The PA CareerLink® at Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties supports employers looking to meet their hiring needs and connect job seekers with resources they need to secure long-term employment. Follow along for local employer spotlights and updates on training opportunities and more available at your local PA CareerLink locations.
Providing NEPA Residents with an Opportunity to Succeed: PA CareerLink® Assists Residents in Gaining Career Changing Training
Have you ever considered going back to school to gain the skills needed to kickstart a great career? The PA CareerLink® has a program that may be able to provide you with financial assistance to obtain valuable training.
The Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) was created to help strengthen the skills of our nation’s workforce. The WIOA program is here to help you find full-time, long-term employment at a sustainable wage in Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties.
WIOA is designed to help workers get back to work as quickly as possible and overcome barriers to employment. When individuals become dislocated workers as a result of job loss, mass layoffs, global trade dynamics, or transitions in economic sectors, WIOA provides services to assist them in re-entering the workforce.
WIOA funds provide individualized career services and training services and give priority to recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, and individuals who are basic skills deficient.
These programs provide career and training services to millions of job seekers. These services include job search assistance, workforce preparation, and career development services. Additionally, training services available include both classroom and work-based learning opportunities.
Who is eligible for assistance with training / education expenses?
Dislocated workers and Adults who are:
- Aged 18 years or older
- A US citizen or noncitizen authorized to work in the US
- A resident of Luzerne or Schuylkill County
- Meet selective service requirements, if applicable
- Meet the locally established income guidelines – the locally established income policy is
- based on the current Poverty and 70% Lower Living Standard Income Levels guidelines
- established by US Department of Labor and/or
- Meet at least one of the following:
-Terminated/laid off or have received a notice of
-Termination or layoff from your employer
-Terminated/laid off due to closure or substantial layoff
-Were self-employed but are unemployed as a result of general economic conditions
-Are a Displaced Homemaker
-Are a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty and who has
experienced a loss of employment as a direct result of relocation - Meet other requirements defined under the law
So, what kind of training programs are eligible for tuition assistance?
Training programs must be for a High Priority Occupation (HPO) and on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Eligible Training List. Currently, there are 50 different approved training courses in Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties. You can see the entire list at www.pacareerlink.pa.gov.
How do I find out if I am eligible for tuition assistance?
Simple! Just contact the local PA CareerLink® in your area and ask to meet with a staff member who will explain the program. Visit or call your local office or fill out an intake form on our website.
PA CareerLink® is dedicated to assisting our residents with obtaining the skills they need to succeed in a family-wage sustaining career right here in NEPA. Please contact your local PA CareerLink® office for more information on how to get started.
Hazleton: 75 N. Laurel Street | https://careerlinkhazleton.org | (570) 459-3854
Pottsville: 203-205 E. Arch Street | https://careerlinkpottsville.org | (570) 622-5235
Wilkes-Barre: 32 E. Union Street | https://careerlinkwilkesbarre.org | (570) 822-1101
