The NCWorks Commission, North Carolina’s workforce development board, has announced that 43 training programs have become the first to receive state-level approval to participate in the new Workforce Pell Grant program. The program expands access to federal financial aid for students enrolled in short-term workforce training programs that meet certain requirements.
Now that the NCWorks Commission, on behalf of Governor Josh Stein, has approved these programs, each institution providing that program may now move on to seek final approval from the U.S. Department of Education.
“As North Carolina starts a new school year, we are creating new opportunities for the students and jobseekers with Workforce Pell Grants,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Our hard work to implement federal Workforce Pell demonstrates once again that North Carolina is leading the nation in workforce development.”
“The first state-approved Workforce Pell-eligible programs represent a new resource for North Carolina, opening the door for more people to get the training they need,” said NCWorks Commission Chair Tom Rabon. “This historic milestone is the result of hard work and collaboration by the professionals at the NCWorks Commission, the N.C. Department of Commerce, and our education and workforce partners.”
“Workforce Pell is a game-changer for students of all ages seeking to access in-demand skills,” said N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Workforce development is the foundation of economic development, so we must continue to invest in the talented people who make North Carolina strong.”
Read the full list of programs that received state approval here. The programs are provided by 16 North Carolina community colleges and come from a variety of fields, with health care and public safety being represented most often. Some examples are nurse aide, emergency medical technician, firefighter, and truck driver training programs.
Once training programs receive federal approval, training providers may begin helping students access Workforce Pell Grants to pay for them. The first step in determining eligibility is for interested students and jobseekers to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
“North Carolina’s community colleges look forward to having access to Workforce Pell Grants as a means of helping students improve their lives, earn valuable workforce credentials, and ultimately strengthen their communities,” said Bill Carver, Interim President of the North Carolina Community College System. “As planning for implementation continues, all 58 community colleges are preparing to participate in this important initiative.”
Applying for Workforce Pell Approval
The NCWorks Commission plans to continue to review Workforce Pell program applications from institutions on a quarterly basis during the 2026-27 year. To be considered by the November Commission meeting, institutions must submit their applications by Oct. 15, 2026. Many of the programs submitted by the first deadline (July 15) but not yet approved remain under consideration, pending additional information or updates that the commission has sought from the training providers.
Institutions interested in participating in Workforce Pell should first review their programs to determine whether they meet federal eligibility requirements. Eligible programs must, among other requirements, last at least eight weeks but fewer than 15 weeks, align with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors, and count toward academic credit for a certificate or degree program.
Additional information about Workforce Pell eligibility and the state approval process is available on the North Carolina Department of Commerce website at commerce.nc.gov/workforce-pell.
Institutions may apply through the Eligible Training Provider (ETP) application at nc.works/ETPL and submit the additional information required for Workforce Pell approval.
Governor Josh Stein designated the NCWorks Commission as the state’s lead agency for implementing Workforce Pell. Partners in the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, an advisory body within the NCWorks Commission, collaborated on development of the state’s Workforce Pell policy. The council includes representatives of key stakeholders, including the N.C. Department of Commerce, North Carolina Community College System, the University of North Carolina System, and North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.
Governor Stein continues to invest in North Carolina’s workforce. In December, the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships released a report outlining goals and strategies to strengthen North Carolina’s workforce and expand access to good jobs, including implementation of Workforce Pell. The new program also advances the First in Opportunity Strategic Economic Development Plan’s goal of building a resilient, future-ready workforce by expanding access to industry-valued credentials and strengthening pathways to employment in high-demand fields.
Since taking office in January 2025, Governor Stein has announced more than 42,000 new jobs and more than $29 billion in new investments coming to North Carolina. In January 2026, Site Selection Magazine ranked North Carolina as the Top State for Workforce Development.
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The NCWorks Commission is funded by WIOA Title I, which is 100 percent supported by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an award to North Carolina totaling $62,285,759.