WA Grant for Apprenticeship

WA Grant for Apprenticeship is sponsored by Washington Student Achievement Council. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

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Provides financial assistance to low-income students who dream of a college education Provides eligible students an approved job to support their education Helps former foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth attend and succeed in college, apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship programs Passport to Careers Guide In-depth guide to help Passport-eligible students prepare, apply, and pay for college, apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship programs WA Grant for Apprenticeship Helps income-eligible apprentices pay for tuition, fees, and materials.

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WG-A Awards are based on Median Family Income (MFI) , may be prorated, and are set by the State Legislatur e. Returning Applicants: Your WG-A award offer may not be ready for your review until September 2026. We will begin processing your application upon receipt.

However, we may not be able to determine renewal eligibility until we receive OJT/RSI hours from the WA Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) in mid- to late-August 2026. Apprentices can get grant money to help pay for expenses WA Grant isn’t only for traditional college students. WA Grant for Apprenticeship includes funding for qualified apprentices in a variety of programs in Washington.

Eligible apprentices can receive money to cover costs associated with their apprenticeship program. Watch Cierra L’s story to see how WA Grant for Apprenticeship changed her life for the better: View more of Cierra's WA Grant for Apprenticeship story . A Washingtonian from a family of four making up to $139,500 can qualify for WG-A To qualify for WG-A you must: Work in a participating WG-A program.

Have a high school diploma or equivalent. Be a resident of Washington State. Meet requirements related to family income and need .

Not have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Not owe a repayment for any state financial aid program. Have quarters of eligibility remaining (QER).

Returning Applicants: Your 2026-27 WG-A award offer may not be ready for your review until September 2026. We will begin processing your application upon receipt. However, we may not be able to determine renewal eligibility until we receive OJT/RSI hours from the WA Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) in mid- to late-August 2026.

Review the Participating WG-A Sponsor tab and verify that you are an apprentice for a participating Sponsor. Some Sponsors partner with a community or technical college to serve as their financial aid administrator. Other Sponsors use WSAC as their Financial Aid Administrator.

Complete and submit the online WG-A application . You will need information from the following documents for your application: Prior-prior year tax documents. You will need your 2024 tax documents for the 2026-27 application cycle.

If you are applying for the 2025-26 application cycle, you will need your 2023 tax documents. Complete all additional required forms. We may ask you to complete verification for eligibility factors like family size, income, or residency.

Check the Portal regularly to make sure you have completed all required forms. This will help in timely application reviews. For apprentices, whose servicer is a college: ensure you have completed all other enrollment requirements at your college.

Complete the payment directive. Helpful documents to have: Bank account information (account and routing numbers). If you are eligible for WG-A, you will receive a financial aid offer along with terms and conditions of accepting the award.

If you have any questions about your award calculation, please reach out to your servicer. If you are aware of any reason that you would be unable to fulfill the terms and conditions of the award, please reach out to the servicer to discuss options for your award. This may include an adjusted award or rejection of the award for the fiscal year.

Meet your Satisfactory Program Progress requirements as outlined in your financial aid offer. For questions about your eligibility or financial aid offer, please contact your Sponsor’s Financial Aid Administrator. For questions about the application or assistance, please contact the WG-A apprenticeship team at wga@wsac.

wa. gov or 888. 535.

0747, option 9. Participating WG-A program sponsors Participating WG-A program sponsors Not all programs offered by a Sponsor are approved for WG-A. Contact your Sponsor for eligible programs.

Sponsors participating with a community or technical college: AJAC: Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships Columbia Basin Electrical Training Alliance Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Trades Apprenticeship Training Northwest Electrical Industry J. A. T.

C. Spokane Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Washington State Fire Fighters J. A.

T. C. Washington State Meatcutters and Fishmongers Apprenticeship Committee Sponsors participating with WSAC: Atarashii Apprentice Program Certified Safety Specialist Apprenticeship Program Construction Industry Training Council Evergreen Rural Water of Washington Finishing Trades Institute Northwest Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium Inland Empire Electrical Training Trust Ironworkers Local 86 J.

A. T. C.

Ironworkers Local 14 J. A. T.

C . Northwest Laborers Training Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship Operating Engineers Regional Training Program Performance Electrical Apprenticeship Committee Puget Sound Electrical J. A.

T. C. Spokane Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Tradesmen Apprenticeship & Comprehensive Training UA Sprinkler Fitters Local 669 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee Washington Association for Community Health Washington Construction Teamsters Apprenticeship Committee Washington State UBC JATC Western States Boilermakers Apprenticeship Committee Western Washington Sheet Metal J.

A. T. C.

Woodcreek Provider Services Sponsor not listed? Direct your Program Sponsor to the WG-A apprenticeship Program Providers page for options to participate in the WG-A program. What if my Sponsor isn’t listed as a participating Program Sponsor?

Sponsors must apply to participate in the WG-A program. Please direct your Program Sponsor to the WG-A Apprenticeship Program Providers page for options to complete the intake process to participate in the WG-A program. What is Satisfactory Program Progress (SPP)?

To maintain eligibility for WG-A, apprentices must meet Satisfactory Program Progress (SPP) requirements that are specific to each eligible apprenticeship program. In general, SPP includes completing a required number of on-the-job training hours and related supplemental instruction. Contact your Sponsor’s Financial Aid Administrator if you have questions regarding your program’s SPP requirements.

