Job training in Sonoma, Marin and Napa
Learn a new skill, earn a certificate or start a new career close to home. Many of these programs are free or pay you while you learn.
Paid while you learn
Programs that pay you while you train.
Apprenticeships in California
Learn a trade or career on the job while you earn a paycheck, with classes alongside. The state keeps a search tool of approved apprenticeship programs.
California Division of Apprenticeship Standards
415-703-4920
Source California Division of Apprenticeship Standards
Sonoma County Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship
A paid apprenticeship through Santa Rosa Junior College. Work at a local early childhood program while taking child development classes, with tuition and school fees paid. Apprentices earn 12 early childhood education units, complete 2,000 hours of paid work, and become eligible for an Associate Teacher permit.
For adults 18 and older with a high school diploma or equivalent. Applications open once a year, so check the page for the next round.
707-522-2722
Source SRJC Child Development apprenticeship page
Conservation Corps North Bay
Paid job training for young adults ages 18 to 30 in Sonoma and Marin counties. Work outdoors on trails, creeks and wildfire prevention, and earn credits toward a high school diploma.
Source Local News Matters, May 2024
Trades, health and public safety
Hands-on training for building trades, emergency medical work and more.
NextGen Trades Academy
Free training for young adults in the building trades, including roofing, plumbing, construction and solar, from the LIME Foundation in Santa Rosa. Participants earn safety certifications and get 18 months of mentoring and career help. Classes have been offered online and in person.
support@thelimefoundation.org
Source MCE news release, December 2023, and Press Democrat
North Bay Trades Introduction Program
An introduction to union building and construction careers, led by the North Bay Building and Construction Trades Council, for Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties. It focuses on opening the trades to women and underserved communities. Past sessions have been tuition free, and you can ask about stipends.
707-755-0533
Source California Workforce Development Board project summary and Hanna Center flyer, 2024
Certified Nurse Assistant training
Train for the state nurse assistant exam in about 10 weeks.
Santa Rosa Junior College offers a 226 hour program in spring, summer and fall, with up to 30 students each term. 707-527-4011
College of Marin offers nurse assistant and home health aide training at its Indian Valley campus in Novato. Spring 2027 spots are for Canal Alliance clients. 415-457-8811 ext. 8200
See SRJC nurse assistant training
Source SRJC Certified Nurse Assistant and College of Marin CNA pages
EMT training
All three community colleges offer a one semester Emergency Medical Technician course that prepares you for the national EMT certification exam. Most require a first responder course and a current CPR card first.
SRJC Public Safety Training Center, 5743 Skylane Blvd, Windsor, 707-837-8843. SRJC also offers an Emergency Medical Services Academy with ambulance driving certificates.
Napa Valley College, emsprogram@napavalley.edu
College of Marin, 415-485-7667
Source SRJC, Napa Valley College and College of Marin EMT pages
Help paying for training
Ways to have your training paid for.
Training paid for by job programs
If you are looking for work or were laid off, your local job center may be able to pay for approved training. Ask Sonoma County Job Link, CareerPoint Marin or CareerPoint Napa about training funds. Approved schools and programs are listed on the state training list in CalJOBS.
Source California EDD Eligible Training Provider List page
Colleges
Career certificates at our three community colleges.
Santa Rosa Junior College career education
More than 100 job training certificates, in areas like health care, culinary arts, business, agriculture, child development, welding and automotive work.
1501 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa
707-527-4011
Source SRJC Career Education site
College of Marin career education
Career programs including automotive technology, medical and dental assisting, nursing, early childhood education, electronics, hospitality and environmental landscaping.
Kentfield campus, 835 College Ave, 415-457-8811
Indian Valley campus, 1800 Ignacio Blvd, Novato, 415-883-2211
Explore College of Marin programs
Source College of Marin career education site
Napa Valley College career education
Career certificates for work in the Napa Valley, plus free noncredit classes for the community, including a job skills class called 21st Century Employability Skills.
Noncredit classes, 707-302-2452
Explore Napa Valley College programs
Source Napa Valley College noncredit page
Adult schools and free classes
Short classes, English, and high school diploma programs, many free or low cost.
Sonoma County Adult Education
Short-term career classes, most with an industry certification, plus high school diploma and equivalency programs and English classes at all levels. Partners include SRJC, the Sonoma County Office of Education, which offers free short-term classes, and Petaluma Adult School.
705 Elliott Avenue, Santa Rosa
707-521-7962
See Sonoma County Adult Education
Source Sonoma County Adult Education programs page
Petaluma Adult School
Computer skills training in Word, Excel, Outlook and Google tools, along with other adult classes.
200 Douglas Street, Petaluma
707-778-4633
Source Petaluma Adult School site
Marin County Adult Education
Short-term career training, English classes, and high school diploma and GED programs for adults 18 and older. Members include College of Marin and the Novato, San Rafael, Tamalpais and Shoreline school districts.
415-492-3591
Source Marin County Adult Education Consortium about page
Napa County Library and Napa Valley Adult Education
Free English classes with Napa Valley Adult Education and Napa Valley College, and free one-on-one reading and writing tutoring for adults. Napa Valley Adult School also offers high school diploma and GED programs.
English classes, 707-253-4606
See Napa County Library adult education
Source Napa County Library adult education page
Ready to look for work?
See local jobs across Sonoma, Marin and Napa.
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