Job Training & BOLI Certification Through OCE: Eligibility Checklist and Program Structure
If your loved one wants to build job skills while incarcerated, OCE's BOLI and Work Skills Certification tracks have specific eligibility requirements and a serious time commitment. Here's what they need to qualify and how the training hours break down—so you can help them plan.
Oregon Corrections Enterprises (OCE) runs reentry-focused training programs designed to help adults in custody build marketable skills. The two most common tracks are Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) programs and Work Skills Certification. Here's what catches people off guard: you can't just sign up and start. These programs screen for recent clear conduct, clean urinalysis results, education progress (a high school diploma or GED, or active enrollment working toward a GED within the required timeframe), and compliance with other required institution programming.
Eligibility Checklist
- ✓ Confirm six months of clear conduct - they must have six months clear conduct to be eligible.
- ✓ Confirm no positive UA in the last 12 months - eligibility requires no positive urinalysis tests in the preceding twelve months.
- ✓ Confirm education status - they must have a high school diploma or GED, or be actively working toward a GED within the required period.
- ✓ Confirm programming compliance - they must be compliant with all other institution programming.
Note: The two fastest disqualifiers are conduct issues in the past six months and dirty urinalysis results in the past 12 months. If either applies, focus on getting back into compliance before applying.
BOLI training through OCE takes real commitment - which is part of what makes the certification valuable. The hands-on training requirement is at least 2,000 hours. On top of that, there's a minimum of 135 hours of classroom instruction. If your loved one is balancing other obligations inside, these numbers help set realistic expectations for how long the training takes and how consistent they'll need to be.
OCE reports a 13% recidivism rate for adults in custody who stay in its training programs for at least six months. That six-month mark matters - sticking with the program is part of what OCE links to better outcomes.
- Ask about conduct time - have your loved one confirm they have six months of clear conduct.
- Ask about UA history - confirm there have been no positive urinalysis tests in the preceding 12 months.
- Check education readiness - find out whether they already have a high school diploma/GED or are actively working toward a GED within the required timeframe.
- Confirm other programming is on track - eligibility requires compliance with all other institution programming, so it helps to ask what programs they’re currently required to complete.
- Call OCE leadership for guidance on next steps - if you need help understanding how to move forward, you can contact OCE’s Director Colette S. Peters at (503) 945-0927 or OCE’s Administrator Melanie Doolin at (503) 910-7094.
Tip: If you’re trying to confirm what’s available and what your loved one should do next, call OCE directly: Director Colette S. Peters at (503) 945-0927 or Administrator Melanie Doolin at (503) 910-7094.
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