Corps is the nation's largest career technical training and education program for young people ages 16 through 24 that qualify as low income. A voluntary program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, Job Corps provides eligible young men and women with an opportunity to gain the experience they need to begin a career or advance to higher education.

Job Corps offers hands-on training in more than 100 career technical areas, including: automotive and machine repair, construction, finance and business services, health care, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing, renewable resources, and many more. All training programs are aligned with industry certifications and are designed to meet the requirements of today's careers.

Job Corps also offers the opportunity to earn a high school diploma or a GED for those youth who don't have either. For youth who already have a high school diploma, Job Corps can help them prepare for college through partnerships with local colleges. Resources are also available for English Language Learners.

Courses in independent living, employability skills, and social skills are offered to all Job Corps students in order to help them make the transition into the workplace.

Job Corps has 125 centers nationwide with seven centers in New York State and two in New York City.

Eligibility criteria

Young people enter the Job Corps program voluntarily and must be at least 16 and not yet 25 years of age at the time of enrollment:*

A Job Corps applicant must:

• Be a legal U.S. resident; lawfully admitted permanent resident alien, refugee, asylee, or parolee, or other immigrant who has been authorized by the U.S. Attorney General to work in the United States; or resident of a U.S. territory
• Meet low-income criteria
• Face one or more barriers to employment such as: needing additional career technical training, education, counseling, and related assistance to complete regular schoolwork or to secure and maintain employment
• Can be a school dropout, a runaway, a foster child, a parent, or homeless
• Have signed consent from a parent or guardian if he/she is a minor
• Have a child care plan if he/she is the parent of a dependent child
• Not exhibit behavioral problems that could inhibit him/her or others from benefiting fully from the program
• Not require any face-to-face court or institutional supervision or court-imposed fines while enrolled in Job Corps
• Not use drugs illegally

Because Job Corps is a voluntary program, students choose to enroll in the program and may exit at any time.

*The maximum age limit may be waived if the applicant is a person with a documented disability.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining Job Corps or would like more information, please call (800) 733-JOBS or (800) 733-5627 today!

For information on education and employment, please visit Job Search Central at 188 Madison Avenue and 34th Street.