Year to Career
Explore Short-Term Career Opportunities with the Year to Career Program!
Our goal at Arapahoe Community College is to prepare you for high-demand careers in healthcare and technology through focused micro-credentials. Year to Career programs can be completed in under a year and real-world experiences are embedded in the coursework. This hands-on experience is a crucial part of your journey, providing insights and confidence as you prepare to enter the workforce.
Year to Career offers every student customized support and career coaching, providing support where you need it, from enrollment into the program through your first days at your new job and everything in between.
Information Technology
- Launch your IT career with the Information Technology: A+ Job Accelerator Bootcamp! Designed for beginners and career changers, this hands-on program gives you the skills and confidence to step into your first IT role. You’ll start with foundational IT concepts, then dive into practical A+ certification training using real computer towers and interactive labs. Through a mix of self-paced learning and live instruction, you’ll gain experience troubleshooting hardware and software, setting up networks, and mastering essential IT tools. By the end of the program, you’ll be prepared to earn your CompTIA A+ certification and enter the workforce with the skills employers are looking for.
- Course format
- The A+ Job Accelerator Bootcamp is a 10-week part-time course. The course is fully online and offered in a blended format: you'll complete assigned learning before the live instruction, which is 4 hours each week.
- The anticipated start date for this course is mid-June 2026.
- This course could be right for you if you:
- Are motivated to learn new skills to start or advance your IT career
- Need accountability and support to ace the CompTIA exams. This course includes dedicated exam prep and includes a CompTIA A+ voucher (Core 1 & 2).
- Want support to find a job. Our program navigators can support you in the job search process, from resume builds to mock interviews.
- Need real-life experience. Employers have provided strong input on curriculum design to ensure that the skills you're learning match entry-level IT roles. Each cohort will have a number of job shadow and micro-internship opportunities available for qualified students.
- Please complete our interest form to learn more.
Launch your career in IT networking with this 10-week, part-time bootcamp offered entirely online in the evenings, designed for working adults ready to earn one of the most recognized credentials in the industry. You'll build hands-on skills employers are actively hiring for, from configuring and troubleshooting networks to understanding modern enterprise infrastructure, using simulated environments and real-world scenarios.
What you'll learn:
- Network infrastructure concepts and architecture
- IP addressing, routing, and switching
- Network troubleshooting and diagnostics
- Wireless networking and cloud connectivity
- Network security basics and threat mitigation
Throughout the program, you'll connect with local IT professionals through guest speaker sessions and employer networking opportunities — giving you a head start on relationships that lead to jobs. Optional modules in career coaching and artificial intelligence will give you the skills you need to successfully engage in the job search and be meaningfully prepared with skills employers are looking for.
This program is a great fit if you have the CompTIA A+ certification or basic help desk experience and want a flexible option to break into IT or advance in your career. Upon completion, you'll be prepared to sit for the CompTIA Network+ exam (testing voucher with one retake is included in the course price.
Complete the form below for the syllabus and additional information.
Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields in tech — and the CompTIA Security+ is the credential that opens the door. This 10-week, part-time bootcamp gives working adults a flexible, structured pathway to master foundational cybersecurity concepts and walk away ready to sit for the exam.
Through live online instruction, applied labs, and real-world scenarios, you'll develop the skills to identify vulnerabilities, defend enterprise systems, manage risk, and respond to security incidents — the core competencies employers expect from entry-level security professionals.
Topics covered include:
- Threats, attacks, and vulnerability management
- Network security architecture and defense strategies
- Identity management and access control
- Risk management and compliance frameworks
- Cryptography and public key infrastructure (PKI)
- Incident response and security operations
You'll also have the opportunity to engage with cybersecurity professionals and Denver Metro employers through guest speaker sessions and other employer-led opportunities in the program, building your knowledge from the professionals and hiring managers in the field now.
Upon completion, you'll be prepared to sit for the CompTIA Security+ exam. The course fee includes the CompTIA Security+ certificate voucher plus one retake opportunity.
Is this program right for you? This bootcamp is ideal for motivated learners looking to move into cybersecurity from IT support, helpdesk, or networking roles. We recommend having your CompTIA A+, Network+, or at least 1 year of helpdesk or IT support experience before enrolling because this course builds on foundational IT knowledge and moves quickly. Must be 18 or older to enroll.
Complete the form below for the syllabus and additional information.
