Your choice of CVTC programs could equip you with a degree or diploma and valuable employment skills through a time commitment of only one to two years, or less. Two-year associate degree programs typically combine technical skills with general education. One- and two-year technical diploma programs focus on hands-on learning of occupational skills and can take as little as one or two years to complete. Short-term programs focus on one particular occupation and can take less than a year to complete.