How Training Works
This page explains what your experience looks like as a student at Elevate — from the day you enroll to the day you start your new job. No jargon, no acronyms without explanation. Just a clear picture of what to expect.
Elevate operates as a Hybrid Workforce Training Provider and Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor. Related Technical Instruction (RTI) is delivered through licensed credential partners and authorized program holders under centralized curriculum oversight. On-the-Job Training (OJT) is conducted by approved employer partners. Elevate manages enrollment, funding navigation, progress tracking, competency assessment, and career services.
Every program combines some form of classroom instruction, hands-on practice, and online coursework. The mix depends on your program. A CDL student spends most of their time behind the wheel of a truck. A CNA student splits time between a classroom and a clinical rotation at a healthcare facility. A cybersecurity student works primarily online with live virtual instructor sessions.
Three Ways We Deliver Training
Classroom + Hands-On Lab
Programs: HVAC, Electrical, Welding, Plumbing, CNA, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy
You come to a training facility 3–5 days per week. Mornings are typically classroom instruction — theory, code requirements, safety protocols, exam prep. Afternoons are hands-on: you work with real tools and equipment in a lab or shop environment. Healthcare students do clinical rotations at actual healthcare facilities where they work with real patients under supervision.
You also have access to an online learning platform where you can review lessons, take practice quizzes, and track your progress outside of class. This is not a replacement for in-person training — it is a supplement that helps you study on your own time.
Full-Time In-Person
Programs: CDL, Barber Apprenticeship, CPR/First Aid
CDL students spend 160+ hours in a truck — classroom instruction for permit prep and regulations, then behind-the-wheel training on highways and city streets. You train on the same Freightliner, Peterbilt, and Kenworth trucks used by major carriers.
Barber apprentices train at a real barbershop under a licensed instructor. You work with real clients from day one. The full apprenticeship is 1,500 hours of on-the-job training plus required classroom instruction — approximately 18 months.
CPR/First Aid is a single-day certification course. You learn and get certified the same day.
Online with Live Instructors
Programs: IT Support, Cybersecurity
You work through lessons on our online learning platform at your own pace — video lessons, reading materials, hands-on labs, and practice quizzes. But you are not alone. You also attend scheduled live sessions with an instructor and your cohort where you can ask questions, work through problems together, and get real-time help.
This format works well if you are working part-time, have family obligations, or live outside the Indianapolis area. All you need is a computer and internet access.
What a Typical Week Looks Like
Here is an example week for an HVAC or Electrical student in a 12-week program. Schedules vary by program, but this gives you a realistic picture.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
How We Track Your Progress
When you enroll, you get a personal account on our online learning platform. Here is what you see when you log in and what your instructors and case managers can see.
What you see (your student dashboard)
- •Your course progress — which lessons you have completed and which are next
- •Your quiz and assessment scores
- •Your attendance record
- •Your certification exam status — whether you are eligible to test, when your exam is scheduled, and your result once you take it
- •Upcoming deadlines and class schedule
- •Messages from your instructor or program staff
What your instructor sees
- •Progress for every student in the cohort — who is on track, who is falling behind
- •Attendance records with automatic flags for missed sessions
- •Assessment scores and areas where students need extra help
- •Ability to send messages and schedule make-up sessions
What your case manager or funding agency sees (if applicable)
- •Attendance and progress reports — sent weekly or biweekly
- •Credential attainment reports — who passed, what credential, which issuing authority
- •Employment outcome reports — employer, job title, wage, retention at 6 and 12 months
- •Reports are generated from the platform, not self-reported
What Happens If You Fall Behind
Life happens. If you miss a class, fail a quiz, or hit a personal barrier, here is what we do — because we do not just let people drop out quietly.
Missed a class
Your instructor is notified automatically. Program staff reaches out within 24 hours to check on you and schedule a make-up session. Excused absences are documented for your case manager.
Struggling with material
Your instructor reviews your assessment scores and identifies where you need help. You get extra practice time, tutoring, or modified assignments. The goal is to get you caught up, not to fail you out.
Personal barrier (transportation, childcare, housing)
Our team connects you with supportive services — transportation assistance, childcare referrals, emergency resources. Many of these services are available through your WIOA case manager or community partners.
Need to pause
If you need to take a break for a serious reason, we work with you and your funding source to pause and resume in the next cohort. You do not lose your progress.
Example: 12-Week Skilled Trades Program Timeline
This is a real example of how a 12-week HVAC, Electrical, or Welding program flows from enrollment to employment.
Before you start
What you do: Eligibility screening, funding confirmation, enrollment paperwork, learning platform account setup, orientation
What you walk away with: You are enrolled and funded. You know your start date, class schedule, and what to bring on day one.
Weeks 1–2
What you do: Safety training, OSHA 10 certification, tool orientation, introduction to your trade
What you walk away with: You earn your OSHA 10 card. You know how to safely operate tools and equipment.
Weeks 3–6
What you do: Core technical training — classroom instruction plus hands-on lab work every day
What you walk away with: You can perform basic installations, repairs, and diagnostics in your trade.
Weeks 7–10
What you do: Advanced skills, complex projects, troubleshooting, certification exam prep
What you walk away with: You can handle real-world job scenarios. You are scoring well on practice exams.
Weeks 11–12
What you do: Certification exams, career services (resume, interview prep), employer introductions
What you walk away with: You earn your industry credential. You have a resume and interview skills. You are meeting employers.
After graduation
What you do: Job placement support, employer referrals, follow-up at 6 and 12 months
What you walk away with: You are working in your field. We track your employment and wage to make sure the pathway delivered.
Ready to See It for Yourself?
The best way to understand how training works is to start. Check your eligibility — it takes about 5 minutes. If you qualify for funding, your training can be free.