The Career Sprint: IT Infrastructure & Cybersecurity Career Accelerator is an intensive, stackable training program designed to prepare participants for high-demand roles in IT support, networking, and cybersecurity. Through a structured progression of CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ training, participants build foundational IT knowledge and advance into infrastructure, networking, and security concepts used in modern enterprise environments.
The program combines hands-on technical instruction, applied labs, and career-focused learning aligned to the CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ certification exams. Participants develop practical experience troubleshooting hardware and software, configuring and supporting networks, analyzing connectivity issues, and implementing foundational cybersecurity practices. The curriculum is designed to prepare participants for multiple industry-recognized credentials while creating a direct pathway into the IT workforce and long-term career advancement opportunities.
This program is well-suited for individuals with basic computer and digital literacy skills who are seeking a comprehensive pathway into IT infrastructure, networking, and cybersecurity careers. Participants may enter the workforce after earning individual certifications or continue through the full accelerated pathway to strengthen employment opportunities and wage potential.
What distinguishes this program is its direct alignment with employer needs and its emphasis on real-world experience. Curriculum has been developed in partnership with Denver Metro-area employers to reflect the technical and professional skills required in entry-level and mid-level IT roles.
Participants gain experience through simulated help desk and enterprise network environments, including ticketing systems, troubleshooting scenarios, network configuration exercises, security analysis activities, and customer support simulations that mirror modern workplace expectations.
Embedded Career Connections activities provide consistent exposure to employers through guest speakers, industry panels, employer-developed content, and networking opportunities. Participants may also access job shadowing, micro-internship, and work-based learning opportunities designed to strengthen professional skills and create multiple entry points into employment.
The bundle includes the following CompTIA vouchers with retake assurance: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+.
Prerequisite Skills: Must be 18 or older to enroll. Students should have basic computer skills, such as navigating using Windows of Mac OS, installing and updating simple software; should be familiar with using the internet and browsers; have keyboard/typing proficiency (25 WPM+); and be familiar with basic office software.
Complete the form below for the syllabus and additional information.
Healthcare
Behavioral health is the field that makes the connection between our behaviors and our overall well-being, including mental health and physical health. It shows how our daily habits, such as diet, exercise, sleep, and substance use, impact our mental and physical states. Behavioral health care refers to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health and substance use conditions. The goal of behavioral health services is to promote well-being, prevent mental distress, and provide access to treatments and support for mental health and substance use conditions.
The Year to Career program provides 1:1 navigation and need-based scholarships to support students who are completing their Qualified Behavioral Health Assistant II certificate. Learn more about Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµâ€™s Behavioral Health program by visiting the Behavioral Health webpage.
Certified Nurse Aides (CNA) provide compassionate patient care as frontline and entry-level healthcare employees. In just 15 weeks of the part-time program, you’ll earn the CNA Certificate and be prepared for the state certification exam.
The Year to Career CNA+ track is designed for students interested in Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµâ€™s Certified Nurse Aide program. Our staff offer support before, during, and after the program. There are low-cost or free additional certifications offered, like QMAP and Mental Health First Aid, which help students be more competitive in the job market. With connections to local employers and job search assistance, you’ll begin your healthcare career in no time!
For aspiring nurses, our program offers strategic advising, HESI A-2 study assistance and resources, and much more.
Scholarships of $500+ are available.
Ready to apply for Summer or Fall 2026?
Please note that applying for the Year to Career program does not mean you have applied for Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµâ€™s CNA or Nursing program.
Are you interested in how the brain and nervous system work? Electroneurodiagnostic (END) Technologists help doctors find and treat problems in the brain, spine, and nerves. They use special equipment to run tests like EEGs (electroencephalograms) that show how the brain is working.
Our END Training Program is a 1-year certificate program that combines hands-on hospital experience with classroom learning. You'll be trained to take the national Registered EEG Technologist (R.EEG T.) exam through ABRET. After finishing the program, you'll be ready to begin a rewarding healthcare career in a fast-growing field.
Want to learn more?
Employers: Partner with Us
We invite employers interested in supporting these vital programs to contact our Year to Career staff. Your partnership is crucial in helping us prepare a skilled workforce ready to meet the demands of the healthcare industry.
Want to learn more?
Jointly launched by the Community College of Denver, Arapahoe Community College, and Pueblo Community College, and funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, our program is dedicated to bridging the gap between job-seeker skills and employer needs.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it.