Center for Employment Training

Center for Employment Training (CET) is a community-based nonprofit career and technical school founded in San Jose in 1967. Its short, competency-based courses are designed around hands-on preparation for entry-level work, with integrated foundational instruction, job-search help and placement assistance. CET says it does not guarantee a job; the value of a particular certificate depends on the skills employers in that field require. The institution is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and approved to operate by California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).

Choose a program by the work you want to do

The 2026–27 San Jose catalog lists Automotive Specialist, Cybersecurity & DFIR Analyst, Electrician (Residential & General), HVAC Technician & Green Technology, IT Support Specialist and Medical Assistant. Training is largely in person and practical; CET says it does not offer fully online programs. The current catalog lists these total program charges and scheduled lengths:

• Automotive Specialist: $14,221; 810 hours, 27 weeks. Hands-on shop training takes place at CET’s Angela Street extension.
• Cybersecurity & DFIR Analyst: $15,249; 900 hours, 30 weeks.
• Electrician (Residential & General): $16,375; 900 hours, 30 weeks.
• HVAC Technician & Green Technology: $15,500; 900 hours, 30 weeks.
• IT Support Specialist: $11,476; 630 hours, 21 weeks.
• Medical Assistant: $15,249; 900 hours, 30 weeks, including a required 160-hour externship.

These are catalog charges for the listed programs, not a guarantee of each student’s final net cost. Ask CET to confirm the next start date, schedule, all required costs and any program-specific prerequisites before enrolling. The student catalog page links to the current San Jose catalog and other campus catalogs, and the institution’s campus directory shows the full program list by location.

Financial aid and practical support

For 2026–27, CET lists federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study and federal student loans for applicants who meet the rules. California programs listed in its catalog include Cal Grant B, Cal Grant C and the Chafee Grant for eligible current or former foster youth. FSEOG funds are limited; aid, grant amounts and loan eligibility are individual determinations, not discounts everyone receives. Complete the FAFSA and ask the San Jose financial aid officer to show how much of a proposed package is grant aid and how much must be repaid. CET also advertises free transportation for students from designated areas and veteran education support; confirm eligibility and availability for your route or program. Its net price calculator is based on prior-year information, so use it only as an estimate and obtain a current written cost sheet.

Check outcomes before committing

CET’s public consumer-information page links to campus-specific fact sheets. The Automotive Specialist sheet available for San Jose was revised in November 2024 and reports 2022 and 2023 cohorts: 17 of 27 students completed within 150% of the scheduled time in 2023 (62.96%); of 17 graduates available for employment, 2 were verified as working in the field (11.76%). This is older, program-specific data—not a prediction for a new student—but it makes a direct question essential: ask for the newest completion and field-placement sheet for the exact program, how the school defines “available for employment,” and which jobs count as in-field. CET’s [consumer information page](https://cetweb.edu/locations/consumer-information) provides the published disclosures and calculation context.

What reviewers say—and what to ask

Comments on the San Jose Google listing are mixed. Some former students describe hands-on courses as a route into a lasting trade or career; a recent critical reviewer questions whether the training credential leads to jobs that require it. These are individual experiences, not an audited measure of teaching quality or employment. Before paying, ask local employers whether they recognize the exact certificate, what licensing or trainee card you will need, and what support CET provides if the first placement does not match your training. Read the San Jose visitor comments alongside CET’s outcome sheets.

San Jose campus, extension and other locations

The main campus and corporate administration are at 701 Vine Street, San Jose, CA 95110. Business hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; evening appointments are available by arrangement. Call (408) 534-5360. The campus is served by VTA bus and light rail and has on-site parking. The Automotive Specialist program is held at the main campus extension at 1790 Angela Street, San Jose, CA 95125, about 1.2 miles away. Both are administered by the main campus.

CET’s 2026–27 catalog also lists these branch campuses:

• Coachella: 49-111 Highway 111, Suite 5, Coachella, CA 92236 · (760) 398-8889
• Colton: 1099 N. Pepper Avenue, Colton, CA 92324 · (909) 478-3818
• El Centro: 294 South Third Street, El Centro, CA 92243 · (760) 337-6565
• El Paso: 294 Candelaria Street, El Paso, TX 79907 · (915) 859-1070
• Oxnard: 1741 Fiske Place, Oxnard, CA 93033 · (805) 487-9821
• Salinas: 24 East Alvin Drive, Salinas, CA 93906 · (831) 424-0665
• San Diego: 4153 Market Street, Suite C, San Diego, CA 92102 · (619) 527-4895
• Santa Maria: 509 Morrison Avenue, Santa Maria, CA 93458 · (805) 928-1737
• Soledad: 930 Los Coches Drive, Suite 103, Soledad, CA 93960 · (831) 678-0448
• Watsonville: 10 Blanca Lane, Watsonville, CA 95076 · (831) 728-4551

For a campus tour or orientation, prospective students can register with CET online. Ask the admissions and financial aid teams for the current program catalog, written tuition-and-aid estimate, and latest outcome sheet before signing an enrollment agreement.