Workforce Development offers specialized training, funding, and student support to build the foundation for a competitive workforce by responding to business/industry and community needs.
Workforce Development helps with:
- Advising and Counseling services
- Resource support
- Mental Health and advising support through our WFD Counselor
- Educational support through various funding programs
Basic Food Employment & Training (BFET) Helping participants achieve employment goals through educational funding and resources.
BFET is a program designed to help participants achieve their employment goals through educational funding support and resources.
BFET helps with:
- Keeping food benefits active while attending school
- Childcare subsidies (through DSHS)
- Required books
- Required tools and uniforms
- Tuition not covered by Financial Aid
Who's eligible?
If you are receiving Federal food benefits (SNAP), you may be eligible to receive funding and resource assistance.
Please note, Bachelor programs are not approved programs for BFET. The Pre-Nursing program is only BFET eligible for students pursuing the LPN or LPN-RN bridge programs.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Opportunity Grant (OG) Funding and support for students pursuing approved programs up to 45 credits or 36 months.
Opportunity Grant (OG) is a program that assists participants with funding and other services while they attend school. The program may assist up to 45 credits or 36 months, whichever comes first.
What are the benefits?
- Tuition not covered by financial aid
- Required books
- Required tools and uniforms
Who's eligible?
- Washington State residents
- Required 2.0 GPA or higher
- Admitted into an Opportunity Grant approved program
- Not have used all of their OG credits or time limit in any Washington State community or technical college.
- Have income at or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines. More information here: Opportunity Grant | SBCTC (opens in a new tab)
- Bachelor degree programs, High School completion programs, and Running Start classes are not approved programs for Opportunity Grant.
- Students must have a high school diploma or GED to qualify for Opportunity Grant.
- Students enrolled in college programs who do not have a diploma or GED may contact the Student Aid & Scholarship office (financial aid) to see if they may be eligible for Ability to Benefit, which is approved by Opportunity Grant.
Which programs are eligible?
- Accounting
- Architectural Engineering Design
- Auto Collision Technician
- Auto Technology – Advanced Automotive
- Aviation Maintenance
- Avionics Technician
- Barber
- Central Service/Sterile Processing
- Chemical Dependency Certificate
- Computer Programming
- Construction Technology
- Cosmetology
- Culinary Arts
- Dental Assistant
- Digital Entertainment
- Early Care & Education
- Electrician Low Voltage Fire/Security
- Environmental Science
- Esthetic Sciences
- Graphic Design Technology
- Health Unit Coordinator
- Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration
- Histology Lab Technician
- Human Services and Chemical Dependency
- IBEST Programs
- Interior Design
- Lineman & Arboriculture
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologies
- Massage Studies
- Mechatronics
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Network Operations & Systems Security
- Non-Destructive Testing
- Nursing Assistant
- Pastry Arts
- Pharmacy Technician
- Pilot
- Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Pre-Nursing
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Retail Business Management
- Surgical Technology
- Upholstery
- Welding
WorkFirst (WF) Funding and resources for TANF recipients to achieve employment goals.
WorkFirst (WF) is a program designed to help participants achieve their employment goals through funding support and resources, and educational participation may count towards your DSHS requirement.
It is recommended that you speak to your DSHS case manager if you are interested in attending Clover Park.
What are the benefits?
- Tuition not covered by Financial Aid
- Required books
- WorkFirst Work Study
- WorkFirst Support Services
- Childcare subsidies (through DSHS)
Who's eligible?
If you are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) through DSHS, you may be eligible for the WorkFirst Program.
How do I get started in the WorkFirst program?
The WorkFirst program requires a referral from your DSHS case manager. Our WorkFirst staff can help you contact them if needed. Once the WorkFirst program staff receives your referral information, they will contact you to discuss your next steps.
WorkFirst Contact Information
Worker Retraining (WRT) Funding and support for students attending classes after recent employment changes.
The Worker Retraining program helps students with funding and other services while attending classes for at least one quarter.
What are the benefits?
