CNC machinist training in Puerto Rico

2 CNC machinist programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

1 school offers these machinist programs, and Puerto Rico has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Machinists set up and run equipment, including computer-controlled (CNC) machines, to make precision metal parts and tools. Community colleges and technical schools offer certificates and two-year degrees that teach reading engineering drawings and programming CNC machines.¹

In Puerto Rico, 1 of the 2 programs takes students without a high school diploma and 1 asks for a diploma or equivalent.

Both are the same kind of program: machinist certificate or diploma.

See the 2 programs

How much does CNC machinist training cost in Puerto Rico?

$8,373

is the price of the one program that lists a price, if you pay yourself

These two programs

Finished the program: Left out; Half of Puerto Rico's programs report exactly 100%, far more than in other states
Working 6 months later: Left out; Every program that reports it reports exactly 100%
Earned a year, estimated: about $6,500
Length: 36 to 69 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Puerto Rico may also offer CNC machinist training. How these figures are made

Is there free CNC machinist training in Puerto Rico?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. The one program with a price costs $8,373.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: paid apprenticeships, financial aid and the GI Bill

All 2 CNC machinist programs in Puerto Rico approved for WIOA funding

2 programs

Machinist certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Machinist Tool Maker
Academia Serrant
Ponce
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Academia Serrant, PonceMachinist certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$6,500
Price if you pay yourself$8,373
Program website, Machinist Tool Maker at Academia Serrant
More details about Machinist Tool Maker at Academia Serrant
Finished
Left out
Working at 6 months
Left out
Earned in a quarter
$1,620
Length
36 weeks, 25 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,065
Students counted
16
Earned a year, estimated
$6,500
Price if you pay yourself
$8,373
Program website, Machinist Tool Maker at Academia Serrant
Machinist certificate or diplomaIn personNo diploma needed
Nivel Secundario con Modalidad Acelerada con Machinist Tool Maker
Academia Serrant
Ponce
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Academia Serrant, PonceMachinist certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
School website, Nivel Secundario con Modalidad Acelerada con Machinist Tool Maker at Academia Serrant
More details about Nivel Secundario con Modalidad Acelerada con Machinist Tool Maker at Academia Serrant
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
69 weeks, 25 hours a week
Cost of supplies
Not reported
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
Not reported
School website, Nivel Secundario con Modalidad Acelerada con Machinist Tool Maker at Academia Serrant

How to pay for CNC machinist training in Puerto Rico

WIOA funding can pay for CNC machinist training in Puerto Rico

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Paid machinist apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a job: you're paid to learn, with a raise as your skills grow, and most include classroom teaching. You apply to the employer or the program sponsor. Ask what you'll pay for the classroom part and what you'll earn on the job.⁶

Financial aid and grants for CNC machinist training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁷⁸

GI Bill for CNC machinist training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁹

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Machinist apprenticeships in Puerto Rico

A machinist apprenticeship is usually run by an employer. It combines paid training on the job with related classes and lasts several years.¹

You apply to the employer or the program sponsor, not through a school.⁶ The Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Finder lists openings by place and job. None of the CNC machinist programs on this page is an apprenticeship.

What is an apprenticeship, and can WIOA pay for one?

Other training in Puerto Rico

How CNC machinist training compares with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Puerto Rico

Where the Puerto Rico machinist program numbers come from

Which Puerto Rico machinist programs are on this list?

These are the machinist programs Puerto Rico approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).¹⁰ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Puerto Rico offers.

How the prices and results of Puerto Rico machinist programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

How reliable are the Puerto Rico figures?

The US Department of Labor's own results site lists Puerto Rico among the states with "known data quality concerns".¹¹ We leave out the share who finished for Puerto Rico: half of its programs report exactly 100%, far more than in other states. We leave out the share working 6 months later for Puerto Rico: every program that reports it reports exactly 100%.

Sources for the facts about CNC machinist training in Puerto Rico

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