REM combined short-term occupational training, job placement services, case management, and supportive services such as child care to help participants find jobs. The program offered a financial incentive of $100 in cash or gift cards for each week participants attended all training sessions, and an additional $50 if they were hired and reported their employment to their training provider. Training lasted up to six weeks and was provided in areas such as construction, truck driving, clerical work, or nursing.

The program provided a life-skills course and internet-based instruction designed to improve math and reading skills to the ninth-grade level. After completing the initial education, participants could enroll in occupational training in certificate courses, including courses in the administrative support, health care, and manufacturing fields. Participants began with a life-skills course that lasted 17 hours, progressed to occupational training courses that lasted between 2.5 and 16 weeks, and finished with 24 hours of career-readiness training.

I-BEST offered occupational training courses in a variety of areas, including allied health, welding, and clerical fields. I-BEST integrated basic skills and occupational training through the use of a team teaching model whereby a basic skills and occupational instructor team taught (for at least 50 percent of class time) an occupational training course.