- Tuition not covered by Financial Aid
- Required books
- Required tools, uniforms, and toolkits
- Transportation assistance
- Childcare expenses
Who's eligible?
Qualifying situations include:
- Receiving or exhausting unemployment within the past 48 months
- Discharged from the military within the past 48 months
- Active-duty military scheduled to separate within the next 6 months
- Recently divorced, widowed, or separated within the past 48 months
- Require training to maintain current employment
Early Achievers Grant (EAG) Financial aid program for employed child care providers pursuing early childhood education.
Early Achievers is a financial aid program that assists students that are employed child care providers in early learning and are pursuing a certificate or degree in early childhood education.
What are the benefits?
- Tuition not covered by Financial Aid
- Required books
Who's eligible?
- Washington State residents as defined in RCW 28B.15.012, and
- Employed at a childcare facility, family home care or Head Start/ECEAP program that is actively participating in the Department of Children, Youth, and Families' Early Achievers (QRIS) program. The student must work a minimum of 10 hours a week or 40 hours per month at an eligible childcare facility. The student must also have worked for an employer for a minimum of three (3) months.
- The Department of Children, Youth, and Families will provide the colleges with access to information regarding eligible employers. The student must provide work history documentation to the college and update the college with any changes to their employment or their employer's information.
- Enroll in an Early Achievers Grant-eligible education program.
EAG Contact Information
Sally Christensen at sally.christensen@cptc.edu
Workforce Advising & Counseling Support and guidance for students making academic and personal choices while completing their education.
Every student needs support and guidance in making the best academic and personal choices while completing their education. The WFD Counselor may help you make informed decisions and can connect you to resources and opportunities across campus.
Workforce Advising and Counseling helps with:
- Program exploration
- Course planning
- Degree and general education requirements
- Add/drop classes
- Options if you are having academic difficulty
- Academic policies and procedures
- Brief personal counseling
- Connecting to additional support staff
WFD Counselor Contact Information
Rachael Butler at 253-589-6088 or Rachael.Butler@cptc.edu
Getting Started with Workforce Development The steps to apply for Workforce Development funding and what happens next.
- Have a current FAFSA or WASFA application on file with the college
- Complete the Workforce Development Intake Application (opens in a new tab)
- Once submitted, the Intake Application is sent directly to the Workforce Development office.
- Staff will contact students within 48-72 hours regarding eligibility and next steps.
- Students must be registered for classes before an intake appointment will be scheduled.
Workforce Development funding is not guaranteed and depends on eligibility and available funds.
Workforce Development Eligibility Office
Building 17, Room 110 | 253-589-4311 | WFD_Eligibility@cptc.edu
Workforce Development Intake Application
Notice: Noncredit courses and Continuing Education programs are NOT eligible for Workforce Development funding. Please connect with our Continuing Professional Education staff for funding options: https://www.cptc.edu/CPE
NOTIFICATION TO PRE-NURSING DTA STUDENTS UTILIZING BFET FUNDING:
The Department of Social Health Services (DSHS) determined that the Pre-Nursing DTA program pathway does not link directly to employability and therefore is not allowable under the BFET expansion as an approved activity.
Students enrolled in this pathway will be required to meet student status in order to keep their food benefits. All other programs under the expansion are still approved for BFET.
If you are a student admitted to the Pre-Nursing DTA program, BFET will no longer be available to fund your program and you will need to identify an alternate funding source. Below are funding options/resources available:
- FAFSA: www.cptc.edu/financial-aid/completing-fafsa
- WASFA: wsac.wa.gov/wasfa
- Tuition Installment Plan (TIP): www.cptc.edu/tip
- CPTC Foundation Scholarships: www.cptc.edu/foundation
If you choose to change your program, please contact the Advising & Counseling office to schedule an appointment to meet with your Advisor for an updated Education Plan. You can contact the Advising & Counseling at 253.589.5548 | https://www.cptc.edu/advising
Please feel free to reach out if you have questions or concerns.
253.589.4311
WFD_Eligibility@cptc.edu