Retraining ReportJob training public funding can pay for

Find training

Job training without a high school diploma

19,615 of 53,815 programs (36%) approved for WIOA funding ask for nothing before you enroll: no diploma, no GED, no earlier courses. Another 27,024 ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Most open are forklift training (70%), OSHA safety training (66%) and CDL training (66%); the fewest are in RN programs (17%), sonography school (17%), radiology tech programs (18%), surgical tech programs (18%) and dental hygiene programs (20%). "No requirement" is what the school filed with its state, so ask the school what it checks before you start.

Find training without a diploma in your state

Opens that state's list with only the programs that ask for nothing before you enroll.

Which fields take students without a diploma?

Share of each field's approved programs that ask for nothing before you enroll.

  1. Forklift certification70% 79 of 113
  2. OSHA safety training66% 85 of 128
  3. CDL training66% 1,589 of 2,423
  4. Merchant mariner training65% 92 of 142
  5. Crane operator training64% 67 of 105
  6. Real estate school63% 78 of 123
  7. Home inspector training60% 40 of 67
  8. Customer service training56% 94 of 168
  9. Heavy equipment operator training55% 118 of 215
  10. Security guard training54% 64 of 119
  11. CNA classes52% 912 of 1,749
  12. Insurance license courses51% 21 of 41
  13. Home health aide training51% 95 of 186
  14. Solar and wind technician training51% 76 of 150
  15. Masonry training50% 36 of 72
Show the other 80 fields
  1. Water treatment operator training47% 31 of 66
  2. Construction training programs47% 391 of 833
  3. Supply chain and logistics training45% 212 of 472
  4. Manufacturing technician training44% 297 of 668
  5. Culinary school44% 269 of 606
  6. Welding classes44% 1,018 of 2,307
  7. Personal trainer certification43% 53 of 123
  8. Administrative assistant training43% 653 of 1,530
  9. Web and graphic design courses43% 358 of 840
  10. Digital marketing courses42% 166 of 392
  11. Hospitality management programs42% 124 of 294
  12. Project management certification42% 401 of 951
  13. Barber school42% 98 of 233
  14. CNC machinist training42% 384 of 918
  15. Plumbing school42% 160 of 384
  16. Carpentry classes42% 150 of 361
  17. Business administration programs39% 637 of 1,613
  18. Medication aide training39% 114 of 293
  19. Flight school39% 56 of 144
  20. Electrician training39% 387 of 1,004
  21. Industrial maintenance technician training38% 497 of 1,298
  22. AutoCAD and drafting courses37% 212 of 579
  23. Accounting and bookkeeping classes36% 525 of 1,461
  24. IT training36% 1,358 of 3,817
  25. Interpreter and translator training35% 29 of 82
  26. Fire academy35% 118 of 337
  27. HVAC training35% 469 of 1,340
  28. Cosmetology school35% 123 of 355
  29. Auto mechanic classes35% 383 of 1,108
  30. Human resources training35% 159 of 460
  31. Criminal justice programs34% 192 of 557
  32. Vet tech programs34% 75 of 218
  33. Cybersecurity training34% 495 of 1,449
  34. Electronics technician training34% 158 of 465
  35. Addiction counselor training34% 79 of 233
  36. Data analytics courses34% 217 of 644
  37. EKG technician programs32% 109 of 337
  38. Auto body repair classes32% 97 of 301
  39. Teacher assistant certification32% 68 of 212
  40. Coding and software development courses32% 349 of 1,104
  41. Nail tech school31% 60 of 191
  42. Human services programs31% 84 of 269
  43. Phlebotomy training31% 359 of 1,153
  44. Diesel mechanic training31% 138 of 446
  45. Medical billing and coding training30% 395 of 1,297
  46. EMT classes29% 355 of 1,210
  47. Sterile processing technician training29% 52 of 180
  48. Sheet metal training29% 17 of 59
  49. Health information technology programs29% 110 of 385
  50. Medical administrative assistant training28% 254 of 907
  51. Massage therapy school28% 85 of 305
  52. Community health worker training28% 16 of 58
  53. Early childhood education programs27% 276 of 1,008
  54. Dental assistant programs27% 264 of 966
  55. Patient care technician training27% 75 of 278
  56. Paralegal programs27% 121 of 449
  57. Mental health technician training27% 32 of 120
  58. Optician training26% 14 of 54
  59. Police academy26% 87 of 338
  60. Medical assistant training26% 476 of 1,865
  61. RBT certification training25% 13 of 52
  62. OTA programs25% 25 of 101
  63. Esthetician school24% 64 of 264
  64. Healthcare administration programs24% 29 of 121
  65. Pharmacy technician training23% 198 of 847
  66. Dialysis technician training23% 14 of 60
  67. Respiratory therapy programs23% 49 of 213
  68. Lineman school23% 64 of 282
  69. PTA programs22% 47 of 217
  70. Medical lab technician programs21% 54 of 255
  71. Aircraft mechanic school21% 55 of 264
  72. LPN programs20% 205 of 1,024
  73. Dental hygiene programs20% 34 of 171
  74. Surgical tech programs18% 67 of 363
  75. Radiology tech programs18% 62 of 345
  76. Sonography school17% 32 of 183
  77. RN programs17% 209 of 1,252
  78. Sleep technician training11% 2 of 18
  79. MRI tech school10% 3 of 29
  80. Cardiovascular technology programs8% 2 of 26

