Workforce Pell Program Frequently Asked Questions

The Workforce Pell program allows eligible students to use federal Pell Grant funding for short-term, high-quality workforce training programs that lead to in-demand jobs. Programs must be approved by the State Workforce Development Board (SWDB) before institutions can submit them to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for final approval.

Programs go through a multi-step approval process:

• Initial review by TDLWD and THEC
• Recommendation to the SWDB from TDLWD and THEC
• Final approval by the SWDB
• Submission to ED for final federal approval

Eligible programs must:

• Be short-term (8–14 weeks)
• Lead to a recognized credential
• Align with in-demand or high-wage occupations
• Meet completion and job placement thresholds (≥70%)

Institutions must:

• Be Title IV eligible
• Be authorized by THEC (or exempt)

Programs cannot include:

• Remedial or ESL coursework
• Correspondence or study abroad formats
• Direct assessment programs

Programs must:

• Last 8–14 weeks
• Meet credit/hour thresholds (e.g., 150–599 clock hours)

Yes. Programs must:

• Be in existence for at least 12 months
• Demonstrate required length, duration, completion, and job placement thresholds during that period

Students must:

• Complete the FAFSA
• Meet all federal Pell eligibility requirements
• Be enrolled in an eligible undergraduate program

No. Students cannot:

• Receive more than one Pell Grant at the same time
• Exceed lifetime Pell eligibility limits

Programs must prepare students for employment in an occupation that is either:

• In-demand — based on regional wages, employment levels, job postings, hires, and projected openings; or
• High-skill / high-wage — requiring postsecondary education or training leading to a recognized credential and paying at least 20 percent above the regional median wage.

The SWDB may also designate an occupation as in-demand on a case-by-case basis if it is strategically important to the State’s economic development, workforce priorities, or critical public service needs.

Employer validation confirms that:

• Program skills align with workforce needs
• Employers have a hiring need and would consider hiring program completers

At least two employers (or a representative of an industry group) must attest to this alignment.

• Stackable: Leads to further education or credentials within a career pathway
• Portable: Recognized by multiple employers or regions

Programs must offer such credentials unless only one credential exists for that occupation.

Programs must:

• Lead to further education opportunities
• Include formal articulation agreements
• Ensure credits transfer toward a certificate or degree

Programs must demonstrate:

• ≥70% completion rate
• ≥70% job placement rate

These are required both for approval and continued eligibility. A student is excluded from the calculations if they die, experience the onset of a medical condition that prevents employment, are ordered to service in the uniformed services, or become incarcerated.

Placement is measured by employment in the second full calendar quarter after program completion using wage data verification.

The State reviews whether:

• Tuition and fees are reasonable
• Costs align with expected wages in the occupation

Programs with high cost relative to wages may be denied.

Applications must include:

• Program alignment (SOC/CIP codes)
• Employer validation forms
• Credential details
• Articulation agreements
• Completion and placement data
• Tuition and cost information

Incomplete applications are returned to the institution and must be corrected before review continues.

Programs may be:

• Approved
• Denied
• Flagged for further discussion (if evidence is borderline)

Programs must:

• Maintain eligibility continuously
• Undergo review tied to the institution’s federal agreement cycle
• Report outcomes annually

Institutions must report:

• Completion rates
• Job placement rates
• Student-level data for verification

This occurs annually.

Yes. Eligibility may be withdrawn if:

• Outcomes fall below thresholds
• The program no longer aligns with in-demand or high-skill / high-wage occupation(s)
• The institution provided false or misleading information

Yes. Institutions may submit a written appeal with supporting evidence. The SWDB issues a final decision within defined timelines.

Yes. Programs may reapply once they demonstrate compliance with all requirements.

Institutions must report significant changes (e.g., cost, CIP code, credential). The SWDB determines whether re-approval is required.

Yes. Registered Apprenticeship programs:

• Automatically meet in-demand and high-skill / high-wage criteria
• Automatically meet employer validation requirements

For distance education, only if a bilateral agreement exists between Tennessee and the state where the student is located. A student who resides outside Tennessee but physically attends a Tennessee-based Workforce Pell program is not considered cross-state enrollment for this purpose.

• Missing employer validation
• Weak or unclear credential value or
• No articulation agreements
• Poor outcome data (<70%)
• High cost relative to wages

Strong applications:

• Clearly align with labor market demand
• Include robust employer engagement and validation
• Show clear student progression pathways
• Provide complete, verifiable data

Detailed checklists, forms, and decision frameworks are available in the Workforce Pell supplemental guidance document.