Can I get EDD benefits while attending CNA school and job hunting?
I'm planning to quit my retail job (been there 3 years) to attend a full-time CNA program that starts in March. The program is 8 weeks long and includes clinicals. My current manager refuses to give me a flexible schedule to accommodate my classes, so I'm forced to choose between keeping my job or pursuing this career change. I've been saving up, but I'm worried about covering all my bills while I'm in school and searching for CNA positions after graduation. Would I qualify for unemployment benefits during this transition period? I know generally you can't quit and get benefits, but I'm wondering if career training might be an exception? Has anyone successfully navigated a similar situation with EDD?
18 comments
Join the conversation
Fidel Carson
Unfortunately, quitting your job voluntarily to attend school generally doesn't qualify you for regular unemployment benefits, even for career advancement. The basic eligibility requirement is that you lost your job through no fault of your own (layoff, etc), are able and available for work, and are actively seeking employment. However, you might want to look into the California Training Benefits (CTB) program. It allows people to attend approved training while receiving unemployment benefits if you already qualify for UI. The key issue is you need to be eligible for unemployment FIRST, before the training exception kicks in. Did your employer give you any option for unpaid leave instead of quitting outright? That might potentially create a different scenario.
0 coins
Ana Rusula
•Thanks for responding. No, they weren't willing to hold my position or offer unpaid leave - it was basically "keep the current schedule or quit." I was afraid that might be the case regarding benefits. So it sounds like I wouldn't qualify since I'm choosing to leave. That's disappointing but good to know before I make any final decisions.
0 coins
Isaiah Sanders
they won't give u benefits if u quit ur job voluntarily thats 4 sure. my cousin tried something similar for cosmetology school last yr and got denied. EDD is super strict about the "no fault of ur own" thing
0 coins
Xan Dae
•This is true. I processed EDD claims for years. Voluntary quits are almost always disqualified unless there's good cause - like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or medical necessity with documentation. Career advancement isn't considered good cause unfortunately.
0 coins
Fiona Gallagher
Have you checked with the CNA program to see if they offer any financial aid or flexible scheduling options??? Some healthcare training programs have evening/weekend cohorts SPECIFICALLY for people who are working. Also, some hospitals will actually PAY for your CNA training if you agree to work for them for a certain period afterward!!!!! Worth looking into before quitting your job!!
0 coins
Ana Rusula
•That's a really good idea. The program I was looking at is Monday-Thursday 8-3pm with clinicals on Fridays, but I should definitely check if there are evening options elsewhere. I didn't know about hospitals potentially paying for training - that would be amazing if I could find something like that. Thanks for the suggestion!
0 coins
Thais Soares
I went through something similar when I was transitioning careers. Here's what I learned the hard way: 1. If you voluntarily quit, EDD will schedule an eligibility interview to determine if you had "good cause" to quit. School/training is NOT considered good cause in most cases. 2. If you're already receiving unemployment and want to attend school, you need to apply for the California Training Benefits program (CTB) which allows you to attend approved training while still receiving benefits. 3. Some CNA programs partner with healthcare employers who hire students right after graduation - these sometimes offer stipends during training. Before quitting, see if your CNA program offers job placement assistance. Many healthcare facilities are desperate for CNAs right now, so some will hire you as a trainee while you complete certification.
0 coins
Nalani Liu
•This is spot on. I'd also add that if the OP gets laid off (rather than quitting), they could then potentially qualify for both unemployment AND the CTB program. Might be worth having an honest conversation with the employer about the situation - some might prefer to officially "lay you off" rather than have you quit, especially if you've been a good employee for 3 years. It sometimes happens, though don't count on it.
0 coins
Axel Bourke
When I tried calling EDD to ask about a similar situation last year, I couldn't even get through to anyone! Spent literal DAYS redialing that stupid number and just got the "we're experiencing high call volume" message over and over. So frustrating.
0 coins
Thais Soares
•I had the same issue trying to get through to EDD! After days of trying, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an EDD rep. They basically call EDD for you and connect you when they reach an agent. Saved me so much frustration. Their video demo shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km - definitely worth it for getting clear answers about your specific situation instead of guessing.
0 coins
Xan Dae
One option no one has mentioned - reduce your hours instead of quitting completely. If your employer cuts your hours significantly (through no fault of your own), you might qualify for partial unemployment benefits. If you frame it to your boss as "I need to reduce my hours for school" rather than "I need a flexible schedule," they might be more accommodating. Worth a shot before quitting outright.
0 coins
Ana Rusula
•That's a really interesting approach! I hadn't thought about partial unemployment. I did try negotiating for fewer hours but was told they need full-time availability. Maybe I could try one more conversation framing it differently. If I could even get 15-20 hours on weekends and evenings, that plus some savings might be enough to get through the program.
0 coins
Isaiah Sanders
wait i just remembered something my friend did! they didn't exactly quit - they told their boss they couldn't work the assigned shifts anymore cuz of school and when the boss scheduled them anyway they just didn't show up. technically they got fired for no-shows which counted as misconduct BUT they appealed it saying the schedule wasn't reasonable and eventually won. super risky tho!!!!
0 coins
Fidel Carson
•Please don't do this. This is essentially trying to game the system and could be considered fraud if you're deliberately orchestrating a firing to claim benefits. EDD investigates these cases and can require repayment plus penalties if they determine you misrepresented your situation. Better to look into legitimate training programs that offer stipends or financial support.
0 coins
Fiona Gallagher
My cousin just finished a CNA program and what she did was take out a small personal loan to cover expenses during the 8 weeks of training!!! She said it was WORTH IT because she had multiple job offers before she even finished!!! CNAs are in HUGE demand right now!!! Maybe consider that option instead of trying to get unemployment???
0 coins
Ana Rusula
•Thanks for sharing this! A small personal loan might actually work for me since the training period is relatively short. Good to hear about the job market too - that's encouraging! I'm starting to think unemployment isn't going to be an option, but it helps to hear about alternatives that worked for others in similar situations.
0 coins
Nalani Liu
After reading all these responses, it seems like your options are: 1. Find a different CNA program with evening/weekend classes 2. Look for employer-sponsored CNA training programs (hospitals, nursing homes) 3. Try one more time to negotiate reduced hours for partial unemployment 4. Consider a small personal loan to cover the 8-week period 5. See if your school offers any emergency financial aid Unfortunately, quitting to attend school almost certainly won't qualify for regular unemployment benefits. The system is designed to support people who lost jobs involuntarily, not those making career transitions - even though more flexibility would actually help workers gain better skills. Whatever you decide, I'd recommend having another job lined up before finishing the program, even if it's part-time, to avoid any gaps in income.
0 coins
Ana Rusula
•Thank you for laying out all the options so clearly! After all this feedback, I'm going to: 1) Look for evening CNA programs first, 2) Check with local hospitals about sponsored training, 3) If those don't work out, consider the personal loan option for the 8-week program. I really appreciate everyone's input - it's helped me realize unemployment isn't the solution here, but there are other viable paths forward!
0 coins