Find money for training

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) training funds

The WIOA program gives people with employment barriers the chance to learn new skills and get job search help to obtain quality jobs that can lead to long-term careers. Training programs are available in many high-demand career fields through local colleges and other training providers.

To find out if you qualify to enroll in WIOA-paid training, contact your local American Job Center. WIOA assistance may be considered based on different barriers to employment. You may qualify if you:

• Have been laid off and are unlikely to find a job in your former industry or occupation
• Have a low income and/or have a family member who is eligible for or receives public assistance such as TANF, SNAP, or SSI
• Have been dependent on the income of another family member but are no longer supported by that income
• Are the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who lost employment due to a permanent change in duty station or is underemployed
• Are justice-involved or have a criminal record
• Are an English language learner, or struggle with reading or writing
• Are disabled and require additional assistance to complete an educational program to secure and maintain employment
• Are pregnant or parenting and under 24 years old
• Are or have been a foster child, aged out of foster care, runaway, or homeless
• Have been self-employed and are now unemployed because of economic conditions or a natural disaster 

If you're eligible for WIOA-funded training, you can search for training programs in the Local Training Finder or visit your state's directory of WIOA-eligible training programs.

Training funds for veterans

As a veteran, you have several options to help pay for school. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs administers several education benefit programs, and many veterans can qualify for more than one program. Read about the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other programs.

If you do qualify for veterans’ education benefits, you’ll want to make sure you enroll in an eligible program. You can search for VA-approved programs to make sure a program is eligible. You can use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to determine the cost at your chosen school and compare that with other schools.

Learn more about going back to school as a veteran at CareerOneStop's Veteran and Military Transition Center.

Do you receive SNAP?

If you qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits, you may also qualify for a SNAP Employment & Training program to help you gain career skills. Contact your SNAP office, or whoever you receive your SNAP benefits from, to learn more or find out if you qualify for SNAP.

More assistance

Explore these other ways to get help paying for training or college:

• Learn about financial aid like grants or loans
• Find and apply for scholarships