No diploma needed, by line of work

  1. Transportation and logistics training59% 2,083 of 3,558
  2. Culinary and hospitality programs44% 393 of 900
  3. Trade school programs40% 5,275 of 13,156
  4. Business and office training40% 2,884 of 7,270
  5. IT certification programs35% 2,777 of 7,854
  6. Nursing and patient care programs34% 1,610 of 4,782
  7. Beauty school33% 345 of 1,043
  8. First responder training32% 816 of 2,561
  9. Child care and social services training29% 568 of 1,952
  10. Medical certification programs28% 1,984 of 7,167
  11. Allied health programs25% 880 of 3,572

Programs without a diploma requirement in each state

Share of each state's approved programs that ask for nothing before you enroll.

DC13GU2MP8PR116VI18
Programs with no requirementup to 9495 to 166167 to 456more than 456

How states file this differs. Kentucky (100%), Massachusetts (100%) and Montana (100%) list no requirement for every program. Mississippi lists almost no program without one. Check each program with the school.

StateNo requirementOf all approved programs
Alabama6115%
Alaska6818%
Arizona45550%
Arkansas639%
California1,10135%
Colorado85075%
Connecticut11930%
Delaware10564%
District of Columbia1359%
Florida64231%
Georgia1168%
Guam233%
Hawaii2316%
Idaho12472%
Illinois45618%
Indiana1,64562%
Iowa27334%
Kansas16646%
Kentucky752100%
Louisiana44335%
Maine15433%
Maryland9415%
Massachusetts709100%
Michigan88546%
Minnesota20310%
Mississippi00%
Missouri1,30960%
Montana166100%
Nebraska9817%
Nevada37853%
New Hampshire14622%
New Jersey29862%
New Mexico9517%
New York36467%
North Carolina26613%
North Dakota63%
Northern Mariana Islands867%
Ohio1,85250%
Oklahoma38256%
Oregon15765%
Pennsylvania16916%
Puerto Rico11644%
Rhode Island1828%
South Carolina5028%
South Dakota157%
Tennessee38930%
Texas1,53037%
US Virgin Islands1822%
Utah13230%
Vermont1913%
Virginia56033%
Washington81623%
West Virginia5442%
Wisconsin61839%
Wyoming6422%

Can you get job training free without a diploma?

  • Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.123
  • Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.4 Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.3
  • Or pay yourself. Each state's field pages list every program with its price if you pay yourself.

How "no diploma needed" is counted

  • Programs: every program in the site's 95 fields that a state approved for WIOA funding, from its eligible training provider list,5 in the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). A program counts for the state that approved it.
  • No diploma needed: the school filed "no prerequisites" for the program. Programs asking for a diploma, a degree or earlier courses are counted as needing something.
  • How the site handles the data

Sources for the funding facts on this page

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  2. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  3. 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)
  4. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  5. 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