A training course is used to teach members of the population how to do a particular job or to use specialised equipment and actions. Most training courses take the form of military training (eg Cavalry Training) and prepare them to be used in various units in the Culture's military forces. Most training course take several years (turns) to complete and are performed at military bases. This training time has to be taken into account when the Culture is planning to establish new units.

Trained population members may be further trained to increase their range of skills, but bare in mind that they have a natural life-span, and time spent training is time not spent putting those skills to their greatest use.