Restore Education offers free workforce training certification programs for in-demand fields. We offer several options for earning a certification as you work towards your high school equivalency credential or college enrollment

• Must be 18 or older and be eligible to work in the U.S.
• Most trainings require proof of a high school diploma or GED.
• Some trainings require vaccination records.

There may be additional requirements depending on the training pathway you choose. Students must successfully complete all course requirements and pass all exams to receive their training certificate.

Enrollment is free and. Upgrade your education and career prospects as you enhance your immediate earning potential with workforce training.

The Dual Generation program is focused on helping parents go to college or job training and making sure their children receive an appropriate developmental level of education. We can provide childcare for the parents to attend school/training and assist with job placement after completion (or during if needed).

Tuition assistance available for job training programs:

• GED/High School Diploma
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Medical Assistant
• Pharmacy Technician
• Commercial Driver License (CDL)
• Bookkeeping / QuickBooks
• Medical Front Office
• Administrative Assistant w/ Phlebotomy
• Child Development Associate (CDA)
• Information Technology
• Customer Service Financial Services
• Paraprofessional Educator Training

Monthly support and access to:

• Job & Career Exploration
• Quality Childcare
• Resume Building
• Supportive Services
• Transportation Assistance

To qualify, a family must:

• have at least 1 child aged 0-10; and
• live in one of these zip codes: 78202, 78203, 78205, 78207, 78208, 78210, 78215, 78218, 78219, 78220, 78222, 78227, 78237.

Restore Education’s college readiness program bridges this gap by putting college preparation within reach for students across Bexar County. With our help, students are less likely to end up in remedial courses and more likely to persist in college.

The Information Technology training course provides instruction on the foundations of IT, programming, and network support. Students will master the technical skills of programming and computer support. Other skills to be acquired include courses in professionalism, verbal communication, analyzing information, and critical thinking/problem-solving. IT training is intended to equip students with basic skills and knowledge for entry-level positions such as help desk, desktop support, or other tech support positions. Graduates of this program will be eligible to sit for the CompTIA IT Fundamentals and A+ certification.

Go at your own pace. Create your own schedule with our evening and weekend hours. Take your exams when you are ready

You can enroll for free. Thanks to generous donors,
our program is completely free for students.

• Computer Skills Classes
• Free Wi-Fi
• Free Computer Use

Ready to Work is unprecedented. No other city in the nation is supporting its residents like we are. With over $110 million in tuition assistance, hundreds of employers, training providers and colleges, community organizations and workforce agencies, we are in it together, for you.

Ready to Work makes continuing your education and finding a quality job easier for you. Your personal Ready to Work coach will help you with every step of the process, from understanding your specific situation, coaching you through career and education planning, enrolling and paying for your classes, increasing your confidence and soft skills, updating your resume, preparing you for interviews, connecting you to new job opportunities, and helping you thrive in your job.

Your journey begins with step one – Register online, call 3-1-1, or visit a Ready To Work Partner Agency.

Our full list of programs can be found here.

Our full list of employers can be found here.

Our Partner Agency, Restore Education, connects students with no-cost, flexible pathways so they can advance their education and launch in-demand careers. Eligibility Requirements can be found here.

Services include:

• Intake
• Case Management
• Testing (Entrance Exam)
• Training in these Fields:

• Medical Front Office
• Phlebotomy
• Medical Assistant
• Office Support
• Financial Services Representative
• Bookkeeping Assistant
• Transportation Design Technician
• Logistics Technician
• Information Technician

A Safe Place to Call Home: We know that learning happens best when you and your family feel safe and settled at home. Our housing and education program provides subsidized transitional housing for you and your children.

Housing includes:

• A safe space for you and your family
• After-school care to help your children thrive
• A supportive community that celebrates together.
  If you have no place to call home or are on the verge of crisis, we want to help.

Education-The Path to a Better Future: You may feel like many of the women who reach out to us. Hopeless. Overwhelmed. Like you have no future. Over the years, we've seen women just like you change their lives with education. You're not alone. We are here to help.

Women in our programs have:

• Completed their GED
• Finished a college degree
• Watched their children thrive in a caring after-school program
• Found themselves earning a living-wage
• Become self-sustaining
• Provided their family with a better future

Full Education Program: Our housing and education program provides transitional housing, after-school programs, mentoring and more to help women complete a college degree.

