Training Benefits program

You may qualify for extra weeks of unemployment benefits while you train for a new career. Find out if you qualify and how to apply.

How Training Benefits work

Training Benefits (TB) provide financial help while you're training for a new career. You can apply for TB if you're receiving unemployment benefits or already used them up. Benefits stop when you complete training or run out of TB, whichever comes first.

If you are approved for training benefits, you:

  • Can get extra weeks of unemployment benefits while in your approved training. This can happen only after you use all the weeks in your regular unemployment claim. You can receive up to 52 weeks total between your regular unemployment claim and TB.
  • Will get a letter from us that tells you how many weeks of benefits you get and how much per week.
  • Do not need to look for work, as long as you are making progress in training.

The program does not directly pay for books, tuition or other school-related fees. But you can choose to use unemployment benefits to pay for these needs.

How to qualify for Training Benefits

To qualify for TB, you need to:

  • Be one of 4 types of workers. Read more on this page.
  • Work in an occupation in decline. (Does not apply to workers who earn low wages or who have a disability.)
  • Apply for the TB program and enroll in training by the deadlines.
  • Enroll in an approved training program.
  • Have a plan for how you will pay for training and living expenses after your Training Benefits run out.

4 types of qualified workers

To qualify for TB, you need to be one of the following:

Dislocated workers

You were permanently laid off by your employer and you are not likely to get the same type of work again because it is not in demand in your local labor market.

You may be a dislocated worker if you lost your job and are unlikely to return to the same occupation due to:

  • Plant closures.
  • Mass layoffs.
  • Lack of demand for your skills.

Workers who earn low wages

You earned less than an average of $22.26 per hour in the jobs you used to claim unemployment benefits. This wage applies to 2026.

People with a disability

You have an injury or disability that prevents you from returning to your type of work and you have medical documents that prove the injury or disability.

National Guard or military members

You are a current member of the Washington National Guard or you were honorably discharged from the military or the Washington National Guard within the last year.

Deadlines

In most cases, you need to both:

  • Apply for TB within 90 days of opening your unemployment claim.
  • Enroll in school within 120 days of opening your unemployment claim.

If you miss these deadlines, you might still qualify for TB. You need to show us that you had "good cause" to miss the deadline. If you have questions about good cause, call TB staff toll free at 877-600-7701.

These deadlines do not apply to dislocated workers. They need to apply and enroll in training before the end of their benefit year.

Acceptable programs

An acceptable training program is an educational course that:

  • Takes place at a school or training facility.
  • Has a start and end date.
  • Is on the ETP list and participates in the ETP program.
  • Teaches you the skills to get a job in a high-demand occupation in your labor market.
  • Increases your earning potential.
  • Is vocational. It is not intended to result in a high school diploma or GED. It could result in a higher education degree if it gives you a certification, license or specific skills needed for an in-demand job.

Part-time training is available for some people. Dislocated workers and certain people of different ability may qualify. We ask for proof of a person's different ability that requires them to attend part time.

Everyone else needs to take full-time training. Schools and training providers determine what programs are full time.

Before you apply

Get help

We encourage you to get help to complete parts of the TB application. Some parts you cannot complete without signing up for a training program or school. 

To avoid delays in processing and before completing the “steps before you apply” in this section:

Complete these steps before you apply

Find an acceptable training program

Find a program from the Eligible Training Provider (ETP) list on the CareerBridge website. Check the box for "ETP Only." Programs that do not have a check mark in the ETP column are not acceptable programs. Self-employment training is not eligible, even if marked ETP eligible.

Contact an advisor at the school you plan to attend

You will need a training plan and the advisor’s signature before you apply for TB. The form you need is in the application packet. 

Find out if your current and future occupations are in demand or decline

  1. Find the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code on the AutoCoder website. Enter your current job duties in the “Job Description” field and select “Search.” Write down the and choose the code that most closely matches your job in the past 3 years.
  2. In the “Job Title” field of the same website, enter the job title of the occupation you hope to have after training. Select “Search.” Write down the code that most closely matches your desired occupation after training.
  3. Go to the Learn about an occupation page.
  4. Enter the first SOC code in “Search Occupations” field.
  5. Select the county or counties where you live or where you are willing to commute to work. Select “Search.” Take a screen shot or print your search results. 
  6. Go back and repeat the last step using the SOC code that most closely matches your desired occupation after training. 
     

How to apply for Training Benefits

You can apply for TB in two ways: with our PDF application or online via eServices.

Use the downloadable PDF (easiest method)

  1. Download a Training Benefits application packet (PDF, 275 KB). 
  2. Complete the application on paper or complete digitally and print. You can visit a WorkSource office to use a computer and printer free of charge. Some offices might have preprinted applications. Find your nearest office with the WorkSource locator.
  3. Submit the application by mail or fax.

    Mail

    Employment Security Department
    Attn: Training Benefits Unit
    PO Box 19019
    Olympia, WA 98507-0019

    Fax

    800-301-1796. You can fax it for free at a WorkSource location.

Use the online application

  1. Log into your eServices account or create an account. 
  2. Select your current claim, then select the "Applications/Forms" tab and choose "Apply for Training Benefits." 
  3. We will send you a training provider certification. You will need to take the letter to your training provider to complete.

While you wait for our decision

We often have a backlog of applications to process. It could take up to 12 weeks for us to give you our decision. We know waiting is difficult. We hope this section is useful to you.

Start school as planned 

If you do not start school as planned, and we later approve your application, you might need to repay Training Benefits we paid you. 

If you decide to withdraw from school, delay the start date or change your application in any way, you need to notify us: 

  1. Contact the TB Unit by phone or fax to let us know your plans. The numbers are on this page.
  2. Submit a new application. Include a new Training Provider Certification. 

Continue to look for work and submit weekly claims

Continue your active search for work and submit a weekly claim for each week you want to receive benefits. 

Be available for work 

Be available to take a job, if offered, even if school starts before you get our decision.  

If you get a suitable job offer and the job conflicts with your current or future school schedule, you have a choice:

  • Take the job and withdraw from school. You could still get partial unemployment benefits if you work part time. 
  • Refuse the job and remain in school. You would no longer be eligible for unemployment benefits, including TB. Unemployment laws say you cannot refuse a job offer of suitable work.

Contact the TB Unit by phone or fax to let us know what you decide.

After you're approved for Training Benefits

Make sure you read the Training Benefits Handbook (PDF, 2.9 MB) we send you. To request a handbook, call us at 877-600-7701.

Meet your training requirements

While you're receiving training benefits, you need to:

  • Be enrolled full time in an approved training program. If you are a dislocated worker or have a disability, you may qualify for part-time training.
  • Make satisfactory progress in the program. You and your training provider are responsible for showing us your progress. We will send you a form to complete when we need to track your progress.

Tell us about changes to your training

We approved your training plan based on what you told us in your application. If you want to make any changes to the plan we approved, you need to ask us first. The changes you intend to make could affect your eligibility for training benefits.

  1. Download a Request to modify training plan (PDF, 202KB). You also can get the form at your local WorkSource office. Find an office near you using the locator tool the WorkSourceWA website. Use the form only to modify an existing plan. If you finish a plan and want to start a new one, submit a new application.
  2. We will review your request to change your training. Then we will decide if you still qualify for TB. Call or email the TB unit if you have questions.

If you do not follow these steps, you might need to look for work or pay back the benefits you received.

Financial aid for training

TB does not pay for training. But you may be able to get financial aid to help pay for your training. Some possible resources:

Training Benefits laws and rules