Upskilling through Workforce1: Individual Training Grants
Add skills to your resume. Improve marketability. Increase your network. Did you read about these benefits to “upskilling” on Angie Kamath’s column last week? What if I told you that Workforce1 can help you to upskill at no cost to you?
Individual Training Grants (ITGs) are offered by Workforce1 to help qualified jobseekers get specialized job training to find a new job or advance their careers. ITGs fund select occupations that are rapidly growing in New York City. In other words, we’ve chosen to invest in training for occupations that have jobs available so that training participants have a good chance of landing a job upon course completion. Occupations eligible for training include:
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
- Executive Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- Medical Assistants
- Legal Secretaries
- Paralegals and Legal Assistants
- Computer Support Specialists
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Network and Computer System Administrators
- Office Managers (Administrative Service Managers)
- Fire Safety Directors
Kate Janeski
It’s important to have clear expectations of ITGS and whether a grant is right for you. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions that might help you determine whether you’re a good candidate to receive an ITG.
Who is eligible to apply for an Individual Training Grant?
You must:
- Be actively looking for employment or currently employed and earning less than $57,904/year.
- Be ready to work immediately after training.
- Register at a Workforce1 Career Center.
- Have a GED or High School Diploma.
What does an Individual Training Grant fund?
ITGS can fund course tuition, registration fees, testing fees, and books. ITGs cannot fund courses for college credit or any training that is not listed as eligible on the NYC Training Guide.
How can I apply for an Individual Training Grant?
The application process is highly selective. At each step you will receive approval to move forward or referral to other services. Completing an application does not guarantee receipt of an ITG. To apply, you must:
- Visit a Workforce1 Career Center and take a skills test.
- Complete an application.
- Interview with a Career Advisor.
The entire process takes 4-8 weeks.
Kate Janeski is Director of Recruitment at the NYC Department of Small Business Services, the agency that provides the Workforce1 service to prepare and connect qualified candidates to job opportunities in New York City. Her “Get Hired” column runs every Monday on the Workforce1 Career Blog. If you have a question or comment for Kate, drop her a note in the comment section below. And, don’t forget to share this post with your friends on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
I actually visited a workforce 1 center and was told the itg voucher training program has been put on hold and was told to contact the center in the Bronx and manhattan by the end of next month…confused…….
Sorry for any confusion. ITGs have been temporarily suspended at the Bronx and Upper Manhattan Workforce1 Career Centers. As an alternative, please contact one of our other Centers to be assessed. You can find contact information and locations of the other Workforce1 Career Centers here.
3/30/2012 I am interested in taking the test for accounting bookkeeping I can come immediately to set up appointment.
Contact the Workforce1 Career Center in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, or Hunts Point to set up an assessment. Contact information can be found on the Workforce1 website.
When will be available in the bronx and Manhattan. Thanks.
The ITG program should be available in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan after April 15th. As an alternative, you may contact one of the other Workforce1 Career Centers today to apply. Please check for announcementsand updates on the Workforce1 website.
Dear Ms. Janeski,
I would like to know up to what amount of money does the Individual Training Grant (ITG) voucher cover and how many vouchers can an individual apply for? I am registered with the Upper Manhattan Workforce1 office. I was also told last year that the ITG vouchers were suspended. I am interested in utilizing such a voucher to pay for training at Netcom Learning in the area of computer network administration.
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Hi, Information on the types of training funded and the maximum ITG award can be found on the FAQs at the NYC Training Guide. ITGs are temporarily suspended from Upper Manhattan, but you can visit another Workforce1 Career Center to start your application. Please visit the NYC Training Guide for more information – or feel free to ask another question here.
Are they still actively giving grants because 6 months back I enrolled and they stopped this program ?
Hi Peter,
Yes, ITGs are currently available through the Workforce1 Career Centers in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island Workforce1 Career Centers, as well as the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) locations in Flushing, Lower Manhattan Varick Street and Schermerhorn Street. The grants are temporarily suspended in the Workforce1 Career Centers in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. Please visit the NYC Training Guide for more information.
I would like to take more courses or education to prepare my self. Please help me how i can take theses courses. thank you i m dasporate.