The Visitation House Learning Center: Our community learning center is open to other women who want to take the next steps to improve their education.

Women/single mothers and their children only.

The Victory Center is the home to:

Veteran Affairs

• For military-affiliated students with support including academic advising, benefit certification, tutoring, support groups and counseling, and career services.

disABILITY Support Services 

• The mission of disABILITY Support Services (dSS) at San Antonio College (SAC) is to provide reasonable accommodations and facilitate access to on-campus courses as well as distance education for students with disabilities. 

TRiO Project Valor

• Project VALOR collaborates with students in their development of academic, social, and marketable skills while enrolled at San Antonio College. Our program provides students with holistic academic support within a learning community of peers.

  The TRiO VSSS program is offered at no cost to students. We provide academic and community support for student veterans studying at San Antonio College.

The aerospace industry is in high demand in San Antonio. If you would like to learn more about working as an airframe and powerplant technician, aircraft electrician, aircraft avionics technician, or aircraft fuel systems technician, the Aerospace Academy may be right for you.

Our program is accredited by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and can help you earn FAA’s Airframe and Powerplant license. You’ll receive comprehensive training and become well-versed in the manufacturing and repair of small airplanes and jumbo jets.

After graduation, you may enter the aerospace industry and earn anywhere from $10 to $15 an hour.

Click here for more information on the Aerospace Academy curriculum.

High School Juniors and Seniors.

There are numerous San Antonio companies in construction, transportation, agriculture, oil, gas, and mining that have the need for diesel technicians. If you’d like to find out what it’s like to work in the highly technical and competitive field of diesel technology, the Diesel Technology Academy will be a good option.

After graduation, you’ll be equipped with the skills necessary for an entry-level diesel technician job at companies such as HOLT CAT, ASCO, Rush Truck Enterprise, and RDO. You can expect to earn about $15 an hour to start.

Click here for more information on the Diesel Technology curriculum.

High School Juniors and Seniors.

There is a high demand in San Antonio for nurses and other health careers. If you’re pursuing a career in healthcare, consider enrolling in the Health Professions Academy. Courses in this program can transfer to other colleges and universities for those wanting to pursue other healthcare career paths.

Once you complete the two-year program, you’ll automatically be accepted into San Antonio College’s Nursing program and can complete your nursing degree. As an entry-level nurse, you can expect a starting salary of over $57,500.

Click here for more information on the Health Professions curriculum..

High School Juniors and Seniors.

Cybersecurity is more necessary today than ever before. It can prevent companies from cyberattacks that cost them time, money, and their reputation. If you’re interested in advancing your knowledge in cybersecurity, consider the Information Technology and Security Academy.

The Technology and Security Academy focuses on computer engineering, computer science, problem-solving, and communication skills. You’ll earn Testout Certification in PC Pro, Network Pro, Linux Pro, and Security Pro and can continue training to receive other industry certifications or use your college credits toward further education at the college level.

You may land a position as a computer support specialist and help with log-in difficulties, operating system and software malfunctions, network technologies, and even hardware issues.

Click here for more information on the Information Technology and Security curriculum.

High School Juniors and Seniors.

We can help you prepare for college.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Not enrolled in any K-12 school system
• Need a High School Equivalency (HSE) certificate (have not earned a high school diploma)
• Demonstrate the need for a refresher on adult basic education skills (have earned a high school diploma or HSE and tests below a 12.9 grade level on TABE/CASAS assessment)
• Demonstrate the need for English skills (by taking BEST/CASAS assessment)

Age-specific requirements:

• 18 years of age with withdrawal forms from the last school attended, and parent/guardian permission. Parent/guardian must be present at registration or student must provide proof (Utility bill in their name, marriage license or rental agreement) he/she lives separate from parent/guardian.
• 17 years of age with withdrawal forms from the last school attended, and parent/guardian permission (must be present at registration)
• 16 years of age with withdrawal forms from the last school attended, court-ordered documentation, and parent/guardian permission (must be present at registration)

Free for the student.

The Dual Generation program is focused on helping parents go to college or job training and making sure their children receive an appropriate developmental level of education. We can provide childcare for the parents to attend school/training and assist with job placement after completion (or during if needed).

