Visual Designer pursues UX design certifications to enhance skills
31-year-old Ismael Gutierrez was on the hunt for certifications in UX design. After discovering the UC San Diego Division of…
Continue readingAbout the program
Earn certificates
Jumpstart your career in a high-demand, high-growth occupation by earning a Google Career Certificate and a UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies certificate in just 15 months. Training programs are available in business intelligence, cybersecurity, human resources management and bookkeeping.
Get job search support
Get support outside of the classroom to help you get hired. With help from our team, you’ll receive guidance on:
- Perfecting your resume
- Preparing and practicing for interviews
- Job search optimization and
- Access to paid work experience
0% interest financing
Participants pay no upfront costs for the program. With a 0% interest outcomes-based loan, at a maximum, participants who earn the equivalent of at least $40,000 per year will pay $7,000. Read our FAQs to learn more about outcomes-based loans.
Interested in an offered pathway but not sure if this program is right for you? Reach out to hello@workforce.org for more information.
Certificates and career pathways
Business Intelligence
Gain skills to make sense of data and numbers to help organizations improve processes and operations.
Learn more
Cybersecurity
Learn how to protect data on electronic devices and networks to prevent and respond to attacks.
Learn more
Download curriculum example pdfs: Business Intelligence | Cybersecurity
Human Resources and Bookkeeping pathways are coming soon!
What you get from the program
Job Placement Assistance
Job search support, career advice and information about growing industries
Educational Services
Education assistance to achieve training and career goals
Work Readiness Training
Training on basic skills like teamwork and working under deadlines needed to get—and keep—a job
Eligibility requirements
How the program works
From enrollment to completing the program, here’s what you can expect at every stage:
Submit your application online (when applications are open)
Try the first five weeks risk-free
Apply for the 0% outcomes-based loan after five week trial period
Get real-world experience
Receive job placement assistance
How to apply
Join the waitlist–we'll send you an email when applications open.
Questions?
Read our FAQs, email us at hello@workforce.org or call (619) 319-WORK (9675).
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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions? Read our FAQs below, attend our next info session, watch the pre-recorded info session or reach out to google@workforce.org for more information.
Who should apply to the program?
Individuals who are interested in a career in technology but lack an affordable and flexible means to pursue it are encouraged to apply. While there is no upfront cost, the program is not free and we are happy help you weigh the features and benefits of this program against other certificate options available to you. We find that individuals with some exposure to technology and/or those who have a few years of consistent work experience are best suited for this program.
What do I need to succeed in the program?
Breaking into the technology sector requires a great deal of resilience and comfort with discomfort. It is not an easy path and will require hard work, persistence and continual growth. Strong time management skills, stable housing and steady access to the internet over the 15-month period also help create a stable learning environment.
How many hours per week will I need to spend on the program?
Participants should plan to commit to 15 hours/week of coursework and 1-2 hours/week of job-readiness preparation.
What if I’m still not sure which certificate path is right for me?
If you are still exploring multiple career options and interested in sectors outside of technology, we recommend you attend a Connecting Interests with Careers workshop, which can be found on our events calendar. If you know you want to pursue a path in technology, but are not sure which program is right, please attend our next information session. If you are ready to move forward with our program, please submit an application.
How will I interact with my instructors and career navigators?
You’ll use online learning and communication tools like Canvas, Slack and Coursera to engage with your instructors, career navigators and fellow students.
What if I’m not sure about the program yet?
Try out the Google and UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies coursework for up to five weeks before committing to the full 15-month program. During this time, we’ll have weekly check-ins to help you achieve your trial period milestones. When these milestones are met, you continue in the program, and if you don’t meet these milestones, you leave the program with no financial responsibility.
What are the certificates I’ll earn from UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies and Coursera?
Click the links below to learn more about the certificates you can earn for each pathway through UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies and Coursera:
- Business Intelligence Pathway
- Cybersecurity Pathway
- Details about the Human Resources and Bookkeeping pathways are coming soon
What does job-readiness training look like?
Participants build job-readiness skills in addition to technical skills through 1-on-1 counseling sessions and group workshops. While paid work experience and mentorship is not required, they are recommended to everyone in the program to set yourself apart in the job search. With help from our team, you’ll identify ideal jobs, perfect your resume, practice interviewing and complete projects or internships that help you stand out, building skills to support every step of your career journey. Additionally, you will have the support of our community partners to help with barriers that could potentially interfere with your progress.
Am I guaranteed a job at the end of the program?
No. The Workforce Partnership can’t guarantee you a job, but we prepare you for your job search and leverage our employer network to refer candidates to open roles with our partners. We also expect participants to actively apply to jobs after graduating.
What is an outcomes-based loan?
Outcomes-based loans allow organizations like the Workforce Partnership to provide comprehensive education, job-readiness training, access to paid work experience and other wraparound services at no upfront cost to the participant. For participants who are earning the equivalent of at least $40,000 per year, the repayment obligation is to repay the $7,000 outcomes-based loan with zero interest. For those who are not earning the equivalent of at least $40,000 per year, participants can defer payments for up to 60 months. Learn more about outcomes-based loans here.
What if I don’t want to take out an outcomes-based loan?
There are many other technology education options for people interested in these careers. The UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies courses are available to anyone, independent of this program and prospective applicants are welcome to enroll directly through UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies.
As part of our application process, the Workforce Partnership will help you evaluate other potential programs. View a full list of the Partnership’s free or low-cost program and service offerings, or reach out to hello@workforce.org with any questions.
San Diego’s community colleges and San Diego College of Continuing Education also offer classes in these subject areas that may be lower cost, or even free depending on your financial situation, but may not offer the career services that the Workforce Partnership is able to provide.