A Parents 

Guide to 

JOB CORPS 

Success Lasts A Lifetime 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Look closely. 

Everyone 

pictured is an 

actual Job Corps 

student, graduate, 

or instructor. 

(800) 733-JOBS [5627] 

A Parents Guide to 

JOB CORPS 

CONGRATULATIONS, your son or daughter is 

considering joining Job Corps! 

Job Corps is the nation’s largest career technical training and education program 

for students ages 16 through 24. A voluntary program administered by the 

U.S. Department of Labor, Job Corps provides low-income young men and women 

with an opportunity to gain the experience they need to begin a career or advance 

to higher education. 

Each year Job Corps serves 60,000 young people. There are 125 Job Corps centers 

located in 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and most 

students live on campus. In some cases, students live at home and commute each 

day to their center for training. 

Committing to Job Corps is a big decision – one you and your son or daughter 

should make together. Remember that Job Corps is a government program, so 

your student should be prepared to complete paperwork during the enrollment 

process. Your son or daughter should consider Job Corps because: 

● Students can earn a high school diploma, a GED, or college credits
 

through Job Corps.
 

● We offer career technical training in more than 100 career areas. 

● Students receive housing, meals, basic health care, a living allowance, 


training, and preparation for a career – all at no cost to you.
 

● For up to 21 months after graduation, a career transition counselor will 

help your student make the transition from Job Corps into the real world. 

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www.recruiting.jobcorps.gov 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How does Job Corps work? 

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An admissions counselor will work closely 

with your student to determine the 

appropriate timeline for enrollment and 

which center he or she will attend. This 

process may take anywhere from a few days 

to a few weeks. 

In the first few weeks of the program, staff 

will work with your son or daughter to create 

a personalized career development plan 

including an area of training that will offer 

promising job opportunities for your student. 

Next, your student will begin working at 

his or her own pace to reach career 

technical training and educational goals. 

Since the program is self-paced, your 

student can learn at a rate that matches his 

or her ability. Your son or daughter may be 

in a rush, but it takes about a year to gain 

the knowledge and skills needed 

to start a career and a new life. Our most 

successful students stay in the program 

between 1 and 2 years. 

As your student nears graduation, our 

staff will help your son or daughter prepare 

a resume and practice job-interview 

and job-search skills. A career transition 

counselor will continue to work with your 

student for up to 21 months after graduation. 

Career 

Technical 

Training 

Areas 

Advanced Manufacturing 

Welding 

Automotive and 

Machine Repair 

Automobile Technician 

Collision Repair and Refinish 

Construction 

Bricklaying 

Carpentry 

Cement Masonry 

Electrical 

Facilities Maintenance 

Heating, Ventilation, 

and Air Conditioning 

Painting 

Plumbing 

Finance and Business 

Accounting Services 

Office Administration 

Health Care 

Clinical Medical Assistant 

Licensed Practical/ 

Vocational Nurse 

Medical Office Support 

Nurse Assistant/ 

Home Health Aide 

Pharmacy Technician 

These career areas offer training 

What does Job Corps offer? 

Not every center 

offers each of these 

career technical 

training areas. Please 

check with your 

admissions counselor 

to see which training 

programs are offered 

at the Job Corps 

center nearest your 

student. 

Job Corps provides students with the career 

technical training, education, and employability 

skills needed to advance in today’s workforce. 

CAREER TECHNICAL TRAINING 

Job Corps offers hands-on training in more 

than 100 career technnical training areas. 

All training programs are aligned with industry 

credentials and are designed to meet the 

requirements of today’s careers. 

You will also have the chance to train with 

professionals at actual work sites through Job 

Corps' Work-Based Learning Program. Job 

Corps works with employers in every corner of 

the country to provide students with real-world 

experience. 

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 

Through partnerships with local school systems, 

Job Corps helps thousands of students attain 

their high school diplomas or GEDs every year. 

Many centers also provide resources and classes 

for English Language Learners (ELL). If your 

student is a high school graduate, Job Corps 

can help him or her prepare for college. 

