Frequently Asked Questions

Calbright is open to all California residents aged 18 years or older who have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.

All Californians — regardless of immigration status — are welcome to enroll.

Yes! All of our programs are currently free thanks to public funding from the State of California. That includes program tuition, testing costs, and technology resources like laptops and WiFi devices from our lending library.

Because our programs are free, we don’t need to offer financial aid.

A lot — first, our training programs prepare you to earn industry-recognized certifications (via exams offered by third-party providers like CompTIA and Salesforce), proof to employers that you’re ready to succeed in a new career on day one of employment.

Second, every student that completes a program also gets a dedicated team of professional experts that will coach you to be the best version of yourself during your job search.

Third, all of our courses are flexibly-paced and 100% online — designed around your own unique life circumstances so school never gets in the way of other priorities.

Plus, Calbright comes at no out-of-pocket cost to you. Even the cost of the exams to receive industry-recognized certifications (such as the CompTIA A+, Security+, and Salesforce Certified Administrator exams) in your program of choice are covered.

We also offer resources that include (but are not limited to) technology support through our Chromebook and WiFi hotspot lending library; career counseling; and mental health services. All this and more make Calbright a great choice if you’re looking to level up your skillset.

We currently have five online, flexibly-paced training programs: IT Support, Medical Coding*, Cybersecurity, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Platform Administration, and Equitable Health Impacts: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

These programs are the first of many, with each fitting into wraparound services designed to prepare you for success in the job market.

*Please note that we are currently not accepting new applications into the Medical Coding program.

That depends on you and the pace you want to set, but all of our courses are designed to be completed in the shortest time possible — generally under a year. Your specific estimated time of completion will be determined when you meet with your Academic Success Counselor to develop your Comprehensive Student Education Plan (CSEP).

You can expect complete a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) certificate in less than six months with an average weekly commitment of 6-12 hours.

For our IT and Cybersecurity programs, expect to complete your certificate in eight to ten months, assuming the same weekly commitment of 6-12 hours.

With consistent time and progress, you could complete the Equitable Health Impacts: DEI program in as little as 10 weeks.

Note: While Calbright programs are flexibly paced, enrollment agreements are limited in duration. Students are enrolled in successive 6-month terms for a maximum program length of three years.

Once you’ve completed a program, you’ll receive a Certificate of Competency along with a noncredit transcript for your coursework. Your Calbright-issued certificate signals that you’re ready to sit for an industry certification exam (such as the CompTIA A+, Security+, or Salesforce Certified Administrator assessment) — which we will pay for.

During your studies you’ll also be working with our Career Services team, which provides counselors and coaches to polish your professional profile so employers take notice when you’re applying to jobs.

Right now, we don’t offer degrees. Though obtaining a degree is a valuable achievement, you can increase your career opportunities without one by taking advantage of our certificate programs.

If you think pursuing a degree and/or earning college credits would be a better fit for you, we would be more than happy to refer you to your local community college or to any public institution of higher learning in California. We’ll even help you with your application!

Because all of our courses are noncredit, your coursework won’t transfer outside of Calbright to other colleges/universities either during or after your program. Our courses are designed around skills-based training, so for the moment what we offer is specific to those programs.

If you’re interested in pursuing a degree and/or earning college credits, we would be more than happy to refer you to your local community college / other public institution of higher learning.

Starting an application is easy! If you’re ready to begin your journey with us, click here. If you still have questions or would like to get in contact another way, you’ve got plenty of options.

You can always reach out to success@calbright.org and someone from our team will get back with you via email ASAP.

You can also use the webchat function on our homepage, call us at 1-833-956-0225, or even text HELLO to (510) 330-1817.

Our accessibility counselors determine accommodations on a case-by-case basis — we’re here to help! Reach out to success@calbright.org and we will be in touch ASAP.

Our specific services and accommodations available include but are not limited to:

• Specialized counseling 
• Interpreter services for hearing-impaired or deaf students 
• Reader Services
• Alternate media
• Loan of specialized equipment
• Registration assistance 
• Use of calculator
• Speech recognition program 
• Specialized instruction
• Additional attempts and/or time on all time-constrained, single-setting quizzes and exams for courses 

Unfortunately, due to legal and practical constraints we can’t guarantee anyone a job. While we do provide career services that will help you put your best and most professional self out there — we aren’t a placement agency. We’re an online, public community college that focuses on skills-based training.

Yes! Calbright was granted accreditation by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission in July 2023, more than a year ahead of the deadline provided in the College’s founding legislation. Accreditation is an important consumer protection that validates the integrity and quality of the College’s academic programs and operations.

If you have an immediate question, are a student, or would like to apply for enrollment please reach out to us via email at success@calbright.org.

For business and corporate matters our physical address is:

California Online Community College District
Calbright College
1102 Q St. Suite 4800
Sacramento, CA 95811

Please email press@calbright.org.

For our media resources page click here.