Improving Workforce Skills

Even if you have strong academic credentials from overseas, it can be useful to update your skills, gain new skills , or improve your English to improve your chances of finding employment. There are many programs that can help you do this.

Community Colleges

Community colleges offer career training and continuing education courses and English classes that can help you advance your career and employment prospects. Two notable programs are:

Center for Immigrant Education and Training (CIET) at the LaGuardia Community College: CIET is committed to meeting the needs of immigrant workers by preparing students to enter or advance their careers in different industries; all of the courses seek to train students to be conversant in American workplace culture. Read more on CIET Workforce Programs.

Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development at Borough of Manhattan Community College: The Center provides career training, continuing education courses, online courses, and ESL/GED courses.

Most community colleges offer similar programs. Lists of other NY metro area community colleges can be found through the links below:

Continuing Education Programs

Continuing education programs offer certificates in various professions ranging from electrical installations to real estate development. Some programs are not for credit and aim for immediate employment, while others offer course credits that can be transferred towards a degree program in the same institution.

The New York City Department of Education's Office of Adult and Continuing Education (OACE) offers more than 900 tuition-free classes in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Career and Technical Education (CTE), Adult Basic Education (ABE), and GED Preparation for adults age 21 and over. OACE operates four Adult Learning Centers and offers day, afternoon and evening classes at more than 175 sites in all five boroughs.

CUNY Adult and Continuing Education: CUNY continuing education programs, courses and certificates offer an array of opportunities for career advancement and professional development, skill development, and personal growth, at locations throughout New York City.

CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS): SPS offers graduate and undergraduate certificates, as well as degree programs, in a wide range of fields.

NYU School of Professional and Continuing Studies (SPCS): SCPS offers more than 2,500 courses and certificate programs in a wide array of subject areas.

Vocational and Technical Education

Apart from community colleges, you can be enrolled in private institutions that offer education programs on specific occupations.

Vocational Schools Database provides a database of private postsecondary vocational schools in all 50 states. It is organized first by State, then by Training Occupation.

Workforce1 Center has created a New York City Training Guide listing vocational training courses in NYC.