Some Job Corps centers even have partnerships 

with local colleges, where students can receive 

credit for advanced courses. Job Corps can 

help students prepare for the military as well, 

providing special assistance for the Armed Services 

Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) entrance 

exam. 

Homeland Security 

Security and Protective Services 

Hospitality 

Culinary Arts 

Hotel and Lodging 

Information Technology 

Computer Technician 

Network Cable Installation 

Renewable Resources 

and Energy 

Landscaping 

Urban Forestry 

Retail Sales and Services 

Retail Sales 

Transportation 

Heavy Equipment Operations 

Material and Distribution 

Operations 

... and many more! 

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in the latest green technology 

and industry-based practices to 

prepare graduates for careers in 

the green economy. 

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www.recruiting.jobcorps.gov (800) 733-JOBS [5627] 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What will life be like on center 

for my son or daughter? 

(800) 733-JOBS [5627] 

Life on a Job Corps center can be an exciting experience 

for your son or daughter. Some centers are located in large 

cities, while others are in more rural areas. Job Corps centers 

offer a campus setting with separate male and female living 

quarters where two to eight students share a room. 

Each student learns to take on new responsibilities while 

adjusting to life on center and is responsible for cleaning 

his or her own room and certain common areas of the 

campus on a regular basis. Your student will be required 

to comply with a dress code and abide by curfew hours. 

Job Corps can help your student mature as a person and a 

prospective employee. 

A typical day at Job Corps is full of activities to help your 

son or daughter prepare for the real world. Students get 

up early and start their day around 8 a.m. They spend 

the majority of the day receiving academic and hands-on 

career technical training. After class, students study or 

hang out with friends before dinner in the cafeteria. After 

dinner, students may have chores to do around campus 

or downtime to finish studying. Most students are in bed 

around 10 p.m. in order to rest for the busy day ahead. 

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Life on center 

includes: 

• Campus 

setting with 

dormitories 

• Basic medical 

and dental 

care 

• Recreational 

activities 

• Intramural 

sports 

• Trips to local 

attractions 

• Community 

service 

projects 

www.recruiting.jobcorps.gov 

Some Job Corps students find it difficult adjusting to life 

away from home. Most attend the Job Corps center closest 

to their hometowns, but the transition can still be 

challenging. Even if your son or daughter gets homesick 

during the first few weeks at Job Corps, encourage him or 

her to stay committed to the program. Reassure your 

student that he or she will feel more comfortable and make 

new friends soon. 

All participants are assigned a personal counselor when 

they enroll in the program to help them adjust to center life. 

You are always welcome to contact the Job Corps center 

and talk with your student’s counselor. 

Job Corps gives each student a living allowance twice a 

month while in the program. The allowance is typically used 

to buy personal items such as shampoo and toothpaste. 

If you wish to send your son or daughter money, we strongly 

recommend that you purchase a money order. This is the 

safest method to ensure that the funds are received. Some 

students prefer to use prepaid cards for long-distance 

phone calls and other expenses. 
 

 

May I visit my son or Is Job Corps safe? daughter on center? 

As a parent or guardian of a Job Corps student, you may visit Job Corps is committed to providing a clean, safe, and secure 

the Job Corps center. We ask that you give the center as much environment for everyone. Security personnel are on campus 

advance notice as possible before visiting. 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and each center has 

specific rules and regulations for security, including monitoring Students may be allowed to visit home. Passes may be given for the entry and exit of all guests. Every center also maintains a weekend visits with family, overnight trips off center, holidays, and close working relationship with the local police department. emergency situations. 

Staff receive training in dispute resolution, safe practices, and Each center has a different policy regarding visiting and/or crisis management, and are qualified to handle safety and contacting your student. Check with your son or daughter’s Job security situations. Security personnel also assist with providing Corps admissions counselor for more information on visitation crime prevention information to students. and/or contact procedures at the center your child plans to attend. 

