INDIANA

Free Vocational Skill-Trade Programs for Indiana High School Students

Indiana offers several free vocational and technical training programs for high school students. These opportunities—ranging from state-funded scholarships to career centers and youth apprenticeship programs—cover all major trade fields (construction, manufacturing, healthcare, IT, automotive, culinary, cosmetology, and more) and are tuition-free to participants. Below is a summary of key programs and resources available in major Indiana regions, including contact information for each.

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Major Free Vocational Programs in Indiana (Grades 9–12)

The table below outlines major free vocational skill-trade programs for Indiana high schoolers, including the trades/fields covered, the organization running the program, location (city or region), and how to contact each program (phone, email, website):

Program / ResourceProvider / OrganizationLocation (Service Area)PhoneEmailWebsite
Career Scholarship Account (CSA) Program
State-funded scholarships for work-based learning		Indiana Dept. of Education
& Treasurer of State		Statewide (All Indiana high schools) [casscountyonline.com]317-232-0723 CSA@tos.in.gov in.gov/tos/csa [in.gov]
Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP)
Paid youth apprenticeships (business, tech, etc.)		EmployIndy (Workforce Board)
& Ascend Indiana (nonprofit) [businesseq…tyindy.com], [businesseq…tyindy.com]		Indianapolis (Marion County & Central IN) [businesseq…tyindy.com], [businesseq…tyindy.com]317-639-4441rkildall@employindy.org [businesseq…tyindy.com]employindy.org/MAP [businesseq…tyindy.com]
CareerWise Elkhart County
Modern Youth Apprenticeship (Swiss model)		Horizon Education Alliance
(CareerWise partnership) [heaindiana.org], [careerwiseusa.org]		Elkhart County (Elkhart, Goshen; serves North Indiana) [heaindiana.org]574-607-4331 [careerwiseusa.org]careerwiseec@heaindiana.org [careerwiseusa.org], [careerwiseusa.org]https://careerwiseelkhartcounty.org [heaindiana.org]
Career+™ (CareerBoost)
East Central Indiana Youth Apprenticeship		Eastern Indiana Works
(Workforce Dev. Board Region 6) [easternind…aworks.org]		East Central IN (Muncie, Richmond & 7 nearby counties) [easternind…aworks.org], [easternind…aworks.org]765-289-1861 [easternind…aworks.org](Contact via WorkOne Center)easternindianaworks.org [easternind…aworks.org]
Area 31 Career Center
Public CTE school (40+ programs)		Area 31 Career Center (MSD Wayne Twp Schools) [area31care…center.com], [area31care…center.com]Indianapolis (West Side; serves Marion & Hendricks counties) [area31care…center.com], [area31care…center.com]317-988-7230(Use website contact form)https://area31careercenter.com
FWCS Career Academy (Anthis)
Career center for NE Indiana		Fort Wayne Community Schools
(Career Academy @ Anthis Center) [careeracad…chools.org]		Fort Wayne (Allen County; also serves 17 regional high schools) [careeracad…chools.org]260-467-1010(Contact school counselor)careeracademy.fortwayneschools.org [careeracad…chools.org]
Hammond Area Career Center
Northwest Indiana CTE center		School City of Hammond
(Area Career Center District #2) [countyoffice.org]		Hammond (Lake County; serves Hammond & surrounding schools) [countyoffice.org], [countyoffice.org]219-933-2428 [countyoffice.org](Contact school office)https://www.hammond.k12.in.us/schools/area-career-center [countyoffice.org]
Southern Indiana CTC (Evansville)
Vocational high school (magnet)		Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp.
(Area CTE District #46) [en.wikipedia.org], [en.wikipedia.org]		Evansville (Vanderburgh Co.; serves SW Indiana counties) [en.wikipedia.org], [en.wikipedia.org]812-435-8438sictc@evsck12.com †https://sictc.evscschools.com
Elkhart Area Career Center (EACC)
Comprehensive CTE campus		Elkhart Community Schools
(EACC public career center) [eacc.elkha….k12.in.us], [eacc.elkha….k12.in.us]		Elkhart (Elkhart County; also serves South Bend area & Michigan schools)574-262-5650 [eacc.elkha….k12.in.us]eacc@elkhart.k12.in.us †https://myeacc.org

† For entries marked with †, an official direct email was not publicly listed; contacting via phone or the program’s website is recommended.

