Before you apply: do you qualify?
- You meet the basic age and work authorization requirements, and the employer's usual pre-hire requirements
- You can be at a training center in person for about 4 to 5 weeks (published sources say 4 or 5)
- You can pass a background check and drug screening, which the job offer depends on
- You're ready for physical construction work
You don't need a degree or any construction experience. The program is open to people with any education background, career changers, veterans and people leaving the military.
How to apply, step by step
Get your documents ready
Have a photo ID, documents that show you can work in the US, and your work history. A one-page list of past jobs with dates is enough.
Apply on the official page
Go to Meta's or ABC's America's Workforce Academy page (buttons below). The application form is run by CBRE, which manages applications, screening and onboarding for Meta. Applying is free. Never pay anyone to apply or to "guarantee a spot".
Screening
Meta's partners screen applicants for eligibility and fit. Keep your phone on and check your email, including spam, after you apply.
Get your job offer in writing
When you're accepted, a Meta contractor partner gives you a job offer at the same time. It becomes final when you finish the program and meet the employer's onboarding requirements, including the background check and drug screening.
Travel to training
Training is in person at one of four centers: Baton Rouge, Columbus, Indianapolis or Houston. Meta covers tuition, airfare, lodging near the center, tools and a daily stipend.
Finish and start work
Graduates earn an NCCER credential and an America's Workforce certificate, then start with their contractor at a Meta partner construction site. You aren't required to stay with that contractor, and the credential is yours to keep.
Ask these before you commit
- Which contractor is making the offer, and for which trade?
- Where will the job be? It may not be in the city where you train.
- What's the hourly pay after training? Each contractor sets its own, and Meta isn't involved in pay.
- How much is the daily stipend during training?
- When does the next class start, and how do travel and housing work?
Questions about applying
Can I apply from any state?
Yes. Applicants from all 50 states are considered, and Meta covers airfare and lodging near the training center.
Is there a deadline?
No public deadline is listed. Cohort timing is shared through the official program pages.
Do I need experience?
No. No degree or construction experience is needed.
Does it cost anything to apply?
No. Applying and training are both free. Anyone asking for money is not part of the program.
What if I'm not accepted?
Look at similar options: AWS's paid 4-week pre-apprenticeships, Per Scholas's free data center technician program, or an electrician apprenticeship. Compare data center technician training programs.
Sources
- Associated Builders and Contractors: America's Workforce Academy (CBRE application form, eligibility, job offer at acceptance, what Meta covers, credentials)
- ABC Greater Tennessee, June 15, 2026 (documents to prepare, screening, requirements, tools covered)
- Construction Dive (background check and drug screening)
- Meta Newsroom announcement, June 8, 2026