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Workforce Pell

Overview and Background

Workforce Pell expands access to financial aid for students pursuing high-quality, short-term workforce training. The program is designed to help learners build in-demand skills, earn valuable credentials, and prepare for careers in West Virginia’s growing industries.

Eligible programs must be offered by a Title IV-eligible institution and provide a direct pathway to employment or continued education.

West Virginia Priority Fields

Workforce Pell programs in West Virginia must align with one of the state’s priority workforce areas:

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Computer Science/IT/Telecommunications
  • Construction
  • Energy
  • Healthcare
  • Tourism

These fields represent important opportunities for employment, career advancement, and economic growth across the state.

To be considered eligible to apply, the training provider must be Title IV eligible. The program must align with a state priority industry—Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, Construction, Computer Science/IT/Telecommunications, Tourism, and Healthcare—and be between 150–599 clock hours or 4–15 credit hours. It must also meet the required program length, lead to a recognized postsecondary credential, professional license, or industry-recognized credential, and have been offered in its current format for more than 365 days. Once an initial inquiry is initiated, the respective agency will assist institutions in determining whether the program meets additional eligibility criteria, including completion, workforce placement, and value-added metrics. This information is required for the review conducted by the Governor’s Office.

Public community and technical colleges seeking Workforce Pell eligibility should email WorkforcePell@wvctcs.edu to initiate the application process. Program completion and job-placement rates will be evaluated using data submitted through the annual Workforce Short-Term Training submissions.

All other eligible training providers should contact email holder to begin the eligibility review and receive next-step guidance.

To qualify, a short-term training program must:

  • Be between 150 and 599 clock hours, or at least 4 but fewer than 16 credit hours
  • Be offered over at least 8 weeks but fewer than 15 weeks
  • Lead to a recognized postsecondary credential
  • Award academic credit that applies toward at least one certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions

Before beginning the Workforce Pell application, gather the following information for each training program you plan to submit:

  • Institution or entity name providing the training
  • Institution or entity address and contact information
  • Institution OPEID
  • Program CIP code
  • Program name
  • Program contact hours
  • Program credit hours
  • Program duration in weeks
  • Date of first offering in the current format
  • SOC code(s) for the occupations aligned with the program
  • Program Tuition and Fees cost

Having this information ready will help ensure a complete application and support a timely review of program eligibility.

Public community and technical colleges seeking Workforce Pell eligibility should email WorkforcePell@wvctcs.edu to initiate the application process. Program completion and job-placement rates will be evaluated using data submitted through the annual Workforce Short-Term Training submissions.

All other eligible training providers should contact email holder to begin the eligibility review and receive next-step guidance.

Follow these steps to request Workforce Pell eligibility for an eligible short-term training program:

Review eligibility requirements

Review the Workforce Pell eligibility flowchart and checklist to confirm that the institution and proposed program meet the applicable requirements.

Contact the appropriate agency

Contact the respective state agency to initiate the program review process and receive instructions for submitting required program information.

Program data review

The Governor’s Office reviews the submitted program data to determine whether the program meets Workforce Pell eligibility requirements.

Eligibility decision

The Governor’s Office approves or denies the program’s request for Workforce Pell eligibility.

State certification

If approved, the Governor’s Office completes the State Workforce Pell Program Certification and returns the completed form to the institution’s designated official.

Submit the federal application

The institution files its application with the U.S. Department of Education. As part of the program approval process, the institution uploads the completed certification to its Application to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs (E-App).

The institution must retain the certification received from the Governor’s Office in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education’s standard record-retention requirements.

Workforce Pell programs are held to clear performance and value standards. To remain eligible, programs must demonstrate that they deliver meaningful outcomes for students:

  • At least 70% completion within 150% of the program’s normal length
  • At least 70% verified job placement within 180 days of completion
  • A successful tuition-to-value-added-earnings assessment, showing that the program’s earnings benefits justify its cost

 

Workforce Pell Inquiry

This is a form for institutions to submit initial inquiries about Workforce Pell.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
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