Enroll as a participant

Free, hands-on technical training for people starting out or changing careers. You do not need experience, a degree or a sponsor. Fill in a short application and a person at CCA will read it.

Already applied? Check on your application.

Who can apply

Anyone can apply. You do not need a sponsor, technical experience or a degree.

CCA’s programs are designed for adults who are starting a technical career, changing careers or building on skills they already have. They are built especially for people in low-wage jobs who have the ability for technical work but have never been given the chance to show it. If that sounds like you, please apply.

You can take part from wherever you have a reliable internet connection. Courses are online, equipment is shipped to you, and staff are a video or phone call away.

CCA runs three tracks: networking and infrastructure, cloud and identity, and cybersecurity. Participants also work toward software development, data analysis, design and other technical goals.

You do not need a sponsor

Some people come to CCA because someone already taking part suggested it, but nobody has to vouch for you. If you apply on your own, a person at CCA still reads your application and decides on it.

What it costs

Nothing. CCA does not charge participants for any of its services.

The equipment you borrow, the shipping in both directions, the systems you train on and the help you get from staff are paid for by donors. When you are ready to sit a certification exam, CCA can pay the fee as well.

There are a few narrow cases where CCA can ask a participant to pay, such as replacing borrowed equipment they lost or damaged through carelessness. Even then, the amount is generally limited to what it actually costs, and CCA cannot make money from it. Our limited assessments policy sets out exactly when this can happen.

What you need

To apply, you need:

• an email address you can check while you apply, because we send a 6-digit code to it
• your full legal name, written the way it should appear on your account
• a phone number, if you are happy to give one, so we can reach you with a quick question

That is all. You do not need:

• a sponsor, or anyone at CCA to vouch for you
• any technical experience
• a degree or certifications
• your own computer, because CCA can lend you one
• money, because taking part is free

Once you are in, you will need a reliable internet connection. You will also be asked to agree to our acceptable use and security policies, which explain how to use shared systems responsibly.

How applying works

1. Fill in the application

   It takes about 10 minutes. If you stop partway through, your progress is saved in your browser for 24 hours.

2. Confirm your email address

   We send a 6-digit code to check that the address works.

3. A person reads it

   Someone at CCA reviews every application, with or without a sponsor, usually within 3 business days. They will email you if they need anything else.

4. You hear back

   If you are approved, we create your account and email you instructions for signing in. If you are not, we tell you why and how to appeal.

Once you are in, an onboarding checklist takes you through finishing your profile, signing the documents every participant signs and starting your first course. Read what happens after you enroll.

Help in your language, and with access needs

If English is not your first language, CCA can give you an interpreter at no cost, read documents to you and send you some documents in your language. Help is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, Armenian, Russian, Farsi, Arabic and Hmong. Email lep-help@coopalliance.org.

If you have a disability, CCA provides free aids and services so you can communicate with us, such as qualified sign language interpreters, and information in large print, audio, accessible electronic formats and other formats. Email ocr@coopalliance.org.

CCA does not discriminate against anyone because of who they are, including their race, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. Our nondiscrimination notice lists every category it covers and explains how to raise a concern.

If your address needs to stay private

Some states run address confidentiality programs that give survivors of stalking, domestic violence and other crimes a substitute mailing address. If you are enrolled in one, you can give CCA your substitute address. Letters and equipment shipments go to it wherever possible, and your home address is not stored in your general participant record.

You do not have to tell us why you are in the program. CCA will never refuse anyone because of it. Read how CCA handles confidential addresses.

If you are under 18

Most participants are adults, because the programs are built for people working toward a career. Someone under 18 can take part only in rare cases, and only under our youth protection policy. A parent or guardian has to give written consent, the young person’s application has to be approved like anyone else’s, and CCA has to confirm that the right supervision and safeguards are in place first. Read our youth protection policy.

Your information

The application only asks for what CCA needs to confirm who you are and contact you about it, and many details, such as your date of birth and postal address, are optional. If you stop without submitting, what you entered is deleted after a day.

You can ask for a copy of the information you gave, or ask for it to be corrected or deleted, by emailing privacy@coopalliance.org. CCA does not sell participant data or use it for marketing. Read exactly what the application collects and how long it is kept.

Questions about enrolling

Do I need a sponsor?

No. If you know someone already taking part, they are welcome to vouch for you, but it is not required. Applications from people with no sponsor are read and decided on by a person at CCA too.

I have never worked in tech. Can I still apply?

Yes. You do not need any experience to apply or to take part. When you get stuck, CCA staff can help, and you can book time with them by video or phone.

Do I have to choose a track before I apply?

No. The application does not ask you to. Once you are in, CCA staff can help you work out where to start.

How long does it take to hear back?

Usually 3 business days or less. A person reads every application and will email you if they need more information.

What happens if my application is not approved?

We tell you why, and explain how to appeal the decision.

Can I go back to an application I already started?

Yes. Enter your email address on the application site and we will send you a secure link, either to pick up where you left off or to see where your application stands.

Who can I ask if I get stuck?

Email enrollment@coopalliance.org and someone on the CCA team will write back.

Apply in about 10 minutes

It is free, you do not need a sponsor, and a person reads every application.