Job Corps has a Zero Tolerance Policy against violence and We encourage prospective students and their parents to request drugs. Students who break this policy will be dismissed and will a tour of the center at any time. The center also hosts a not be allowed to re-enter the program. The rules below are graduation ceremony for graduates and family members once common at most Job Corps centers, but students should pay students complete the program. attention to their specific center’s regulations. 

A space is provided at the back of this booklet to record 

important information, such as the center director’s name, The following are not permitted at 

the center’s mailing address and phone number, and the Job Corps centers and are grounds for admissions counselor’s contact information. immediate dismissal from the program: 

• Violence 

• Drug use 

• Sexual misconduct 

• Persistent disobedience of center 

rules and regulations 

• Repeated or prolonged absences 

from classes 

• Improper use of center facilities 

and equipment 

• Unreasonable standards of personal 

appearance and cleanliness 

• Maintenance or operation of a 

private vehicle (does not apply to 

nonresidential students) 

• Leaving the center without permission 

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www.recruiting.jobcorps.gov (800) 733-JOBS [5627] 7
 

 

 

 

 

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What happens to my student after 

he or she completes the program? 

In addition to career technical training and an education, Job 

Corps provides students with the tools they need to begin a 

successful career. When a student is near graduation, a Job 

Corps career transition counselor will help him or her make the 

transition to full-time employment. Our career transition 

counselors help students practice interview skills, finalize a 

resume, and search for a job in their chosen fields. 

Job Corps understands that being independent means more 

than just having a job. So when your student’s training at 

Job Corps is complete, a counselor will work with him or her 

for up to 21 months after graduation. A career transition 

counselor can put your student in touch with helpful community 

resources to ease the transition into the workforce. This could 

include resources related to housing, transportation, social services, 

and child care. We continue to help students after graduation 

because we want them to succeed after Job Corps. 

(800) 733-JOBS [5627] 

Success Lasts A Lifetime 

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To be successful at Job Corps, students must commit to their 

education and training. It won’t always be easy. We will 

challenge your student. But with hard work, your son or 

daughter will be one of the thousands of young people who 

have a better career and a better life as a result of joining 

Job Corps. 

Commit to us, and we will show your student the path to a new 

career or college. That’s our commitment to you. At Job Corps, 

Success Lasts A Lifetime. 

www.recruiting.jobcorps.gov 

“Being away from 

family and friends, 

having a curfew, and 

having to follow a 

routine was difficult 

when I first got here. 

But then I realized that 

I was here to get an 

education, learn a trade, 

and improve my life. 

Suddenly, those things 

didn’t matter. Job 

Corps was my ticket to 

a better life.” 

– Elizabeth, 

San Jose Job Corps Center 
Ottumwa

Your son or daughter can be one of the 60,000 young 

people Job Corps serves annually. Check out our center 125 Job Corps Centers Nationwide locations below. Students are typically matched with a 

center located close to their hometowns. 

Ottumwa 

*Coming soon 

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www.recruiting.jobcorps.gov (800) 733-JOBS [5627]
 
 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

Center: 

Center Director: 

Center Mailing Address: 

Center Phone Number: 

Admissions Counselor: 

Phone Number: 

E-Mail Address: 

NOTES 

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“From earning my 

high school diploma 

to training for a highgrowth career, the 

people at Job Corps 

supported and 

encouraged me every 

step of the way. Now 

I’m ready for the life 

I always wanted.” 

– Sean, 

Brooklyn Job Corps Center 

For more information about Job Corps, please call 

(800) 733-JOBS [5627] or visit www.recruiting.jobcorps.gov. 
 

 

 Call us today. 

(800) 733-JOBS [5627]
 

www.recruiting.jobcorps.gov 

Se habla español. Para más información, por favor 

llame al: (800) 733-5627 o visítenos en la página 

Web: www.mifuturo.jobcorps.gov. 

Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, Job Corps is the nation’s largest 

career technical training and education program for low-income students ages 

16 through 24. Job Corps is a U.S. Department of Labor Equal Opportunity 

Employer Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to 

individuals with disabilities. TDD/TTY telephone number is (877) 889-5627. 

Contact your local admissions office: 

00005.09.11