CCCS Internal Zero-Cost Training Programs
Ready for a career change? Take the first step with Career Advance Colorado!
Through your local community or technical college, you can get free training in nursing, firefighting, and other rewarding fields that move Colorado forward. Starting in August 2023, students who enroll in one of the following training programs will have their tuition, fees, course materials, and other costs covered while funding is available:
- Construction
- Education
- Early Childhood Education
- Firefighting
- Forestry
- Law Enforcement
- Nursing
To enroll, you must apply for federal and/or state financial aid. Contact your intended community or technical college to learn about program options, financial aid processes, and application steps.
Participating Colleges & Programs
Training programs and financial aid processes vary by College. Click the checkmarks below to learn more about these featured programs at each College website.
| Construction | Education | Early Childhood | Firefighting | Forestry | Law Enforcement | Nursing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aims Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Arapahoe Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Colorado Mountain College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| CMU Tech | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Colorado Northwestern Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Community College of Aurora | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Community College of Denver | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Emily Griffith Technical College | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Front Range Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Lamar Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Morgan Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Northeastern Junior College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Otero College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Pickens Technical College | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Pikes Peak State College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Pueblo Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Red Rocks Community College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Trinidad State College | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Construction | Education | Early Childhood | Firefighting | Forestry | Law Enforcement | Nursing |
More About Career Advance Colorado
Career Advance Colorado is funded through House Bill 23-1246, which dedicates $38.6 million to fully cover enrollment costs for training programs in sectors with significant workforce shortages. The bill was signed by Gov. Jared Polis in May 2023 and sponsored by Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Sens. Janet Buckner and Perry Will, and Rep. Rose Pugliese.
The program builds on the success of the Care Forward Colorado program, which has already trained thousands of Coloradans for entry-level healthcare positions. The Care Forward Colorado program will run concurrently with Career Advance Colorado while program funding is available.