Is the cost of education a major barrier to your new high-tech career? You may want to contact your PA CareerLink office managed by a local Workforce Development Board (WDB) to find out more about funding your education at NuPaths. 

What are Workforce Development Boards and PA CareerLink? 

In the state of Pennsylvania,  the workforce development system consists of 23 county-wide or regional Local Workforce Development Areas (LWDA). Each of these is guided by a Workforce Development Board set up to direct federal, state, and local funding to training programs that prepare local workers to meet the employment demands of the local economy in a career that offers good pay and economic advancement. 

These boards were developed to implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity ACT (WIOA), landmark legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama on July 22, 2014, so that more Americans are trained and ready for work with “marketable skills.” 

WIOA is designed to strengthen and improve our nation's public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers. The program also helps employers hire and retain skilled workers.

Each PA WDB manages one or more PA CareerLink centers in their region. At present, 23 PA boards manage over 60 PA CareerLink® centers where you can:

• Get employment information,
• Find out about career development and training opportunities, 
• Connect to various programs in your area, and 
• Determine your eligibility for receiving training funds. 

These centers serve as local one-stop locations for a multitude of government services that can support your employment and training efforts. Each person is assigned a career advisor who helps candidates with the application process and determines if they are eligible for training funds. 

Workforce Development Boards are in place in every state to direct federal, state, and local funding to workforce development programs. Search for your regional workforce development board in your state to explore funding options for training. 

NuPaths and Workforce Development Boards/PA CareerLink 

NuPaths works with several WDBs, including South Central PA Works (SCPa Works) in Harrisburg, Philadelphia Works, Lancaster County, Montgomery County, Chester County, and Poconos County. SCPa Works supports eight counties and manages six CareerLink offices. 

NuPaths offers programs to train you in seven specific IT job roles:

• Each student must select one of the job roles to study. 

• Program hours range from 175 to 220 hours. Students can choose to attend an in-classroom program or online program (at present, three of the programs are offered online). 

• Typical students enrolled in the programs are unemployed or underemployed adults, people with some college but no degree, veterans, people looking to transition into an IT career, women, minorities, re-entrants, high school students, out-of-school youth, and anyone who wants to start a career in digital and computer technology. 

• Students are offered career services support throughout the program to help them find employment.

Which NuPaths programs are eligible for WDB funding and how do I apply?

NuPaths education and training programs are on an approved Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) managed by WDBs, and students enrolling in the program may be eligible to receive WDB funding.  Some of the upcoming programs where candidates can pursue funding from WDBs/PA CareerLink are:

• IT Security Analyst
• Network Technician
• Technical Support Specialist
• Digital Marketing Assistant
• Associate Website Developer

NuPaths staff works closely with the PA CareerLink offices to assess whether students are a good fit for the programs. WDB and CareerLink staff also engage with NuPaths students to introduce them to services and benefits they offer and guide students with employment choices. 

According to Pankaj Agarwal, co-founder & CEO of NuPaths, about 40% of NuPaths students receive funding through the WDBs/PA CareerLink. 

He adds that by early August 2020, three of the seven NuPaths programs--IT Security Analyst, Network Technician, and Technical Support Specialist, will be also available online along with in-classroom training.

To receive funding, students must contact their local PA CareerLink office. Although NuPaths is not an approved partner of all of the PA WDBs, students from across the state can still apply for NuPaths online programs, and if eligible, can receive funding from their local WDB/CareerLink office. 

Apply for WDB Funding now!

If you are wondering how to pay for the NuPaths training you need for a well-paying job in technology, contact your local PA CareerLink office as soon as possible. You may qualify for funding and be well on your way to a career that offers economic and career advancement in a high-demand information technology field. 

How to Contact your Local Workforce Development Board in Pennsylvania

You can apply for a NuPaths program at https://www.nupaths.org/apply-today/