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Daniela Rossi

EDD CBT program for LVN nursing school - how to verify approval?

I lost my job in healthcare admin after our clinic downsized, and I'm thinking this might be the perfect time to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse. I heard EDD has something called the CBT (California Training Benefits) program that lets you attend school while still collecting unemployment? I found an LVN program that starts in 3 months, but I have no idea how to confirm if this specific school/program is approved by EDD for the CBT. The program costs $18,500 total and runs for 12 months. Has anyone here gone through this process for nursing specifically? I don't want to enroll and then find out EDD won't approve it or that I'll lose my benefits. The EDD website is so confusing about this! Any help would be appreciated!

Ryan Kim

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Yes, I went through CBT for a medical coding program in 2025! The process is actually pretty straightforward but not well explained on their website. First, you need to make sure your school is on the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). You can check that here: https://edd.ca.gov/en/unemployment/eligible_training_providers_list For your LVN program, it MUST be on that list to qualify for CBT. Once you're enrolled, you'll need to submit the DE 3100 form to EDD. You can get this from your school or the EDD website. The school will need to complete part of it. The big benefit is that you won't have to look for work while in training, just focus on school. But you still need to certify every two weeks.

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Daniela Rossi

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Thank you so much! I had no idea about the ETPL list - that's super helpful. I'll check if my school is on there before moving forward. Do you know if EDD is pretty quick about approving the DE 3100 once it's submitted? I'm worried about gaps in my benefits.

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Zoe Walker

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i did CBT for IT training last year they approved it no problem just make sure ur school is state approved and accredited. the nursing programs usually are but double check. also be aware u still gotta certify every 2 weeks even while in school

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Elijah Brown

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This is totally wrong information. I tried to get CBT for my welding program and EDD rejected it even though the school was accredited. They said it wasn't on their "approved list" which is different from just being accredited. OP needs to specifically check the ETPL list the other person mentioned, not just ask if the school is accredited!

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I'm currently in the CBT program for healthcare education (medical assistant), and I can help clarify some things: 1. Your LVN program needs to be on the ETPL list as mentioned above 2. The program must be full-time according to the school's definition (part-time doesn't qualify) 3. You must have a DE 3100 form completed - part by you, part by the school 4. You need to have had your first EDD payment before applying for CBT 5. The training cannot extend beyond 52 weeks The biggest challenge I faced was getting through to EDD to check on my application status. It took weeks of calling. The approval process took about 3-4 weeks after submission in my case. Make sure you don't miss any biweekly certifications during this waiting period. I'd suggest talking directly with the school's financial aid office - they likely have experience with CBT applications and can tell you if they're approved.

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Daniela Rossi

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This is incredibly helpful, thank you! My program is exactly 52 weeks so that should work. I've been certifying for about 2 months now, so I should be eligible. Did you have to submit any documentation about the program cost or did they just need to know it was an approved school?

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Natalie Chen

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I went through CBT for an LVN program in 2024 and it was HELL getting through to EDD to check on my application. I called LITERALLY 32 times over 3 days and kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Once I actually talked to someone, they were able to tell me my CBT application was approved but sitting in a queue. The rep pushed it through and I got confirmation the next day. Saved me weeks of stress!

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Does this actually work?? I've been trying to reach EDD about my CBT approval for 2 weeks with no luck. Starting to get desperate since my classes start next month.

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Natalie Chen

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Yeah it worked for me! Worth it to actually talk to a real person. The EDD rep I spoke with was able to look up my CBT application status right away and push it through the system.

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Just want to add something IMPORTANT that no one mentioned!! Even if your program is approved, you may NOT qualify for CBT if you're considered a "dislocated worker" vs regular unemployed. I learned this the hard way - I had been at my job less than 6 months when laid off, so EDD said I wasn't eligible for the training program!!! And also there's something about needing a certain amount of BASE PERIOD earnings?? The whole thing is so complicated.

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Ryan Kim

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That's not entirely accurate. Being a "dislocated worker" actually makes you MORE likely to qualify for training benefits, not less. The base period earnings requirement is for UI benefits in general, not specifically for CBT. If you're already receiving unemployment benefits, you've already met the base period requirement. It sounds like there might have been another reason for your denial. Did you speak with a CBT specialist at EDD?

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Nick Kravitz

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ok so i just went thru this whole process last month for my sterile processing tech program. what nobody tells u is that even if ur school is on the ETPL list and u get approved for CBT, u might still run into issues with the SCHOOL. my program wouldnt accept me until EDD approved my CBT, but EDD wouldnt approve my CBT until i was enrolled in the program. total catch-22!!! took a supervisor at both places to sort it out.

