PA UC career training benefits - Does PA offer OVR or TRA funding for education while collecting unemployment?

PA UC does offer several training assistance programs, but eligibility varies based on your specific situation. The main ones are: 1. Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) - This is specifically for workers who lost jobs due to foreign competition. Your employer would have been certified for TAA (Trade Adjustment Assistance) for you to qualify. Did your company move operations overseas? 2. PA CareerLink Training Programs - These offer various workforce development opportunities including tuition assistance for in-demand careers. Healthcare is definitely on that list. 3. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) - This typically assists people with disabilities, but their definition is broader than many realize. 4. Training Unemployment Benefit (TUB) - This allows you to continue receiving benefits while training if the program is approved. The key is to contact your local PA CareerLink office and schedule an appointment with a career counselor. They can assess which programs you qualify for and help with the application process. Be sure to mention your interest in healthcare specifically.

i tried gettin PA to pay for my cdl training and it was a HUGE hassle. they kept sending me to diffrent ppl every time i called. careerlink was usless. ended up paying outta pocket. good luck tho maybe healthcare is diffrnt

The PA CareerLink program has specific training funds called Individual Training Accounts (ITAs) for healthcare careers. My sister just went through this last year after being laid off from retail. She's now in a Medical Assistant program that's 100% covered. Here's what she had to do: 1. Register on the PA CareerLink website (www.pacareerlink.pa.gov) 2. Complete all the assessment sections on the site 3. Meet with a career counselor (bring ID, UC approval letter, and resume) 4. Request approval for the WIOA program (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) 5. Get assigned to an education counselor 6. Select from approved training programs The entire process took about 6 weeks from first meeting to approval. The program won't pay for all types of training, only ones for "high priority occupations" but healthcare definitely qualifies. Good luck!

When I tried getting training through PA CareerLink, my biggest issue was reaching anyone by phone to schedule the required assessment appointment. I called for WEEKS and couldn't get through or would get disconnected after waiting on hold forever. Nearly missed the enrollment period for my program because of the delays. If you're having trouble getting through to schedule that initial appointment, try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get through to both UC and CareerLink when I couldn't get answers. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Made a huge difference in getting my training application processed in time.

Yeah it works for CareerLink too! At least it did for me at the Philly office. They basically connect you directly to a rep instead of waiting through the queue. Saved me hours of frustration.

DONT WASTE UR TIME WITH CAREERLINK!!!! go straight to PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. there office is usually in the same building as careerlink but totally diff program with WAYY more funding!!! they paid for my entire nursing assistant course AND scrubs and even bus passes to get to class. u dont need a disability to qualify they help anyone with "barriers to employment" which basically means ur unemployed lol

I should clarify something important: OVR (Office of Vocational Rehabilitation) does primarily serve people with disabilities, though their definition is broad. You would need to have a documented disability, medical condition, or other barrier that substantially impacts employment to qualify. That said, there are multiple funding sources available through PA CareerLink, including WIOA funds that don't require disability status. When you visit, ask specifically about all available funding sources for healthcare training. Also important: While in approved training, you can request a waiver of the work search requirements, but you must continue filing your weekly claims. This is called TRA (Training Unemployment Benefits) and must be approved separately from the training funding.

My cousin just finished a phlebotomy program through CareerLink and it was totally free! She said the key was being SUPER persistent. The staff at her local office seemed overwhelmed and she had to keep following up to make sure her paperwork didn't get lost. She literally went in person every week until it was approved.

One other critical detail: Once you're approved for training, make sure you get the UC-1599 form completed. This is what officially notifies the UC office that you're in approved training and allows you to receive benefits without doing weekly work searches. Your training provider needs to fill out part of this form, then you submit it to UC. Without this form, you could potentially be disqualified for not meeting work search requirements even if you're attending classes full-time. I learned this the hard way!

btw if ur doing healthcare def look into SNAP employment & training program too. my gf got SNAP benefits while unemployed and they hooked her up with free CNA training thru that program. worth checking

Just wanted to update everyone - I went to CareerLink yesterday and had an amazing experience! The career counselor was super helpful and confirmed I'm eligible for WIOA funding for healthcare training. I'm starting the process for a Medical Assistant program that begins in September. She also helped me fill out the UC-1599 form so my work search requirements will be waived once training starts. Thank you all SO MUCH for your advice - I never would have known about any of this without this forum!

Congratulations Aisha! This is such an inspiring success story. I'm actually in a similar situation - got laid off from retail management in January and have been dragging my feet on exploring training options. Your experience has motivated me to finally make that CareerLink appointment. Question for you: did they give you any timeline for when the WIOA funding gets approved? I'm hoping to start a program this fall too but worried about missing deadlines. Also, did you have to take any aptitude tests or assessments as part of the process? Thanks for sharing your journey - it's giving me hope that this could actually work out!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar boat - got laid off from my manufacturing job 2 months ago and have been thinking about switching to healthcare. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is being persistent and knowing exactly what to ask for. Quick question for those who've been through this process: How long are most of the healthcare training programs? I'm looking at either Medical Assistant or Phlebotomy but want to make sure I can complete training before my UC benefits run out. Also, has anyone had success with evening or weekend programs while collecting benefits, or do they typically require full-time attendance? Thanks for all the detailed info everyone - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't find anywhere else!

