EDD CTB program vs regular school attendance for UI extension - anyone succeed?

I went through this last year. You definitely need to apply for the CTB program FIRST before enrolling in any classes. It's not automatic - you have to submit the DE 8736 form and get approval from EDD before you start training. Random college classes won't qualify - the program needs to be on their approved list or you need to make a case for why it leads to employment. Once approved, you can get up to 26 additional weeks of benefits while training, and the best part is you don't have to do the regular job search requirements. But don't just enroll and expect EDD to approve it retroactively - that doesn't work!

i got denied when i tried last yr. said my cosmetology program wasnt "in demand" for my area which is BS because salons are hiring everywhere. whole system is rigged imo

I successfully completed the CTB program in 2025 for software development training. Here's what I learned: 1. You MUST apply for CTB approval BEFORE starting classes 2. The program needs to be either on their approved list OR you need to prove it leads to employment (job listings, industry growth data) 3. You'll get a determination interview scheduled after applying 4. If approved, you can get up to 26 extra weeks of benefits 5. You're exempt from job search requirements while in approved training 6. You must maintain satisfactory progress and attendance Be aware that not all school programs qualify - they look for in-demand occupations. Your UX certification should have a good chance since tech is usually considered high-demand.

Just wanna say i tried calling EDD like 35 times to ask them about this exact thing and kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and disconnecting me. So frustrating!!!

BE CAREFUL! I thought my medical billing certificate would qualify automatically and enrolled without getting EDD approval first. BIG MISTAKE! Not only did they deny my CTB application because I didn't get pre-approval, but they also hit me with a false statement penalty because I had reduced my availability for work by attending school full-time without telling them. Lesson learned: ALWAYS get CTB approval BEFORE enrolling, and if you're attending school without CTB approval, you MUST report it on your bi-weekly certification and remain available for full-time work.

I got approved for CTB last year for a web development bootcamp. The process was pretty straightforward but took about 3-4 weeks to get the final approval. Make sure you have documentation ready that shows: 1. Program description and duration 2. Expected completion date 3. Skills you'll learn 4. Job placement rates (if available) 5. Evidence it's an in-demand field For your UX certification, gather data showing the demand for UX designers in your area. The EDD representative will ask about this during your determination interview.

One important thing no one mentioned - if you're approved for CTB, your weekly certifications change. You no longer have to list job contacts, but you DO have to verify you're attending and making satisfactory progress in your training. Miss too many classes and they can disqualify you. Also, the 26-week extension starts from your CTB approval date, not from when your regular benefits run out. So if you have 10 weeks left on your regular claim and get CTB approval, you'll get those 10 weeks plus up to 26 more while in training. Keep documentation of your attendance and grades - they occasionally audit this.

To answer your follow-up questions: 1. Approval typically takes 2-3 weeks including the determination interview 2. Yes, many online programs qualify as long as they're accredited and lead to employment 3. Ideally, get CTB approval right before your benefits run out to maximize the extension period And as others mentioned, you MUST report school attendance on your certifications regardless of CTB status. Unreported school can lead to overpayment penalties even if you're looking for work.

Thanks everyone for all the great advice! I'm going to: 1. Research UX programs on the EDD approved list first 2. Complete the DE 8736 form for CTB approval BEFORE enrolling 3. Gather documentation showing UX design is in demand in my area 4. Try to time the approval close to when my regular benefits end Really appreciate all the insights - this community is amazing. Will update once I hear back from EDD about my application!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this recently. I was in a similar situation - graphic designer who got laid off and wanted to transition to UX. One thing that really helped my CTB application was creating a "career transition plan" document that showed how UX design directly builds on my existing graphic design skills. I included salary comparisons, job growth projections for UX vs traditional graphic design, and even found specific job postings that mentioned "graphic design background preferred" for UX roles. The EDD rep during my determination interview was impressed that I had a clear career progression strategy rather than just picking a random program. She said it strengthened my case that this was genuine workforce development, not just extending benefits. Also - start collecting those job demand statistics NOW. I used Bureau of Labor Statistics data, LinkedIn job insights, and local job board searches to show UX demand in my metro area. Having concrete numbers ready made the interview go much smoother. Your timing sounds good with 10 weeks left - that should give you enough buffer to get approved and start the program before your regular benefits expire. Best of luck!