The College of Southern Idaho Job Corps
The Idaho Job Corps Project between the College of Southern Idaho and the Idaho Department of Labor nearing its third year will end May 2023, with enrolment closed on 11/1/2022
Job Corps Overview
Job Corps is the largest free job training program for young adults ages 16-24, and the College of Southern Idaho has now partnered with the Idaho Department of Labor to bring Idaho Job Corps to the greater Magic Valley area. We are prepared to connect you with the skills and education you need to get the career you want!
The Idaho Job Corps program helps young people improve the quality of their lives. We can connect students like you to career technical and academic training, and you can earn any of the following:
- High School Diploma or GED®
- Career Technical Certificate (Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced)
- Associate Degree
At Job Corps, we offer individualized case management as we empower students to earn excellence in academics, life skills, and career readiness, and we will be a true partner to prepare students for placement in high-demand occupations. Not only will we help you access training, but we will also help you find a job and keep in touch with you afterward to help with any transition needs you may have.
The Idaho Department of Labor has also partnered with various Idaho community colleges to provide Idaho Job Corps programs and services.
How to Qualify to Participate in Job Corps
Job Corps is a free education and job training program of the U.S. Department of Labor, and there are a few requirements to participate:
Age – you must be between 16 through 24 when you apply to Job Corps. An exception may be someone older than 24 who has a disability that makes it hard to find employment. Additionally, students under the age of 18 must have parental permission to participate in Job Corps.
Income – those who meet low-income requirements can enroll in the program at no cost to them. There are multiple ways to show low income. For example, you may qualify if you have one of the following:
- You receive SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program) benefits, formerly called food stamps, or are a member of a family receiving them.
- You get free or reduced-price lunch benefits at school.
- You get supplemental social security income.
- You are homeless, which includes living in someone else’s home due to hardship.
- You are a foster child or are waiting to be placed in a foster home.
- You are part of a migratory family that moves a lot for work such as farming, and you changed schools a lot or traveled 20+ miles to school.
Citizenship – participants in Job Corps must prove they are one of the following:
- A U.S. citizen, national or naturalized citizen.
- A resident of a U.S. territory
- A lawfully admitted permanent resident alien, refugee, asylee or parolee, or another alien who has been authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to work in the U.S.
- A Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) individual who has the approval to work
Trouble getting education and employment – if you did not finish high school or earn a GED® it is difficult to find a job, and you may qualify for Job Corps if you:
- Have trouble reading, writing, or speaking English, or doing basic math and this prevents you from getting or keeping a job.
- Dropped out of school before graduating.
- Are homeless, a runaway, or a victim of human trafficking.
- Are a parent and provide support for a child.
- Need more skills training to be able to support yourself.
Remember, students who already have a GED or high school diploma can also qualify to participate in Job Corps.
Selective Service registration requirement – If you are a male aged 18 or older, you must register for the military Selective Service in order to be accepted into Job Corps.
You have to want it – To participate in Job Corps, you must commit to finishing your education and obtaining a job. You must be willing to work and study, including showing up for classes and learning all you can. We will help you to succeed, but you must be personally willing to put in the effort required.