I just wanted to echo what others have said about being persistent with the process. I went through WIOA training for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in 2023 and it completely changed my career trajectory. The program was 100% covered including books, supplies, and even help with transportation costs. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that some training providers have direct partnerships with CareerLink, which can streamline the approval process. When I was researching programs, I found that certain community colleges and vocational schools already had pre-approved curriculum with WIOA, so the funding approval was much faster. Also, don't overlook the job placement assistance that comes with these programs. My training provider had relationships with local hospitals and nursing facilities, and I had a job offer before I even finished the program. The pay increase from my previous warehouse job was significant too. For anyone on the fence about this - healthcare is desperately short-staffed right now, especially in entry-level positions like CNA, Medical Assistant, and Phlebotomy. It's truly a great time to make this career switch with government support!

I'm so grateful for this entire thread! I was just laid off from my retail job three weeks ago and have been feeling really lost about what to do next. Healthcare has always interested me but I never thought I could afford the training. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially Aisha's success story and Amun-Ra's career transformation - has given me the confidence to finally take action. I'm planning to call CareerLink tomorrow to schedule my appointment. Based on everything I've read here, I'm going to ask specifically about WIOA funding for Medical Assistant or CNA programs, bring all my documentation, and be prepared to be persistent throughout the process. One quick question for the group: For those who completed healthcare training through these programs, how supportive were your instructors about working with students who were career-changers versus traditional students? I'm a bit nervous about being in classes with people who might be much younger or have more recent education experience. Any advice for someone who hasn't been in a classroom setting for over 10 years? Thank you all for sharing such detailed, helpful information. This community is amazing!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who recently went through this process! I completed a Pharmacy Technician program through WIOA funding last year and now work at a hospital pharmacy. A few additional tips based on my experience: 1. When you meet with your CareerLink counselor, ask about apprenticeship programs too - some healthcare facilities offer paid apprenticeships for Medical Assistant and CNA roles that combine on-the-job training with classroom work. 2. Look into community college programs specifically - they often have more flexible scheduling options and stronger job placement rates than some private vocational schools. 3. Don't forget to ask about additional support services beyond tuition. WIOA can sometimes cover childcare assistance, work-related tools/uniforms, and even gas cards for transportation to classes. 4. Consider timing your training start date strategically. I started my program in January which meant I finished right when summer hiring picks up in healthcare - lots more job opportunities available. The healthcare worker shortage is real, especially in PA. I went from making $13/hour in food service to starting at $18/hour as a pharmacy tech, with clear advancement opportunities. Best decision I ever made! Don't hesitate to reach out if anyone has specific questions about the pharmacy tech route.

I've been following this thread closely as someone who just started the CareerLink process myself! I wanted to add some insight about the application timeline that might help others planning their training start dates. I submitted my WIOA application in early February and just got approved last week - so about 6 weeks total like MidnightRider mentioned. However, my counselor warned me that summer applications can take longer due to higher volume, so if you're hoping to start fall programs, definitely apply by May at the latest. One thing I learned that wasn't mentioned yet: some programs have prerequisite requirements like basic CPR certification or immunizations that can add 2-3 weeks to your timeline. My Medical Office Administration program requires a background check, drug screening, and certain vaccines before I can start clinical rotations. CareerLink will cover these costs, but you need to factor in the extra time. Also, for anyone worried about the work search requirements during the application process - my counselor said as long as you're actively working with CareerLink on approved training applications, they're usually pretty understanding if you focus your job searches on positions that would complement your future healthcare career rather than just any available work. The investment in time upfront is totally worth it. Seeing everyone's success stories here has me so excited to start my program in August!

This entire thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a similar situation - got laid off from my construction job last month and have been considering a career change to something more stable. Healthcare seems like a smart choice with all the job security everyone's mentioning. I wanted to ask about something I haven't seen discussed yet - are there any age limits or physical requirements for these healthcare training programs? I'm 45 and while I'm in decent shape, construction work has taken a toll on my back and knees. I'm wondering if programs like CNA or Medical Assistant have physical demands that might be challenging, or if there are other healthcare roles that might be less physically demanding but still accessible through these funding programs? Also, for those who completed training - how did you handle the transition from manual labor to healthcare work mentally? I'm excited about the career change but also a bit nervous about adapting to a completely different work environment and skill set. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences. This community has been more helpful than any government website I've tried to navigate!