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To answer your original question specifically about LVN programs - most accredited LVN programs in California are CBT-approved, but not all. I'd recommend: 1. First check the ETPL list online 2. If you don't see your school, call the school's financial aid office and ask if they accept EDD CBT students 3. If yes, ask them for their ETPL number or listing name (sometimes schools are listed under parent companies or different names) 4. Get the DE 3100 form ready - you can download it from EDD's website 5. Start the application process ASAP as it can take 3-6 weeks for approval Also important: once approved, you'll need to provide attendance verification to EDD periodically. Your school should be familiar with this process if they regularly work with CBT students.

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Daniela Rossi

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Thank you! I just checked the ETPL list and found my school listed! Now I need to contact them about the DE 3100 form. One last question - do you know if CBT covers the full cost of the program or just allows me to keep collecting unemployment while attending?

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CBT doesn't cover the cost of your program - it just allows you to attend school while collecting your regular UI benefits without having to look for work. You'll need to find other ways to pay for the program itself (financial aid, loans, payment plans, etc.). Some students qualify for other assistance programs like WIA/WIOA funding, which is separate from EDD but can help pay for training. Ask your school if they accept WIOA funding.

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Elijah Brown

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THE EDD IS A JOKE!!! I applied for CBT 5 months ago and I'm STILL waiting for a final decision! Meanwhile I've had to pay for my classes out of pocket and continue with job search requirements. DON'T TRUST ANYTHING THEY SAY ABOUT TIMEFRAMES. Start the process MONTHS before your program begins!!!

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Zoe Walker

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same happened to my roommate she waited 7 weeks for approval and almost missed the start date for her class

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Daniela Rossi

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Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to call my school tomorrow to confirm they're CBT-eligible (I did find them on the ETPL list!) and start the application process ASAP since it sounds like it can take a while. I'll also prepare for the calling nightmare to check on my application status - that Claimyr service sounds helpful if I get stuck. I'm relieved to know that this is actually possible! I was so worried I'd have to choose between pursuing nursing or having income for the next year. I'll update this thread once I get more information from my school about their experience with CBT students.

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Nora Bennett

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Good luck with your nursing journey! Just wanted to add one more tip since you mentioned the program costs $18,500 - look into whether your school offers payment plans that work with the CBT timeline. Some schools will let you pay monthly instead of upfront, which can help manage the cost while you're on unemployment benefits. Also, once you're in the CBT program, keep ALL your paperwork organized - attendance records, grade reports, etc. EDD can ask for verification at any time and having everything ready makes the process much smoother. My friend in an LVN program had to provide mid-term grades and attendance verification about 6 months into her program. One last thing - start networking with other nursing students and professionals now! The healthcare field is all about connections, and you never know who might help you land that first job after graduation. Wishing you the best!

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Nasira Ibanez

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This is such great advice about the payment plans! I hadn't even thought about that aspect. I'm definitely going to ask the school about monthly payment options when I call them tomorrow. The networking tip is really smart too - I should probably start connecting with people in the field now rather than waiting until I'm closer to graduation. Thanks for thinking of all these practical details that I probably would have figured out the hard way later!

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Ravi Sharma

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I'm currently going through the CBT application process for a dental hygiene program and wanted to share a few additional tips that might help! First, when you call your school, ask specifically if they have a "CBT coordinator" or someone who regularly handles EDD training benefit students. Some schools have dedicated staff who know the process inside and out, which can save you a lot of headaches. Second, I learned that you can actually submit your DE 3100 form BEFORE you're officially enrolled, as long as you have a conditional acceptance letter from the school. This can help speed up the approval timeline since you won't be waiting for enrollment AND approval. Also, keep in mind that if your LVN program has any prerequisite courses (like anatomy or medical terminology), those might need to be completed separately and may not qualify for CBT coverage. Make sure the 12-month timeline you mentioned includes everything you need for licensure. The healthcare training programs seem to have pretty good success rates with CBT approval since there's such high demand for healthcare workers in California right now. Best of luck with everything!

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This is really helpful info about submitting the DE 3100 early! I didn't know you could do that with just a conditional acceptance letter. That could definitely save me some time since I'm still waiting to hear back from the admissions office. Quick question - when you say "conditional acceptance letter," does that mean the standard acceptance letter schools send before you've paid your enrollment deposit? Or is it something specific you have to request for CBT purposes? Also, you're right about checking on prerequisites! My LVN program does require a few courses but they're built into the 12-month timeline as the first semester, so hopefully that won't be an issue. Thanks for the heads up though - I'll make sure to clarify that when I speak with their CBT coordinator tomorrow!

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