Vocational training is organized educational programs directly related to the preparation of individuals for employment in current or emerging occupations. It may consist of both academic and occupational course work. Basic skills education such as work-focused general education and language instruction may be counted as long as it is a necessary and regular part of the vocational training. Vocational training programs should be limited to activities that give participants the knowledge and skills to perform a specific occupation. The completion of vocational training leads to the attainment of a vocational certificate, diploma, or an Associates degree.
Vocational training is limited to that which is directly related to the fulfillment of an individual's vocational goal. Participation in vocational training cannot exceed 36 months in a lifetime for any individual. Vocational training programs that can be included in the Self-Sufficiency Contract must be for occupations that facilitate economic self-sufficiency. In order for vocational training to be included in the Self-Sufficiency Contract, the participant must demonstrate that the training program will lead to economic self-sufficiency within the individual’s time limits. The participant and case manager must have substantiating labor market information.
A vocational training program cannot be included in the Self-Sufficiency Contract if the participant has a skill that can be marketed and can be reasonably expected to provide a wage leading to economic self-sufficiency in the current, area-specific labor market and the participant is physically, mentally and emotionally able to utilize those skills through employment. The case manager may need to assist the participant in this process.
Before vocational training can be approved and included in the Self-Sufficiency Contract, the participant must apply for student financial aid, unless the program is not eligible for student financial aid, or have other financial resources available to pay for the cost of training. If the participant elects to apply for student loans, see 468 NAC 2-016 for treatment in the budget.
If the participant is ineligible for student financial aid because of a default on a student loan, the Self-Sufficiency Contract cannot contain vocational training until the loan is rehabilitated through arrangements made with the lending institution. The case manager may need to assist the participant in this process.
The cost of vocational training may not be paid with program money except under special circumstances.
The case manager must submit a request to the EF Unit in Central Office for authorization to provide payment for this type of expense, i.e. tuition, books, fees, supplies, and equipment.
In order to ensure that participation in vocational training is meaningful and productive, the participant must be in good standing and making good or satisfactory progress in his/her training program using the educational institution’s standard. There must be demonstrated progress using a qualitative measure (grade point average) and a quantitative measure (time frame within which the individual is expected to complete his/her training program). The Self-Sufficiency Contract must detail the qualitative and quantitative measures. Daily supervision is required.
For information on study time that can count as actual hours of participation in this component, see 468-000-307.
Any number of hours counted towards participation in vocational training within a calendar month constitutes a full month for purposes of the limitation and counts as one of the 12 months.
For participants in vocational training who do not meet the minimum number of hours required for the month, enter the hours of participation on vocational training under "Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment."
{10/31/09}