CLEARFIELD—Recent reports about the status of Job Corps, the nation’s largest career training program, has caused people to wonder if it is still in operation. Job Corps in Clearfield is open and enrolling students ages 16 to 24. 

“Job Corps started in 1964,” said Clearfield Job Corps Center Director Shannon O’Shea. “It is a government funded program for career and technical training. Eligible individuals meet the federal low income threshold and have a need for training.”

 Job Corps provides meals, transportation, housing and support services, she said. “It’s all free for students because it’s federally funded.”

There’s only a couple of things that preclude a student from being able to enroll, she said. “You’re not allowed to be on any kind of probation. You’re not eligible if you have a violent criminal history.”

Job Corps is across the country, said O’Shea. “We have 124 centers and each campus has a little bit different kind of training options. It’s really based on what area and what industries are needed in that geographic location.”

Here in Utah there are two Job Corps, she said. “The one here in Clearfield and then Weber Basin, which is not very far from us. Clearfield was one of the first ones that opened so it’s been here for a long time.”

Job Corps provides technical training to lead to employment, O’Shea said. “Our technical training programs lead to industry standard certification, just like Davis Technical College or Ogden-Weber Technical College. Our students will finish and they’ll have those same kinds of certifications.”

There are only a few campuses that have a fully accredited high school on campus and Clearfield is one of them, she said. “We also offer the GED depending on what the student needs and how many credits they need. We might recommend either the high school route, with traditional high school coursework or the high school equivalent route.”

O’Shea said Job Corps offers 21 different programs on site. “We partner with Davis Tech for manufacturing. Several other programs include building construction tech, carpentry, computer technology, electrical, office administration, pharmacy tech, plumbing, basic automotive, basic welding and home health CNA.”

With the basic program students can get an entry level certificate, she said. “Or you can do advanced training to get more skills for a higher wage. We have advanced welding, electrical, auto/diesel and paint/auto body.”

Students can choose Mercedes’ program, said O’Shea. “Both Mercedes and Toyota donate a vehicle to work on.”

It’s open enrollment, she said. “It’s competency based which allows us to receive new students every week. We work at the student’s pace. We’re not going to leave anyone behind.”

When students finish, a career transition team will help them into the workforce and make sure they have a job before they leave, said O’Shea. “There are 145 companies in the local area who are actively accepting student interns. Many are hired when they are done like Northrop Grumman or UPS. I love to see students working in the community.”

It’s residential, she said. “Ninety percent of the students live on campus. We have dorms, a cafeteria and recreational activities. We want to give them positive things to do.”

Students also receive basic health care, O’Shea said. “We’re getting them the care they need. Healthy living and managing health care helps them in their education.”

There are a lot of opportunities for technical training, she said. “We provide wrap-around services and the stability they need in order to get the training.”

The Clearfield Job Corps can hold 1,000 students, said O’Shea. “We’re now 32% full so there’s availability in all programs. I’m excited to get new students.”

For enrollment information visit https://enroll.jobcorps.gov.