All of the above programs are free for high school students. In many cases, students can even earn wages or stipends (especially in apprenticeship programs) while they learn. Most high school-based programs also offer dual credit or industry certifications so students graduate with credentials at no cost. [learnmoreindiana.org], [in.gov]

Additional Tips and Resources for Parents and Students

  • How to Get Started: If your student is interested in a vocational program, start by talking to their school counselor or CTE director. For example, Fort Wayne’s Career Academy notes that students should apply through their high school guidance counselor. Career centers often have partnership agreements with area high schools—counselors can help arrange enrollment and transportation.
  • Eligibility: Programs integrated with schools (career centers, school-based apprenticeships) are open to any student at participating high schools (usually starting junior year). Some specialized programs (like the CSA scholarships) require an application and are open to any Indiana 10th–12th grader statewide. Income is typically not a barrier—these programs are designed for broad access. (For instance, the CSA is available to all eligible students regardless of income, and career centers serve students from all backgrounds as part of public education.) [casscountyonline.com]
  • Parent Information: Many organizations provide resources specifically for parents:
    • The Indiana Department of Education’s Career Scholarship Account (CSA) page includes a Student Resources section and FAQ to help families understand how the funding works. [casscountyonline.com], [in.gov]
    • Learn More Indiana (Indiana’s college and career readiness initiative) offers a CTE Career Guide detailing all the state-approved high school vocational programs and how they connect to careers. This can help parents and students explore which trades are offered in their region. [learnmoreindiana.org]
    • CareerWise/Career Apprenticeship programs often host information nights and have materials for parents. For example, CareerWise Elkhart County (through Horizon Education Alliance) works with local schools to hold parent nights about apprenticeship opportunities. [heaindiana.org],
    • Local WorkOne Centers (the workforce development offices) can also guide families to youth programs. Every Indiana region’s WorkOne (like Eastern Indiana Works, etc.) has youth program representatives who can explain free training options for teens.
  • All Trade Sectors Covered: Between the regional career centers and apprenticeship initiatives, virtually every trade sector in Indiana is represented. For example:
    • Construction & Skilled Trades: Many programs offer construction technology, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, welding, and building trades training (e.g. Area 31’s Construction pathway, ABC Construction Prep via CSA). [area31care…center.com] [in.gov]
    • Advanced Manufacturing & Automotive: Programs in machining, manufacturing, robotics, and automotive technology are common (Elkhart’s center has robust manufacturing programs; Hammond’s includes automotive service). [eacc.elkha….k12.in.us] [countyoffice.org]
    • Healthcare: Options like CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) training, health science tech, biomedical, etc., are offered at career centers and some apprenticeships (e.g. CSA funding is being used for CNA and pharmacy tech programs in high schools). [in.gov]
    • Information Technology: Many sites offer IT pathways (programming, networking, cybersecurity). Indianapolis’s MAP focuses on IT and business apprenticeships, and CSA funds have expanded cybersecurity courses in some schools. [employindy.org] [in.gov]
    • Culinary & Cosmetology: These hands-on trades are offered at several career centers (Southern Indiana CTC added Cosmetology in 2025; Hammond ACC and others have long-standing cosmetology and culinary programs). [countyoffice.org]
    • Transportation & Logistics: Training for automotive repair, diesel technology, or aviation is available at certain centers (Area 31 offers transportation programs). [area31care…center.com]
    • Public Safety & Others: Some centers even have criminal justice, firefighting/EMS, or early childhood education programs (Area 31 lists Public Safety and Education pathways).
  • Ongoing Enrollment: Most of these programs run every school year and often have annual application cycles (usually in winter or spring for the next fall). For instance, the Evansville career center’s priority applications open in the fall for the next school year. Apprenticeship programs like MAP and CareerWise recruit new cohorts of juniors each year (typically applications in sophomore year). It’s wise to check deadlines early in the year.
  • Next Level Programs of Study: Indiana launched the Next Level Programs of Study (NLPS) in 2022, which revamped high school CTE courses statewide. Through NLPS, students in any high school can take sequenced career-tech courses (sometimes at their home school, sometimes at a career center) and earn dual college credits through Ivy Tech or Vincennes University at no cost. This means even if a student isn’t in a specific external program, they should look into their school’s CTE offerings (e.g. intro to engineering, agriculture, business, etc.) which are also free and can lead to industry-recognized certifications. [learnmoreindiana.org]

In summary, Indiana provides a robust network of free vocational programs for high school students. By taking advantage of these resources, students can graduate high school with trade skills, work experience, and even college credits – all without paying tuition. Parents and students should leverage school counselors and official state resources to explore the options, ensure eligibility, and apply on time. With the combination of state support (like CSA scholarships) and local career-education programs, Indiana is making trade and technical education highly accessible to teens. [in.gov] [casscountyonline.com],