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The Federal Institute of São Paulo announced the opening of 1,950 spots for free technical courses. See how to enroll and secure your spot for the 2nd semester.
A new opportunity for professional qualification arrives in the state of São Paulo with the opening of the selection process of the Federal Institute (IFSP) for the second semester of 2026. In total, the institution offers 1,950 spots for various free technical courses, covering strategic areas such as automation, mechanics, and administration.
The registration period began on April 27 and continues until May 18, 2026, being conducted exclusively through the CEFETMINAS Foundation portal. The initiative aims to democratize access to excellent technical education, offering modalities that cater to both those still in high school and those who have already completed their studies.
Schedule and deadlines to secure your spot at the Federal Institute
To not miss the chance to join the Federal Institute, interested parties should pay attention to the dates stipulated in the notice.
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Take a 100% free distance learning course at USP: the university opens 10,000 spots with a free certificate in training on AI, data-driven marketing, CAC, ROI, and automation, with live online classes for all of Brazil in May 2026.
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Take a free Maintenance Assistant course and receive a minimum wage during the training from RenovaDF in partnership with Senai-DF; there are 1,500 open spots with free transportation, insurance, and a certificate.
The process requires a fee payment of R$ 30.00, but low-income candidates who studied in public schools can request a waiver of this amount within a shorter period.
The main dates of the schedule are:
- Registration Period: April 27 to May 18, 2026.
- Fee waiver request: from April 27 to May 7.
- Deadline for payment of the slip: May 19.
- Objective test application: June 14, 2026.
- Announcement of results and calls: from July 15, 2026.
Teaching modalities: In-person and Distance Learning
The IFSP structured the 1,950 spots in different formats to fit the students’ routines.
In addition to traditional classes in classrooms and laboratories, the Federal Institute offers distance learning (EaD) options, ideal for those seeking flexible schedules.
The free technical courses are divided into:
- Concurrent: For those attending high school at another school and want to take the technical course at IFSP.
- Subsequent: Exclusively for those who already have a high school completion certificate.
- Technical specializations: Some areas, such as Restaurant and Bar Services in São Paulo, have extra requirements, such as a minimum age of 18 years.
Available free technical courses
The opportunities are spread across dozens of campuses, focusing on the economic vocations of each region of São Paulo.
The Federal Institute maintains local partnerships to ensure that graduates have high employability.
Check out the highlights by unit:
- Campinas: Informatics and Electronics.
- São Paulo (Capital): Buildings, Mechanics, Electrotechnics, and Industrial Automation.
- Araraquara and Suzano: Mechatronics and Industrial Automation.
- Guarulhos and Salto: Renewable Energy Systems and Systems Development (EaD).
- Boituva and Birigui: Administration and Renewable Energy Systems.
Selection criteria and inclusion system
The entry into free technical courses will be decided by an objective evaluation of 30 questions, focused on Mathematics and Portuguese Language content at the elementary level.
On the other hand, the institution reinforces its social role through the Quota Law: 50% of all vacancies are reserved for public school students, with specific reservations for black, brown, indigenous candidates, and people with disabilities.
According to the Federal Institute regulations, candidates self-declared as black or brown will undergo a video heteroidentification panel, ensuring that affirmative action policies are strictly followed.
Step by step for online registration
To confirm participation, the interested party must access the official website of Fundação CEFETMINAS and create a registration using the CPF and an active email.
During the filling process, the system allows choosing the preferred campus and indicating up to three options of technical courses.
Studying at the Federal Institute is not just a saving on tuition fees, but a strategic step for those who want a solid technical career valued by industries in São Paulo.
About the IFSP
In 2008, the Federal Institute of São Paulo (IFSP) was officially established after the restructuring of the then Federal Center for Technological Education of São Paulo (CEFET-SP), as provided in article 5, item XXXVI, of Law No. 11,892, sanctioned on December 29 of that year and published in the Official Gazette of the Union on 12/30/2008.
From this transformation, the IFSP adopted a new policy of offering vacancies, allocating half of its total to technical courses.
Additionally, it established that at least 20% of the vacancies should be directed to teaching degrees and pedagogical training programs, with priority given to areas such as Science and Mathematics.
The institution also maintained the offer of initial and continuing training courses (extension), undergraduate degrees in bachelor’s and higher technology courses, as well as postgraduate programs, both lato sensu (specializations) and stricto sensu (master’s).
Alongside face-to-face teaching, the Federal Institute of São Paulo expanded its operations by offering technical and higher education courses in the Distance Education (EaD) modality, expanding access to education in different regions.
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