Need immediate ESD worker retraining program with no waitlist - options?

Commissioner-approved training (CAT) programs through ESD don't typically have immediate enrollment options. The assessment process is designed to determine if the training is suitable for your situation and job market. Even the fastest programs I've seen still take 3-4 weeks minimum for approval. Your best option is to continue with your regular unemployment benefits while the retraining approval process happens. You won't lose benefits during this application period as long as you keep doing your required job searches. Once approved for training, the job search requirements are usually waived. You might want to check with WorkSource - they sometimes have accelerated approval processes for in-demand fields like healthcare and IT.

the community colleges actually have some programs staring every few weeks not just at the begining of quarters. try checking south seattle college they had a quick start IT program my brother did last year and he started like 2 weeks after applying

JUST went through this exact situation last month!!! The whole process is RIDICULOUS and nobody gives you straight answers!!! I called ESD literally 47 times trying to get someone to explain the training benefits and kept getting disconnected or told different things each time. One agent told me I'd lose ALL my benefits if I started school before approval, another said it was fine as long as I kept job searching. SO FRUSTRATING!!! I finally found out that you CAN start classes before getting CAT approval BUT you have to keep doing your job searches until you get the official approval letter. Once approved, you can stop the job searches and just focus on school. But getting ahold of someone at ESD who knows what they're talking about is nearly IMPOSSIBLE.

I just completed the CAT program for a medical coding certificate. Here's what you need to know: 1. There are NO immediate start programs that are pre-approved by ESD - all require some processing time. 2. You can enroll in classes while waiting for approval, but you must continue your job searches until you receive official Training Benefits approval. 3. The specific training program must be for an "in-demand" occupation in your labor market. ESD uses labor market data to determine this, so healthcare and IT are generally approved. 4. The fastest approval I've seen is about 3 weeks, and that's if you have all your paperwork ready and your WorkSource counselor is efficient. 5. Make sure you specifically apply for Training Benefits through ESD, not just enroll in school. They're two separate processes. I'd recommend getting started with both processes immediately - enrollment and ESD approval. That way, you minimize the total waiting time.

i started comsci at bellevue college while on unemployment but didnt tell esd because i was scared theyd cut my benefits. big mistake! i got hit with an overpayment notice for $12,500 because they found out i wasnt available for full time work while in school. make sure you do everything by the book!

Has anyone tried the IT boot camps? I've been looking at Code Fellows and some others but they're expensive and not sure if ESD would approve them as training programs? My understancing is that training has to be at accredited schools

One more thing - make sure you file for Training Benefits as soon as possible. There's a deadline based on when your unemployment claim started (usually within the first 52 weeks). If you miss this window, you might not be eligible even if the training program is approved. Also, if you're considering healthcare, check out the WA Health Workforce Gateway program. They sometimes have accelerated approval processes for healthcare training through partnerships with ESD. I believe they're specifically working to reduce wait times for certain high-demand certifications.