Vocational Skills Training SR 06-12, 10/06 (FAM-A)

Vocational skills training means instruction conducted at an institutional or worksite setting to provide or upgrade the technical skills required to perform a specific job or group of jobs by an individual, including:

• job specific competency training;

• job specific school-to-work programs;

• on-site industry-specific training;

• customized training;

• entrepreneurial training;

• cooperative education; or

• professional and vocational education.

The activity can only be counted as a core activity for a lifetime maximum of 12 months. An extension beyond the limits may be granted for a maximum of 3 months if deemed necessary in order to provide for successful transition to employment. This extension will be counted as a secondary activity.

Participant Referral Criteria

The NHEP team member must consider the following specific referral criteria in addition to the general referral criteria in order to refer to the vocational skills training activity:

• the participant’s marketability based on current skills, experience and education;

• the participant’s ability to achieve self-sufficiency without a vocational skills training program;

• the specific vocational skills training program’s direct marketability to the local labor market;

• the participant’s ability to successfully complete a vocational skills training program; and

• the participant’s ability to make use of support services, such as transportation and child care, while engaged in vocational skills training.

A WEP participant who has a job or OJT offer conditional on participating in vocational skills training may be referred to the training prior to or after the completion of the WEP.

Activity Requirement

Vocational skills training programs must meet all of the following criteria:

• the classroom training must be designed for vocationally specific skill;

• the vocationally specific training must be in an occupation which is consistent with the participant’s employability plan;

• the training must be industry specific; and

• the training program must have a reasonable expectation to result in an individual obtaining employment.

Determining Hours of Participation in Vocational Skills Training

To determine if the vocational skills training, meets the participation requirements, count:

• the actual hours spent in the classroom; and

• study time that is supervised and monitored.

If the individual is not meeting minimum participation requirements in the vocational skills training activity, enroll the individual in an additional NHEP activity.

• The hours of participation, between the minimum and maximum, should be based on what is necessary for the participant to achieve self-sufficiency, and not on the minimum hours set by federal law. When appropriate to support employment goals and self-sufficiency, other activities may be combined with the vocational skills activity.

Participant Requirement

When determining the need for additional vocational skills training programs for individuals with a previous certificate, diploma, degree, or previous vocational skills training, the NHEP team member shall consider the following:

• significant labor market changes effecting the occupation in which education or training has been previously received;

• the person no longer possesses the needed abilities to perform the job functions of the educational or training program received due to a documented disability; or

• that the NHEP participant’s previous educational or training program may have been interrupted due to a major personal emergency, which caused the participant to drop out, and is now resolved.

Documentation and Verification

These activities shall be supervised no less frequently than daily. The countable hours shall be verified and documented bi-weekly on Form NHEP266, NHEP Education/Training Activities Verification Form or other verifications approved by NHEP to be signed by the education organization and returned to the worker. This documentation ensures that the organization verifies that the participant is attending in accordance with the requirements of the education organization and/or the course of study and that they are making satisfactory progress.

Time Limits

All approved vocational educational training activities will count as a:

• core activity for a maximum lifetime limit of 12 months; or

• secondary activity for a maximum of 3 months if;

- the 12 month lifetime limit has been exhausted;

- completion of the degree or certificate program does not exceed an additional 3 months; and

- completion of the program is essential for the participant’s transition into employment.

Exception: The time limit specified above for vocational skills programs does not apply to individuals with a documented learning disability verified by a state certified educational professional or licensed psychologist. For extension of participation time, the documentation must specify the need and length of time required.

Support Services

All of the following support services may be authorized for this activity:

• child care assistance;

• transportation assistance (payment to enrolled public/private carriers, mileage and auto repair reimbursement);

• tuition; and

• fees and supplies.