You can participate in online courses to improve your skills and job search prospects while receiving unemployment benefits. There are options available to help you take these courses for free. Federal programs provide tuition funding for approved programs. You can arrange to attend training in these programs, managed at the state level through your local One-Stop Career Center. Additionally, colleges or local non-profit organizations often combine resources with businesses to provide retraining programs taught entirely online.

Step 1

Online training courses can range from occupational to basic adult education and literacy classes. Online courses vary from fundamentals to advanced. Some centers provide access to online training courses in computers, ESL or other vocational training.

Step 2

Contact your employment counselor at the local One-Stop Career Center. Your counselor will be instrumental in providing you with the information to determine which course is right for you. Additionally, your counselor can advise the best course to take to achieve your training and employment goals.

Step 3

Options will be presented to you, often based upon your work history, current skill-set and level, and on your plans for retraining for a new job. Your income level may be considered for some training options. Your counselor can advise you if you are eligible for the Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification Act. If you can participate in an approved program from the Adult & Dislocated Worker Program, a funded account will be setup to pay for the costs of the training program. Your counselor will explain each program, determine your eligibility, and if you are eligible, provide you with the necessary documentation and forms to apply.

Step 4

If you do not qualify for these programs through the One-Stop Career Center, your employment counselor can still provide you with additional community resources for free training. Your counselor may also provide you with information about grants and further information on educational scholarships, student loans and more to help you fund your education if you determine you wish to pursue a degree or take some college courses.

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