Free healthcare training · Philadelphia

Free healthcare training in Philadelphia

Career training that costs you nothing, because someone else already paid for it. ATS Professional Development Inc. is a Philadelphia 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and our programs are funded by the City of Philadelphia and by donors — not by the people we train.

Who pays

“Free” deserves an explanation. Here is ours.

Plenty of things advertised as free healthcare training are not: they are a lead form, a loan, or a certificate no employer recognizes. So it is fair to ask who is paying, and what is expected of you in return.

ATS is a nonprofit. In 2026 the City of Philadelphia backed us through its Seed Capital program, recognizing our model as a high-impact, community-centered approach to workforce development. That funding, together with support from donors and employer partners, covers the cost of running our programs. Nothing is recovered from participants later — there is no tuition, no application fee, and no payment plan.

What we ask in return is that you show up and finish. These programs exist to move Philadelphia residents into real healthcare jobs, and that only works if the people we train walk out with a credential employers respect.

What is covered

No tuition, and no hidden line items

  • Instruction — taught by credentialed instructors, not a self-paced video library.
  • Course materials — you are not sent off to buy a textbook.
  • Certification exam fees — covered for the tracks that end in an industry exam.
  • Employer introductions — we connect graduates with Philadelphia-area employer partners who are hiring.
  • No application fee — applying costs nothing and takes a few minutes.
Your options

Which free program fits you

Most participants begin with Professional Development — the skills that make training stick — then move into the certification track they want. Every track below is fully funded, and every one connects you with local employer partners.

The process

How ATS Works

1

Apply Online or In Person

Complete your enrollment form. No test required, no GPA needed.

2

Attend Training

Show up. Your instructor, materials, and certification exam fees are covered.

3

Pass Your Exam

ATS prepares you for your credentialing exam with hands-on instruction and practice.

4

Launch Your Career

Graduate job-ready with an industry credential, and tap into our growing network of Philadelphia-area healthcare employers.

Questions

Frequently asked

Is the training actually free, or is there a catch?
It is actually free to you. ATS Professional Development Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and the cost of training is covered by grant funding and donors rather than by the people we train. There is no tuition, no application fee, and no payment plan to sign. There is also no obligation to accept any job we introduce you to.
Who pays for it?
In 2026 the City of Philadelphia backed ATS through its Seed Capital program, recognizing our model as a high-impact, community-centered approach to workforce development. Donors and employer partners support the work alongside the City. That is the difference between free training and cheap training: someone is paying for it, and it is not you.
What exactly is covered?
Instruction, course materials, and certification exam fees. You are not asked to buy a textbook or cover a testing fee on your own.
Do I need healthcare experience or a diploma?
No prior healthcare experience is required for any ATS program, and our instructors start from the beginning. Requirements vary by track, and clinical placements carry their own clearance requirements, which we walk you through before you get there.
Who is eligible?
Philadelphia residents who are 18 or older and ready to work. Many participants are unemployed, underemployed, or changing careers.
What credential do I end up with?
That depends on the track. Sterile Processing prepares you for the CRCST exam and Phlebotomy for a phlebotomy technician credential; the Dental Assistant program awards an ATS Certificate of Completion. Every track is built around what Philadelphia employers actually hire for.
Join the interest list

Want a seat in the next cohort?

Tell us how to reach you and which program interests you. We will contact you as soon as dates are set. This is not an application and it commits you to nothing.

Get certified. Get hired. Fully funded.

Free to you. Real to employers.

Applying takes a few minutes. No fee, no experience required, no obligation.