Do I have to pay WG-A funds back? If you meet all eligibility requirements, including Satisfactory Program Progress, WG-A funds do not need to be repaid. Please contact your Sponsor’s Financial Aid Administrator if you have questions regarding your financial aid offer requirements.

Do I have to pay taxes on WG-A funds? WSAC cannot provide tax guidance. Please consult with a tax professional or consultant or IRS Publication 970 .

You can estimate your potential WA Grant for Apprenticeship award using the financial aid calculator (look for the WSAC-approved non-college-based apprenticeships). Please note, this calculator will only provide an estimate and is not a guarantee of funding or funding amounts. How long do I have to respond to requests for additional information?

You have 45 days to respond to our requests for additional information. If no response is received after 45 days, your application will be rejected, and you will receive notice of rejection for a lack of response by communicated deadlines. You may reapply for funding if you receive a rejection letter that states you were rejected for failure to respond by deadlines if that fiscal year is still active.

We may request additional information through email, phone calls, or assignment of forms within our application system. Please check both your inbox and spam/junk for emails about your application. How long do I have to accept or decline my offer?

You have 45 days to accept or decline your offer. If no response is received after 45 days, your offer will be canceled, and you will be sent a letter of rejection for a lack of response by communicated deadlines. You may reapply for funding if you receive a rejection letter that states you were rejected for failure to respond by deadlines if that fiscal year is still active.

How often can I receive WG-A? Generally, you can receive one WG-A award per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30), and you only need to submit one application per fiscal year (unless you are directed to do differently by WSAC). WG-A is financial assistance to help cover your costs as you progress and complete your state-registered apprenticeship program; it is not intended to supplement lost wages or income.

Your Sponsor may split your WG-A award into two disbursements, but this is still considered one WG-A award for the fiscal year. Refer to your aid offer for details regarding your award disbursement. WG-A is available to apprentices in approved participating programs at select community or technical colleges.

Apprentices whose sponsor is participating at a CTC will use the same application to apply for funding. Please ensure you select the right occupation and servicer to reflect the college your program is associated with. WA Grant for Apprenticeship will be awarded through the college's financial aid department.

Participating WG-A program sponsors at a community or technical college Sponsors participating with a community or technical college: AJAC: Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships Columbia Basin Electrical Training Alliance Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Trades Apprenticeship Training Northwest Electrical Industry J. A. T.

C. Spokane Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Washington State Fire Fighters J. A.

T. C. Washington State Meatcutters and Fishmongers The following colleges are participating with a sponsor listed above: Bellingham Technical College Everett Community College Spokane Community College Not an apprentice yet?

What to know: WSAC does not place or hire apprentices. Apprentices are hired directly by employers. Use the tabs below to help you discover more about beginning an apprenticeship program.

Apprenticeships in Washington Apprenticeships in Washington An apprenticeship combines on-the-job training with job-related instruction from experienced workers who teach you the skills of their craft. Apprentices learn job skills, gain experience, and ultimately earn a credential. Most apprenticeships are designed for high school graduates or job seekers with a GED, but some are for high school students.

Whether you want an office job or something outdoors, work in a city or somewhere in rural Washington, there are apprenticeship opportunities waiting for you. For information on getting started as an apprentice, visit the Department of Labor & Industries’ resource page on becoming an apprentice. Veterans and miliary-connected family members, visit the Washington Department of Veteran’s Affair’s apprenticeship resource page .

Financial aid for apprentices Financial aid for apprentices WA Grant and WA Grant for Apprenticeship WA Grant is one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country. Recent high school graduates and working-age adults from income-eligible families can qualify to receive money for college or career training. There are two categories of WA Grant: WA Grant and WA Grant for Apprenticeship (WG-A).

Both help income-eligible apprentices pay for tuition, fees, and materials. WA Grant: Apprenticeships on a college campus For apprenticeships that are part of an eligible program of study at an eligible institution, such as a community or technical college, apprentices should complete a financial aid application . Learn more on the WA Grant page.

WA Grant for Apprenticeship: Apprenticeships sponsored by employers Apprentices in non-campus-based programs are encouraged to check with their program sponsor to ensure they participate in WCG-A. Sponsors must complete the intake process and have approval to take part in WCG-A to be eligible to offer funds to eligible apprentices. Interested sponsors can learn more on the WG-A Apprenticeship Program Providers page.

Passport to Apprenticeship supports youth and young adults, ages 13-21, who have experienced foster care or unaccompanied homelessness. The program supports people in registered apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship programs. Funds can cover tuition and fees for classes, and occupational costs like work clothes and tools.

To learn more, please contact passport@wsac. wa. gov .

Visit the Department of Labor and Industries: Apprentice Resources webpage for available resources. Use the Career Connect Washington Directory and Career Bridge to find a career exploration, preparation, or on-the-job learning opportunity near you. Explore Apprenticeship : Learn more about apprenticeships in Washington, and why on-the-job learning might be right for you.

Find an Apprenticeship Program : Search for an apprenticeship program by county and occupation, by name, or by employer on the LNI website. Veterans and Military-Connected Family Members: Visit the Washington Department of Veteran’s Affairs Apprenticeship resource page .