Training Centers

Even with the fee increases of recent years, community colleges and adult schools often offer the cheapest, and highest quality, instruction for people who want to enter a new career and need short-term vocational and technical training in a variety of fields. Valley College in Van Nuys, Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Mission College in Sylmar, College of the Canyons in Valencia and Antelope Valley College in Lancaster offer vocational classes along with their traditional associate degrees. Adult schools offer classes for those wanting to get their high school diplomas, pass the General Education Development (GED) test and learn English as a second language. Many adult schools also offer classes in computers, typing and citizenship. Occupational centers focus specifically on job training.

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West Valley Occupational Center

Operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District Division of Adult Education, Career and Child Development.

Examples of classes: cosmetology, child care, medical careers, accounting, bank teller training, legal office assistant training, auto repair, electronics, desktop publishing, building contractor license training and upholstery

Other services:

* Campus child-care center

* Learning Center, providing help with English, vocabulary and reading for adult students

* Refugee placement program

* Career workshops

* Resource assessment planning/career development center

Cost: $20 registration fee, plus class fees, which vary

Address: 6200 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills

Telephone: (818) 346-3540

North Valley Occupational Center/Pacoima Skills Center

Operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District Division of Adult Education, Career and Child Development.

Examples of classes: health careers, commercial art, aircraft maintenance, refrigeration/air-conditioning maintenance and repair, landscaping, carpentry, drafting, welding and VCR repair

Other services:

* Individualized instruction at learning center

* Counseling and career guidance

* Coordinator to assist handicapped students

* Job placement assistance

Cost: $20 registration fee, plus class fees, which vary

Address: 11450 Sharp Ave., Mission Hills

Telephone: (818) 365-9645

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The Los Angeles Unified School District operates five adult schools in the San Fernando Valley through its Division of Adult Education, Career and Child Development. Students may enroll in classes at any time, provided there is space. The cost at any district adult school in the Valley is $15 to $20 registration per semester, plus a $3 to $20 materials fee, depending on the class. Some fees may be waived for those receiving unemployment benefits, disability benefits, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, high school students and for people 60 and older. There are no fees for high school diploma, GED preparation, citizenship or ESL classes.

El Camino Real-Canoga Park Community Adult School

Examples of classes: Art, computers and conversational Spanish

Address: 5440 Valley Circle Blvd., Woodland Hills

Telephone: (818) 888-1491

Kennedy-San Fernando Community Adult School

Examples of classes: clock repair, clothing construction, video production and private commercial pilot theory class

Address: 11254 Gothic Ave., Granada Hills

Telephone: (818) 368-3702

North Hollywood Community Adult School

Examples of classes: certified nursing assistant/long-term care and home health aide training, American Sign Language, commercial pool maintenance and commercial jewelry

Address: 5231 Colfax Ave., North Hollywood

Telephone: (818) 766-8186

Reseda Community Adult School

Examples of classes: preschool education, carpentry, photography and desktop publishing

Address: 18230 Kittridge Ave., Reseda

Telephone: (818) 343-1977

Van Nuys Community Adult School

Example of classes: electrical wiring, auto tuneup, child observation

Address: 6535 Cedros Ave., Van Nuys

Telephone: (818) 785-5427

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Burbank Adult School

Operated by the Burbank Unified School District

Examples of classes: accounting, bookkeeping, data entry, clothing construction

Other services:

* Learning center for high school diploma

* Morning child-care program for enrolled students

* Assessment testing

Cost: Tuition varies from $10 to $85.50

Address: 3811 Allan Ave., Burbank

Telephone: (818) 558-4611

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Glendale Community College Adult Community Training Center

The center is operated through the college’s Non-Credit Adult Education Division. It offers a variety of vocational and personal enrichment classes.

Example of classes: bookkeeping, computers, sewing and dressmaking

Other services:

* Assessment testing

* GED testing

* Basic skills lab

Cost: $10 per semester, regardless of the number of classes enrolled

Address: 1122 E. Garfield Ave., Glendale

Telephone: (818) 243-3184

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Golden Oak Adult School

Operated by the William S. Hart High School District, the school offers a variety of vocational and personal enrichment classes, in addition to one-on-one literacy training for adults.

Example of classes: aviation ground school, business writing, cabinet and furniture making, basic auto repair, sewing and Spanish

Cost: $39 for most classes. Literacy, ESL, high school diploma and GED preparation courses are free.

Address: Placerita Junior High School campus, 25015 N. Newhall Ave., Newhall. Office closed until Sept. 2.

Telephone: (805) 253-0583

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Antelope Valley Adult School

Operated by the Antelope Valley Union High School District, the adult school offers a variety of vocational and personal enrichment classes.

Example of classes: bookkeeping, office skills, health occupation classes, bus driver training, resident manager certification program and computers

Cost: Free for students in high school diploma, GED and ESL classes; vocational classes have a lab fee of $10 to $30; other classes cost $30 to $150.

Address: 45110 3rd St. East, Lancaster

Telephone: (805) 942-3042