Tuition assistance available for job training programs:

• GED/High School Diploma
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Medical Assistant
• Pharmacy Technician
• Commercial Driver License (CDL)
• Administrative Assistant
• Bookkeeping / QuickBooks
• Medical Front Office
• Phlebotomy
• Child Development Associate (CDA)
• Information Technology
• Entrepreneurship
• Electrical Trade Skills Training

Monthly support and access to:

• Financial Empowerment Sessions
• Job & Career Exploration
• Parenting Classes
• Quality Childcare
• Resume Building
• Supportive Services
• Transportation Assistance

To qualify, a family must:

• have at least 1 child aged 0-10; and
• live in one of these zip codes: 78202, 78203, 78205, 78207, 78208, 78210, 78215, 78218, 78219, 78220, 78222, 78227, 78237.

Chrysalis Ministries offers in-house life skill classes for all clients. We also partner with multiple non-profits to help further client's education.

Available classes:

• Job Readiness and Career Development with two annual job fairs (No fee required)
• Money Management
• 12-Step Faith-based Substance Abuse and Recovery (NA & AA)
• Anger Management Class ($55 fee)
• Theft Addiction and Recovery
• Healthy Relationships
• Seeking Safety: PTSD and Substance Abuse Pastoral Counseling (No fee)
• Parenting Classes (No cost)
• Moral Recognition Therapy (No charge)

Click here for program times & dates.

Fees vary

Ready to Work is unprecedented. No other city in the nation is supporting its residents like we are. With over $110 million in tuition assistance, hundreds of employers, training providers and colleges, community organizations and workforce agencies, we are in it together, for you.

Ready to Work makes continuing your education and finding a quality job easier for you. Your personal Ready to Work coach will help you with every step of the process, from understanding your specific situation, coaching you through career and education planning, enrolling and paying for your classes, increasing your confidence and soft skills, updating your resume, preparing you for interviews, connecting you to new job opportunities, and helping you thrive in your job.

Your journey begins with step one – Register online, call 3-1-1, or visit a Ready To Work Partner Agency.

Our full list of programs can be found here.

Our full list of employers can be found here.

Our Partner Agency, Chrysalis Ministries, provides hands-on case management services to help former inmates and their families as they overcome the consequences of incarceration. Eligibility Requirements can be found here.

Services include:

• Intake
• Assessment
• Case Management
• Referrals for Training

The San Antonio AIDS Foundation provides a continuum of care to low-income HIV-positive men, women, and transgender individuals. Our services include resource and benefits assistance, case management, mental health counseling, medical care, pharmacy services, housing, and a year-round hot meal program.

We offer onsite and mobile testing for HIV and STDs, as well as HIV prevention education presentations in local public schools, colleges and universities, adult probation facilities, and teen detention programs.

Services are only available to individuals living with HIV/AIDS who are registered clients of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation.

This program provides financial assistance to households who have become homeless and require short or mid-term assistance to be able to regain housing stability.

Clients/households are referred by the Coordinated Entry system and through the hotline from the City of San Antonio.

Case Management is required to participate in this program.

This program provides education of college or university selection and scholarship information. Speakers are interactive and participants will leave with a plan of action.?

Contact Sister Maria Cooper or Bro. Nikal Gibson at number and email below.

Free.

This youth developmental initiative is a community outreach project aimed at enhancing family and youth development in the areas of etiquette and manners; social graces; college and career preparedness and establishing your brand. Participants gain first hand knowledge of setting a table, financial literacy and effective use of social media.

Youth

Free

Career Gear is a non-profit organization that builds strong families and communities by empowering low-income men to overcome barriers and achieve self-sufficiency. We promote the economic independence of low-income men by providing financial literacy training, a network of support, professional attire, career development tools, job-readiness and essential life-skills training that help men enter the workforce, stay employed and become role models and mentors to their families and communities.

Career Gear provides professional clothing, mentoring and life-skills to help men in poverty become stronger contributors to their families and communities.

Career Gear Clothing Boutique has a large selection of sizes and colors. Clients pick out their business outfit with the help of a Direct Service Coordinator.

Men who are considered to be low-income

Free

Clients have access to more than 300 on-line courses, at no charge, to expand or reinforce their skills sets. They may also test and receive certificates to validate their skills for prospective employers.

