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Educational & Vocational Services



The NYC Department of Correction offers a wide range of educational and vocational programs to support personal growth, job readiness, and reentry. Academic options include credit-bearing college courses, GED preparation through East River Academy and adult education for individuals over 21-years-old. Vocational training spans barbering, culinary arts, cosmetology, café operations, construction safety, scaffold use, and flagging—many with industry-recognized certifications. 

Supportive services such as law library, therapeutic horticulture, and tablet-based learning also enhance program access and engagement. These initiatives aim to equip individuals in custody with practical skills, legal resources, and educational tools to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism. 

View all educational & vocational offerings below: 

NYC Public Schools (East River Academy - ERA)
East River Academy is an alternative high school operated by New York City Public Schools. It provides high school instruction, GED/High School Equivalency preparation, New York State Regents exam preparation, and related services for students ages 18-21. ERA operates Monday through Friday at RESH, RNDC and RMSC.  For students over 21, adult education (GED prep and testing) is offered in the evenings at RMSC and GRVC. Click here for more information.

College Way
College Way is a three (3) credit portfolio-based college course, entitled "First Year Seminar" through LaGuardia Community College (LGCC). This course focuses on college readiness and supports students who are newly engaged in post-secondary education or interested in post-secondary education. This college course does not require students to have their GED already, instead, upon release if they still do not have their GED, they may obtain it at LGCC prior to enrolling in college. Offered in GRVC and RNDC. Click here for more information.

Columbia University College Course
This is a credit-bearing college course, that ranges from writing to music theory.  Upon program completion, participants are eligible for a certificate, three college credits and are eligible to take one course per semester at Columbia University for free upon release. Offered in GRVC, OBCC and RMSC. Click here for more information.


Horticultural Society of New York (HSNY)
In partnership with The Horticultural Society of New York, the program engages participants through the following methods: 1) practical and hands-on opportunities to create and nurture living things, 2) collaborative activities forming positive outcomes and benefits as a community, 3) training for employment in landscape, park, farm, green roofs, and garden planting and maintenance, and 4) channel energy into productive physical work. Offered in RNDC and RMSC. Click here for more information.

Petey Greene
The program prepares students for the High School Equivalency (HSE) exam by providing targeted tutoring and academic support. The program strengthens performance across academic courses, increases the number of college credits earned by people in custody, and offers tutoring tailored to the broader educational needs of the population.

Tablets
Tablets provide individuals with access to educational materials, podcasts, Khan Academy and more. Tablets also come equipped with telephone to help individuals stay connected with their loved ones in the community. Also are forms that individuals can use to connect to various programs. Offered in all facilities. 

Barbering
This course introduces students to the barber profession, skin and scalp disorders, and proper hair cutting techniques along with various other shop management procedures. On week two, students will participate in on-the-job training, displaying their skills on volunteers as they perform basic light/dark Caesars. Offered in GRVC, OBCC, and RNDC.

Barista
This course introduces students to the basic skills needed to operate a café. They will receive training on advanced barista skills such as equipment maintenance and operation, barista terminology, espresso preparation, milk steaming, brewing and extraction, latte preparation and art. They will also receive soft skills training in food and customer service, time management, professional communication, public speaking, interviewing and teamwork. Upon successful completion of the training the participants will be afforded the opportunity to apply their new skills at one of the “coffee corners” placed in the employee mess halls at RMSC and RNDC. Each student will have the opportunity to work in one of the cafes for 8-10 hours. Offered in EMTC, RMSC and RNDC.

Cosmetology
This course introduces students to proper safety procedures, hair styling techniques and effective customer service. Students gain hands-on experience in shampooing and conditioning, hair trimming and blow drying, and creative styling techniques. Offered in RNDC and RMSC. 

Culinary Arts
This course introduces students to several basic cooking techniques, food safety and dining etiquette. Students gain hands-on experience with the operation of kitchen equipment, baking, preparing stocks, cooking soups from scratch, developing sauces and making pasta. Students can prepare and enjoy their food during the course. Offered in RNDC. 

Driving Simulator Program
This course introduces students to driving in complete safety. Three-day driving theory courses assist students with obtaining NYS learner permit, which is followed by five days of practical simulated driving. The simulators provide the bridge between classroom instruction and the actual operation of a vehicle on a prepared course or public roadway. Offered in EMTC, GRVC, RMSC and RNDC.

Flagging
The 4-Hour Flagger course covers safe flagging techniques as per New York State Department of Transportation and the National Safety Council. The topics discussed in this course include construction site safety, roadway safety, flagging procedures and proper use of required equipment. This certification is good for three years, as per U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Offered in EMTC, GRVC, NIC, OBCC, RMSC, RNDC, West Facility Annex. 

Food Handlers
Presented by The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Food Protection course trains individuals in official food safety standards and practices. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive a photo ID card. Currently this certificate doesn’t expire. Offered in EMTC, GRVC, NIC, OBCC, RMSC, RNDC, West Facility Annex.

OSHA 30
The 30-hour OSHA construction training class provides training for workers on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces in the construction industry. OSHA cards do not expire. However, as per the New York City Department of Buildings, the card must have been issued within the past 5 years to work on any site. Offered in EMTC, GRVC, NIC, OBCC, RMSC, RNDC, West Facility Annex.

Scaffolding
The 4four-hour scaffold user course is required for all workers using supported scaffolds on construction sites in New York City, as per Local Law 52. This course explains the basic elements of supported scaffold safety and introduces students to the nature of supported scaffold hazards. Topics include scaffold inspections, recognizing different hazards (e.g., falling, electrical, etc.), and protective equipment. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive a picture ID card, valid for 4 years. Offered in EMTC, GRVC, NIC, OBCC, RMSC, RNDC, West Facility Annex.

SST 10-hour
The ten-hour site safety training course provides workers with information about New York City Local Law 196. The training consists of eight hours of fall protection training to prepare workers to use fall protection while constructing high-rise buildings. Two hours of training discusses the consequences of working under the influence of drugs and alcohol. This law requires workers at large construction sites to complete this training every five years. Offered in EMTC, GRVC, NIC, OBCC, RMSC, RNDC, West Facility Annex.