Is WIOA a scholarship?

Let’s Break It Down. If you’ve been looking for help paying for school or job training, you may have come across something called WIOA. And you might be wondering—is WIOA a scholarship? Yes. Let’s dive in.

What Is WIOA? WIOA stands for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a federal law passed in 2014 with strong bipartisan support. While this version of the law is relatively recent, workforce development programs like it have existed for decades. WIOA is designed to help job seekers access the education, training, and support services they need to succeed in today’s job market.

WIOA provides federal grant money that can help qualified individuals pay for education and job training programs. But unlike a traditional scholarship that might be based on GPA or essays, WIOA has many ways to be eligible. Contact the American Job Center office nearest you to find out more.

What Does WIOA Pay For?

WIOA doesn’t just cover tuition. Depending on the training program and provider, the funding can be used for:

• Tuition
• Books and required course materials
• Fees for testing, graduation, or licensing
• Uniforms, tools, or equipment required for training
• Other approved program-related costs

One Important Catch…

WIOA only covers training for “in-demand” occupations—jobs that are currently needed in your local labor market. The training must also be completed through approved schools or training providers. You can view the list of eligible training programs and providers on our website or by visiting the American Job Center, or by click here: https://theamericanjobcenter.org/docs/WIOA-Approved-Training-Programs.pdf 

In the Quad Cities area, common in-demand training programs include healthcare certifications, manufacturing and industrial training, and commercial driving licenses, among others.

Also—funding is not guaranteed. WIOA operates on available funding, and applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. In other words, just like applying for a job or traditional scholarship, you must apply and be accepted.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you think WIOA might be the right fit for you, we encourage you to attend a free information session held every Tuesday at 9:00 AM sharp at the American Job Center in Rock Island.

During the session, we’ll explain the process in detail, and you’ll have the opportunity to complete an application on the spot.