Hi Aqila,
To help customers develop their professional skills, Workforce1 offers skill building workshops, Individual Training Grants (ITGs), specialized training in the healthcare, manufacturing and transportation sectors, and connections to other education institutions like the New York City Library that offers skill building workshops. Visit the Workforce1 website for more information.
Hello:
Ill appreciate if you let me know what is the skills test based on to qualify for the ITG?
Thanks,
Mahbub
Hi Mahbub, Workforce1 provides access to a variety of training opportunities through tutorials, low and no-cost training through community-based organizations, ITGs, workshops and sector-specific courses. The Skills Test is an occupational self-assessment tool that helps us determine what kind of training opportunity might best help you in reaching your career goal.
I have been told that the new requirement for the medical assistant program is having 12 months experience within the medical field. Is this information accurate? If so, how is the experience verified? Is there any way around this requirement? (i.e a high score on the skills test, additional skill tests, an interview) I am extremely interested in becoming an RMA.
Thank you,
Yomari
Hi Yomari, Through our work with employers in the healthcare field we have found that in this competitive market, candidates with related work experience and certifications are most likely to get hired. Due to employers’ demand, we require a minimum of 12 months of related experience (work experience in a healthcare setting) for ITG candidates. There are several opportunities to get started in the healthcare field, contact your local Workforce1 Career Center to find out about job opportunities.
My purpose to join Work Force was to assist in developing my skills (via ITG) and land a job. After taking the ITG Skills Test, I was informed that I didn’t qualify. I have been actively looking for a job and going to recruiting events throughout the city. What I don’t understand is how can someone not qualify for ITG when their aim is to enhance their skills?
Hi,
My boyfriend is going to be taking the required course to become a CNA. However, he is going to be taking them in a town about an hour north of the city (we currently live in Astoria) and after he finishes he plans to work in the city, but if he finds a better job upstate, we might just move there. Can he still qualify for a grant? Do we have to remain NYC residents? And if so, do you know of similar opportunities for residents of NY but not NYC?
Hi Stephanie Paff, The Individual Training Grants referenced in this blog post don’t cover CNA training. (They do cover Medical Assistant training, which is a related occupation.) You can find information on how to apply for an Individual Training Grant – as well as other ways to pay for training – here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/wf1/html/develop/develop.shtml.
Hi, Im Vees, thanks for your very informative column, i have been interested in certifying in bookeeping, but could not afford to go to college, also i want to pursue some studies in medical assistant/medical billing , so I can find a proper job
Great. Please visit the NYC Training Guide for information.
I currently work as a NYC special officer ,and I’m interested in furthering my career and wanted to know if I would be considered for the itg ,I make under 57,000$ and would be taking a course that does not give college credit
This website has information on the types of training funded by ITGs: http://mtprawvwsbswtp.nyc.gov/Search/Search.aspx. You should also check out this website, which has additional information on other ways to pay for training and other relevant information: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/wf1/html/develop/develop.shtml.
I took the skills test and it said
Thank you for your interest in the Individual Training Grant (ITG) program. You are currently eligible to apply for an ITG.
Use the following code when completing your application- …….
After you complete your course research and decide on a school, complete the application online here-
http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/wf1/html/develop/itg_application.shtml
A representative from Workforce1 will review your application within 3 business days and email your next steps.
But I am having problem with completing the Individual Training Grant Scholarship Application online. Whatever URL I put on the URL filed it replayed
“Training Provider Research URL required”.
Can you help me with this issue please?
The application requests you to conduct course research on the NYC Training Guide and provides a short video on how to provide the link to your research on the application (Instructions stated here: Please use the Training Guide – http://www.nyc.gov/trainingguide to research Training Providers. Compare three providers, as shown in the webinar, and copy/paste the url of your research in the space below.)
In order for your application to be submitted, please watch the webinar link and provide your research link in the space provided. Your research link should look like the following- http://mtprawvwsbswtp.nyc.gov/Search/PrintPage.aspx?courseId=XXXX,XXXX,XXXX
I would like to know if guys give vouchers or grants on obtaining a cdl drivers license program?
Hi Jeff, The Workforce1 Industrial & Transportation Career Center does offer CDL training. Please contact the Center directly for specific details.
Where does the funding for ITG vouchers come from? What if you are in college already and are receiving financial aid? Can you still receive an ITG grant to receive job training?