Free IT training programs: which one fits you?

You don't need a degree to get into tech. You don't even need to pay for school. Several nonprofit programs offer free IT training and help you find a job after. But each one has its own rules about who can join. Here's a simple way to figure out which one fits you.

The four big free programs

Per Scholas

• Who: 18 or older, with a high school diploma or GED. Your income must be below 80% of your area's median.
• How long: 12 weeks, full time.
• Paid while training? No.
• Bonus: it covers your exam costs.

NPower

• Who: ages 18 to 26 in the cities it serves. Veterans and their spouses can join at 21 or older.
• How long: up to 20 weeks, about 4 hours a day.
• Paid while training? No.

Apprenti

• Who: no degree or experience needed. You must pass a test to get in.
• How long: 2 to 5 months of class, then a year working on the job.
• Paid while training? Yes, during the year on the job.

Year Up United

• Who: ages 18 to 29, with low to moderate income and no bachelor's degree.
• How long: about a year, Monday to Friday.
• Paid while training? Yes, you get a stipend. A stipend is a set amount of money to help you get by while you learn.

Which free IT training fits you?

Use these questions to narrow it down.

• Are you over 29? NPower and Year Up United have age limits, so look at Per Scholas and Apprenti.
• Do you need money while you learn? Look at Year Up United, which pays a stipend. Apprenti pays you during its year on the job.
• Do you want the fastest path? Per Scholas runs 12 weeks.
• Can you only give part of your day? NPower is about 4 hours a day.
• Do you want your exam paid for? Per Scholas covers exam costs.

Why the exam matters

The most common first IT certification is CompTIA A+. It's two exams. If you pay on your own, it costs about $550 for both. That's why a free program that covers your exam can save you a lot.

Each exam has up to 90 questions in 90 minutes. If you buy your own, the vouchers can't be refunded, and they expire after 12 months. So check if a program will pay first.

What IT support jobs pay

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says help desk and user support jobs pay a median of $61,860 a year. Network support pays more, at a median of $76,220. It's a common next step.

One honest note: help desk jobs are expected to shrink 3% from 2025 to 2035, partly because more support is now automated. There are still about 48,700 openings a year as people move on. So treat help desk as a first step, not your last stop.

Watch out for these traps

• Fake remote job offers. The Federal Trade Commission warns about "jobs" that send you a check and ask you to send part back. Real employers don't charge you for kits, training or certifications.
• Bootcamps with big promises. In 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took action against BloomTech, a coding school. It advertised job placement rates of 71% to 86%, but its own figures were closer to 50%. Ask any paid program for its numbers in writing.
• "Tech support" ads that are really sales. Ask what you'd do each day and how you'd be paid.

Before you apply

These are each program's own rules, and they change. Check each program's website before you apply. It also helps to practice at home. Set up an old laptop, try Linux, or build a small home network. Write down what you learn. It gives you real stories for interviews.

Want the full plan, from training to your first help desk job? Read our IT support guide. Already thinking bigger? See how people move into cybersecurity. Or take the career quiz.

Where these facts come from

We checked these sources when we wrote this post. Rules and fees change, so check them before you pay for anything.

• Per Scholas: FAQs (opens in a new tab)
• NPower: student FAQ (opens in a new tab)
• Year Up United: student FAQs (opens in a new tab)
• CompTIA A+ Core 1 (opens in a new tab)
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: computer support specialists (opens in a new tab)
• CFPB: action against BloomTech (opens in a new tab)