Must be enrolled in Dress for Success or Career Gear programs.

Free.

We are a networking organization for the women of Dress for Success, a place to empower yourself, a place to give back.
At a PWG meeting, we begin with networking time and then a speaker shares in their area of expertise.

Topics taught and discussed include:

• Financial Literacy
• Health and Wellness
• Balancing Work and Life
• Time Management
• Professional Development
• Professional Image Consulting

Only for women

Free

Thrive’s emergency shelter is housed on the campus of Haven for Hope and provides 10 young adults with shelter for up to 6 months.

The core services at our emergency shelter include not only basic needs of food and shelter but individually tailored and youth-directed case management plans to help young adults move forward in exiting homelessness.

Thrive assists young adults with linkage to resources such as ID recovery, counseling, medical services, gender-affirming care, educational opportunities, and vocational training in a safe and supportive environment.

Our focus is to help remove barriers that young adults may encounter in seeking services and help guide them toward their next move in achieving their goals.

LGBTQ youth and young adults.

Free.

A mindfulness-centered program that supports girls to building healthy relationships, managing emotions, life stressors and helps girls develop critical skills for success.

Open for all girls in 3rd-5th grade and 6th-8th grade.

$60 for the year, with a $10 non-refundable application fee due at time of registration.

Learn from women working in STEM fields about diverse STEM career options, visit college campuses to learn about programs and scholarships, and gain vital 21st-century skills while connecting with girls from across the city!

Open to girls in 6th and 7th grade.

Click here to register.

This program demystifies industry for high school students through half a day of work-based learning. The experience allows students to see career options firsthand and gain skills that employers need.

Our 2021 Regional Job Shadow took place March 1-5 with 12,800+ high school students participating virtually. Instead of the traditional workplace visit, over 40 employers shared 100+ videos with students across the region to give them a look at what real careers look like across 15 industries. Check out our Job Shadow press conference and learn how the program helps guide San Antonio's future workforce in their career exploration.

Young Adult Stability and Support Program (YASS Center) is a youth drop-in center exclusively for young adults (ages 18-24) experiencing homelessness.

The YASS Center provides youth access to:

• a safe place to rest
• career guidance
• education
• employment
• housing assistance
• ID recovery
• computers and charging 
• mental health support
• and more

YASS center is located on the third floor of the Travis Park Church in downtown San Antonio. YASS services are delivered in a confidential, judgment-free zone. All who seek our assistance are treated with respect. 

Young adults 18-24 who are homeless or at risk.

Free

• Computer Skills Classes
• Free Wi-Fi
• Free Computer Use

We provide clothing, shoes, and hygiene items to homeless veterans that are in need. We partner with the shelter for homeless veterans to help those that served our country. No veteran should be homeless after putting their lives on the line for their country.

We offer free financial literacy classes as preventative measures to reduce homelessness in our military population. The classes are designed to teach how money works, how to invest, and how to utilize VA home loans.

Veterans; must show a need and a provide military ID or DD214.

Free

LiftFund provides affordable loans and education to small businesses and entrepreneurs who do not have access to credit from commercial sources.

In response to the economic impact the pandemic has had on small businesses, LiftFund has partnered with various organizations to offer economic relief funding to local entrepreneurs.

Please click here to see available programs.

Free

The TurningPoint Transitional Living program helps youth who have aged out of foster care and other homeless youth by providing a safe place to live, learn, and become productive, empowered members of our community.

The program includes:

• professional case management
• weekly counseling
• job and life skills training
• educational assistance
• resource referrals

Call for more information.

Youth 18-24 years old

Personalized Career & Training Assistance for Justice-Involved Clients.

Goodwill Reentry Services understands individuals' unique challenges when reentering into society after incarceration, from reconnecting with family to finding employment.

Our staff provides one-on-one career coaching with a focus on:

• Identifying your career interests
• Developing your resume
• Practicing interview skills
• Completing online job applications
• Connecting to employers or training programs

Additionally, individuals can enroll in training programs, which include construction trades, warehousing, and logistics.

Requirements:

• At least18 years old
• Have a Valid ID
• Eligible to work in the United States
• Released from prison within the last two years
• Currently on Parole, Probation, or Supervised Release
• Can work full-time

If you are interested in finding out more, send an email to Reentry Services at [email protected].