Don’t “fall” for the warm weather: Start the WIA Classroom Training scholarship grant process today!

15 May Don’t “fall” for the warm weather: Start the WIA Classroom Training scholarship grant process today!

You may be enjoying the spring’s blue skies and green grass, but you should be thinking about fall’s yellow leaves and crunchy brown grass underfoot, says your NCWorks Career Centers’ talent development team.

Just as some high school students are receiving college acceptance letters to start their next life adventure in August or September, job-seekers who are interested in obtaining classroom training through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) should also be thinking ahead. Fall admission deadlines at many institutions are rapidly approaching.

Through the WIA, your NCWorks Career Centers can provide sponsorships for eligible and suitable clients to attend on-location or online classes. WIA-sponsored classroom training program by must lead to an industry-recognized credential in a career area considered an occupation-in-demand.

The WIA intake process includes four steps:

1. attend orientation to learn more about our services and resources, including WIA;
2. meet with a career coach for career counseling;
3. meet with an intake specialist to submit the required documentation; and
4. meet with a training coordinator to discuss your training options.

To begin the process, you must first register and build a profile on NCWorks Online. When you’ve done that, go to the events calendar and register to attend the workshop titled “Charlotte Works Orientation and WIA Info Session” at any of our three locations.

At this session, you’ll get the details on the WIA Classroom Training eligibility requirements, training options and providers, required documents and additional tasks to complete. After orientation, we’ll guide you through each of the remaining steps of the intake process.

The orientation and WIA information sessions fill up fast! You’ll need to keep checking the events calendar for cancellations so you can take a slot as it opens up.

If you can’t attend an orientation and WIA information session by the end of June, your chances of completing the process and obtaining your training voucher for a program that begins in August or September will be slim.

Typically, you can expect to complete the WIA intake process between 30 and 60 days.

Remember: you are responsible for the amount of time it takes to complete the process. If you’re missing documents or don’t complete the additional tasks, you may have to schedule multiple appointments and thus will have delays.

Conversely, when you obtain all the required documents and complete all the tasks as and when requested, you’ll experience a much more efficient intake process.

Here are some other things you can do to help yourself through the process:

• Be proactive and prepared by researching training programs and schools on NCWorks Online.
• Always have a Plan B or C: look at alternate start-dates at your preferred training provider or find an alternate provider that has a different start date.
• Take advantage of the workshops (resume development, interview strategies) at your NCWorks Career Centers to bolster your chances of employment while working through the four steps of the intake process. You can register for any workshop on NCWorks Online.

 

Things to know about WIA Classroom Training*

• You must have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED to qualify.
• The training in which you’re interested must be “in demand” in the Charlotte area. Review our occupations-in-demand list [links to http://www.charlotteworks.com/Job-Seekers/Jobs/Jobs-in-Demand] to make sure your area of interest is on it.
• There’s a limit to the funds you can get, both on annual and lifetime bases.
• Funds can be used for tuition, fees, books, tools and testing and certification fees.
• You must complete your training within six sequential semesters (two years) or less.
• Do not register for a class or make a payment commitment before you’ve met with our WIA team and completed the enrollment process.

 

WIA Classroom Training Fast Facts
(For the program year from July 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015; includes both classroom and on-the-job training)

• 391 clients served with WIA funding
• $2 million invested in training

 

*The legislation that funds classroom and on-the-job training, WIA, becomes WIOA (the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) on July 1, 2015. While we don’t anticipate major changes to the rules that govern the distribution of these funds, minor changes may occur in the next 60 to 90 days as we learn more about how WIOA will be administered. Stay tuned for information as it becomes available from your NCWorks Career Centers.