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Human resources training by state

460 human resources programs in 43 states and 1 territory, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

Which schools offer WIOA-approved human resources training?

281 schools offer these programs, and each state on this page approved its programs for workforce funding. Pick a state on the map or compare them belowCompare the states below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

What does an HR specialist do, and how do you become one?

Human resources specialists recruit, screen and interview job applicants and place new hires in jobs. Most have a bachelor's degree in human resources, business or a related field; certification is usually voluntary, though some employers prefer or require it.1

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Approved programsup to 23 to 67 to 15more than 15

How much does human resources training cost?

Most human resources programs approved for WIOA funding cost $1,602 to $4,912 if you pay yourself. Certificates and short courses mostly cost $1,495 to $4,230 and two-year degrees $9,210 to $12,978. Prices also differ by state: most cost $1,097 to $1,725 in Virginia and $6,750 to $9,428 in Missouri.

That is the price of the whole program as the school reports it. If you qualify, WIOA funding can pay part or all of it, depending on local limits (who qualifies). The figures cover only programs approved for WIOA funding; other schools and programs may cost more or less.

Compare human resources training by state: cost, pay and results

Human resources training by state
StateProgramsMost costEarned a year, estimatedWorking 6 months laterFinished
Alaska1Too few figures to show
Arizona4Too few figures to show
California38$1,599 to $3,400about $56,60062%84%
Colorado2Too few figures to show
Connecticut1Too few figures to show
Delaware2Too few figures to show
Florida15$1,422 to $3,222about $60,200Not enough data95%
Georgia10$1,724 to $3,174Not enough dataNot enough dataNot enough data
Illinois29Left outNot enough dataNot enough dataNot reported
Indiana27$4,912about $38,60068%69%
Iowa6$2,430 to $11,413Not enough dataNot enough dataNot enough data
Kentucky1No figures reported
Louisiana15$1,870 to $3,295Not enough dataLeft outLeft out
Maine4Too few figures to show
Maryland4Too few figures to show
Massachusetts9$1,945 to $4,471Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
Michigan11$1,945 to $3,972Not enough dataNot enough dataNot enough data
Minnesota16$2,937 to $6,034about $39,30081%59%
Mississippi2Too few figures to show
Missouri10$6,750 to $9,428Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
Montana2Too few figures to show
Nebraska2Too few figures to show
Nevada9$2,530 to $4,026Not enough dataLeft outNot enough data
New Hampshire8$1,138 to $4,132Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
New Jersey14$1,503 to $3,249Not enough dataNot enough dataNot enough data
New Mexico3Too few figures to show
New York10Too few figures to show
North Carolina22$1,182 to $4,398Not enough dataNot enough dataNot enough data
Ohio47$399 to $8,712Not enough dataNot enough dataNot enough data
Oklahoma2Too few figures to show
Oregon4Too few figures to show
Pennsylvania3Not enough dataNot enough dataLeft outNot enough data
Rhode Island1Too few figures to show
South Carolina1Too few figures to show
South Dakota4Too few figures to show
Tennessee14$1,099 to $1,945Not enough dataNot enough dataNot enough data
Texas23$1,452 to $4,195Not enough dataNot enough data75%
US Virgin Islands1Too few figures to show
Utah3Not enough dataNot enough dataLeft outNot enough data
Vermont1No figures reported
Virginia15$1,097 to $1,725about $56,60081%100%
Washington27$2,119 to $5,856Not enough dataNot enough data65%
West Virginia1Not enough dataNot enough dataLeft outNot enough data
Wisconsin36$1,945 to $9,640about $39,00083%55%

Each figure is the middle program in that state. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools may offer human resources training too. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).How these figures are made

HR certificate or PHR and SHRM prep? What the 460 programs are

By kind, the 460 programs approved for WIOA funding are HR certificate or course (301 programs), PHR and SHRM-CP exam prep (90 programs), human resources (associate degree, 50 programs), aPHR exam prep (entry level, 14 programs), and 5 more of one other kind.

Across the US, 159 of the 460 programs take students without a high school diploma, 202 ask for a diploma or equivalent, 84 ask for earlier courses first, 11 ask for an associate degree and 4 ask for a bachelor's degree.

Is there free human resources training in the US?

Does WIOA pay for job training? Who qualifies and how to apply

Other training by state

Approved programs per field across every state. Each opens that field's comparison by state.

Where the human resources program numbers by state come from

Which human resources programs are counted?

Programs each state approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).6 Schools that never applied for approval are missing.

What the figures for each state mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the facts about human resources training

Show the 6 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Human Resources Specialists
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List