Reentry job training in San Bernardino gives people coming home from incarceration a clear path to skills, confidence, and work. At The Ayangbah Foundation, no prior experience or diploma is required, and career training is $1,200 self-pay (our application to California's Eligible Training Provider List is in progress; once approved, eligible residents may have tuition paid by the county).
A past conviction does not have to define your future. This guide walks through what helps most, what to know about hiring rules, and how to take your next step in the Inland Empire.
What Makes Reentry Job Training in San Bernardino Helpful
After time away, many people face the same hurdles: gaps on a resume, technology that has changed, and nerves about explaining the past. Good training helps with all of these. It gives you:
- A recent certificate or class to put on your resume
- Practice answering hard interview questions honestly and briefly
- Updated skills, like digital tools and basic money management
- A plan with clear next steps, so you are not guessing
- People in your corner who want to see you succeed
Career Training at The Ayangbah Foundation
The Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training is a certificate program in downtown San Bernardino. It runs 40 hours over 4 weeks, in person or live online, Monday through Friday for 2 hours a day. Topics include leadership, digital marketing, grants and financial literacy, and business development.
Every student completes a career assessment and builds a personal 30/60/90-day plan. That plan can be especially useful during reentry, when you may be balancing housing, family, and other responsibilities at the same time. The next cohort starts in November 2026.
Some people coming home want to work for themselves. The Entrepreneurship & Small Business workshops cover business plans, licensing, bookkeeping, and pitching to local judges, with referrals to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
Know the Basics of Fair Chance Hiring
California has a Fair Chance Act that generally limits when many employers can ask about conviction history, usually not until after a conditional job offer. There are exceptions, and the rules have details that matter. Confirm current rules with the California Civil Rights Department.
There are also federal tools that may make you more attractive to employers, such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and the Federal Bonding Program. Ask about them at your local America's Job Center of California, since availability and rules can change.
How to Talk About Your Past in an Interview
If the topic comes up, a short, honest answer works best. Try this simple shape:
- Own it briefly, without too many details
- Share what you learned or how you have changed
- Turn to the future: your training, your goals, and why you want this job
Practice helps a lot here. The Public Speaking & Communication Lab offers interview practice and recorded feedback, so you can say it calmly when it counts.
Steps to Get Started
- Apply online
- Complete an intake and WIOA eligibility check, with help registering in CalJOBS
- Take a career assessment
- Start class
WIOA is a federal law that funds training and job services, and it is meant to serve people who face barriers to employment. Eligibility depends on your situation, so confirm details with the East Valley America's Job Center of California at 500 Inland Center Dr, San Bernardino, (909) 382-0440 (confirm current hours at workforce.sbcounty.gov). Reentry job training is one important part of workforce development in San Bernardino, and you deserve a fair shot at it.
FAQ
Can I enroll if I was recently released?
No prior experience or diploma is required to start. Your eligibility for WIOA-funded training is checked during intake. If you are on supervision, it may help to share your class schedule with your officer.
Will employers in San Bernardino hire someone with a record?
Many employers do give second chances, and California's Fair Chance Act limits when many of them can ask about conviction history. Confirm the current rules with the California Civil Rights Department.
Is reentry job training in San Bernardino free?
The Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training is $1,200 self-pay (our application to California's Eligible Training Provider List is in progress; once approved, eligible residents may have tuition paid by the county). Your local America's Job Center of California can explain other free job training programs for adults.
Your next chapter can start now. Apply online to begin your intake, or explore the Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training to see what you will learn.