You've Lost Your Job—Now What?
We understand the pain and frustration of uncertainty. We want to help you get back to work—meaningful and satisfying work—as quickly as possible. That's why we've developed this resource to assist you in your transition to the next step in your career.
Why CCAPS?
There is no greater impact on your future than the skills you develop to grow professionally. CCAPS's portfolio of courses, certificates, and boot camps is designed to provide the professional skills necessary to return to the workforce with the skills to succeed. Here are just a few reasons to choose the University of Minnesota College of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Approach the job market with confidence. Our professional development advisory board keeps tabs on hiring trends and forecasts future job needs.
Learn from industry experts. The seasoned professionals who teach CCAPS courses are second to none—experts in their field who deliver well-informed and practical knowledge in a fun and engaging way.
Gain skills to take to work immediately. Update your resume with practical skills that are in demand by leading organizations in all industries.
What career goals can we help you reach today?
“After going through the [Project Management] program, I could more efficiently design a timeline to show how long an experiment would take or show how we're meeting, or failing to meet, the various requirements." — Emma Cherney, Industrial Coatings Chemist
Professional Development
The University of Minnesota offers in demand, career-boosting tools and skills. For a list of courses in a particular certificate, follow the link in the certificate title.
Most CCAPS programs are eligible for return-to-work funds provided through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA approval is at the discretion of DEED. Any program that lacks WIOA approval has been confirmed as not eligible for WIOA approval by DEED.
Read more about this and other financial assistance opportunities below.
Professional Certificates
The certificate fee reflects a discount, which will be applied when registering and paying for all courses in the certificate at once.
| Certificate | Fee (includes discount) | WIOA Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Agile | $2,502 | Yes |
| Agile Scrum | $2,887 | No |
| Business Analysis | $4,041–$4,086 | Yes |
| Business Process Improvement | $3,582 | Yes |
| Business Writing | $1,890 | Yes |
| Certified Product Owner® | $1,195 | No |
| Certified ScrumMaster® | $1,195 | No |
| Communications | $3,780 | Yes |
| HR Test Prep | $1,250 | No |
| Human Resource Generalist | $3,780–$3,784.50 | Yes |
| Leadership Essentials | $3,024 | Yes |
| Organization Development | $3,042 | Yes |
| Professional Train-the-Trainer | $2,916 | Yes |
| Project Management | $4,059–$4,194 | Yes |
| Supervision | $3,883.50 | Yes |
Boot Camp Certificates
To inquire about the fee for a specific boot camp, please contact admissions: 612-424-8605.
| Boot Camp | WIOA Approved |
|---|---|
| Cybersecurity | Yes |
| Data Analytics and Visualization | Yes |
| Digital Marketing | Yes |
| Full Stack Web Development | Yes |
| UX/UI | Yes |
Financial Assistance
CareerForce (via MN DEED)
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's CareerForce (formerly Minnesota Workforce Center) brings together private, public, and nonprofit partners to provide resources to those looking to start, advance, or change their job or career.
For the unemployed, there are return-to-work programs, such as the Dislocated Worker Program, which offers free employment counseling and can provide funds for training and/or job-search-related expenses such as cellular service, gas, and car repairs.
Please contact your closest CareerForce location to find out what resources are available in your county to help you return to work.
U of M
Financial assistance in the form of grants and scholarships is available from CCAPS to qualifying students. While this funding is intended to supplement federal or state assistance, it can be substantial. If you are a resident of the state of Minnesota, a US citizen, and can demonstrate financial need, you are encouraged to complete and submit an application. For more information, visit Financial Aid for Noncredit Students.
Please note: You must submit a financial aid application at least three weeks prior to the start of the course you're seeking to take.
Students can apply for CCAPS Scholarships and Grants to supplement costs not covered by workforce centers and agencies.
Coming Full Circle
With help from Minnesota’s Dislocated Worker Program and the U’s Human Resource Generalist Certificate, Laurie Church returned to her HR career after more than a decade away
For 15 years, Laurie Church enjoyed a successful career in human resources, until she was downsized in 2009 during the economic crisis, when she made the decision to pursue different work. During the quiet, lock-down days of the pandemic, Church realized she missed her previous career in HR. With help from Minnesota’s Dislocated Worker Program, she completed the U’s Human Resource Generalist Certificate and is again working in the field where she says she can help make people’s days better. Read her story
CCAPS Behind the Scenes
How CCAPS Chooses Our Programs
What Learners Can Expect
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible to fund my course or certificate through a state of Minnesota return-to-work program?
Please contact your closest CareerForce location to find out what resources are available in your county to help you return to work. Here’s a reference for Dislocated Worker Program Eligibility.
How do I register for courses or a certificate?
- If you're registering yourself, you may do so via your chosen course or certificate webpage.
- If you are working with a dislocated worker counselor, partner with them to collect the following information:
- a payment authorization or billing contact details and amount specified
- the chosen certificate class(es) and sections/dates
- your name, email, and phone number.
You or your counselor will provide collected information to CCAPS via either an online DWP registration form or email at ccapsdwp@umn.edu.
What is a certificate?
We distinguish between certificates and certification. A certification is an exam-based credential, often associated with a specific vendor (e.g., Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert). A professional development certificate is a cluster of courses that provide knowledge and training in a specific competency. This enables you to learn current skills and information from experienced industry professionals to improve your job skills and advance your career to the next level. For example, the Certificate of Project Management consists of six required courses and three electives.
When are your courses offered?
Courses are held continuously throughout the year. Most offerings are during the day, but some programs, such as project management and human resources, do include evening sections.
What if a certificate program has already started? Do I have to wait until the next start-up session?
No. You can begin a certificate at any time. Courses can be taken out of sequence.
Are there any prerequisites to enroll in a certificate program?
No. Anyone who wishes to develop or improve job skills in a particular discipline can register.
Does the college offer any sort of financial aid?
Yes. Anyone who qualifies (i.e., must be a resident of the state of Minnesota, be a U.S. citizen, and demonstrate financial need) is invited to apply for scholarship funds. Please note that these funds:
- are intended to supplement funding you would receive from a workforce agency. The primary funding source should be the agency
- are not applicable to our boot camp programs.
When can I apply for CCAPS financial aid?
You can apply at any time, but applications should be submitted at least three weeks prior to the start of your training. Click on the “College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS) scholarships” link on the Financial Aid page to display the application form. Be sure to include a Personal Statement with your application.
Are there tests or exams involved in any certificate?
No. The skills you acquire in a certificate or course depend on your level of participation. The exception is in the Agile Scrum certificate. There is a test in the Certified ScrumMasterR course.
Who are the instructors in your programs?
Because our courses emphasize practical skills and knowledge based on the current business environment, we select content experts who are practitioners in their respective fields. Because so many practitioners wish to teach for the U of M, we are able to screen and select the best instructors for our program. Certificates that lead to an exam are taught by instructors with the appropriate credentials.
How are courses taught? Are they mostly lectures?
Because most of our students have work experience, they are often eager to share those experiences and even to challenge our instructors. Hence our courses include a mixture of lecture, small group activities, and discussion.
Where are the classes held?
Professional development courses are held either online or at Magrath Library on the St. Paul U of M campus.
What are the class hours?
Most in-person daytime classes start at 9 a.m. and finish at 4 p.m. Evening classes run from 6 to 9 p.m. Some programs start at 8 a.m.
Online courses are 9 a.m. to noon, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., noon to 3 p.m. or noon to 4 p.m.