Yes — Massachusetts has several real ways to get career training paid for, and most run through your local MassHire career center. This guide covers the five main options in plain language: what each one is, who it is for, and where to start.
There is no single "free training" button. The money comes from a few different programs, each with its own rules. Many people combine more than one. Here is the whole picture in one place.
The 5 main ways to get training paid for in Massachusetts
| Program | Who it's for | What it pays | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| WIOA training voucher (ITA) | Laid-off workers, lower-income adults, youth | Tuition at an approved program (amount set by your career center) | MassHire career center |
| Section 30 / TOP | People collecting unemployment | Keeps your unemployment checks coming during full-time training (not tuition) | DUA (apply by the 20th paid week) |
| Donnelly Workforce Success programs | Unemployed and underemployed residents | Free training run by grant-funded partners | Program partners across MA (changes by year) |
| Employer-paid (Workforce Training Fund – Express) | People already working | Your employer gets reimbursed for training staff | Your employer or HR |
| Payment plans & other options | Anyone | Spreads the cost out over time | The school |
The rest of this guide explains each one, then shows you the honest first step.
How the system is organized
Massachusetts is divided into 16 workforce regions. Each region has a MassHire Workforce Board and one or more MassHire career centers — more than 25 across the state. These centers are free, state-run offices that help residents find jobs and pay for training. You may still hear the older name, "One-Stop Career Centers."
One word you will see a lot is ETPL. It stands for the Eligible Training Provider List — the state's list of approved programs. A training voucher can only pay for a program that is on that list. Keep that in mind when you choose a school.
1. WIOA training vouchers (the ITA)
WIOA stands for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It is a federal law that sends money to each state to help people train for in-demand jobs. In Massachusetts, that money is handled locally by MassHire career centers.
If you qualify, WIOA can pay for approved training through an Individual Training Account (ITA) — think of it as a voucher for tuition at an ETPL-approved school. Your career center decides who qualifies and how much they can offer, so amounts vary by region. We do not list a dollar cap here because it is different from place to place.
Career centers do not fund just any training. They look for programs that lead to jobs that are actually hiring in Massachusetts — health care, IT, skilled trades, and similar fields. Short, job-focused programs that end in a recognized credential tend to be the easiest to get approved.
Two guides go deeper: Who qualifies for WIOA training in Massachusetts? and How to get a MassHire training voucher (ITA), step by step. And for the honest answer on cost, see Is WIOA training really free?
2. Section 30 / TOP: get paid while you train
Here is one many people miss. If you are collecting unemployment, the Training Opportunities Program (TOP), also called Section 30, can let you keep getting your unemployment checks while you go to full-time approved training.
The basics:
- Your training must be full-time — at least 20 classroom hours a week.
- It can add up to 26 extra weeks of benefits so you can finish.
- You usually must apply to the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) by the 20th paid week of your claim, so do not wait.
- Section 30 does not pay tuition — it protects your income while you study. You can use it together with a WIOA voucher.
Here is what that looks like in real life. Say you were laid off and started collecting unemployment. Instead of job-searching part-time, you enroll full-time in an approved program. With Section 30, your weekly checks keep coming while you study, and you may get extra weeks so your benefits do not run out before you finish.
Read the state's page: Training Opportunities Program (Section 30).
3. Donnelly Workforce Success programs
The Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grants (once called the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund) pay for training partnerships that serve unemployed and underemployed residents. Here is the key point: the money goes to organizations, not to individuals. Those organizations then offer training free to the people they serve.
So you do not apply for a Donnelly grant yourself — you look for a local program that is funded by one. These change from year to year. To show this is real money: recent rounds awarded about $7.4 million (October 2025) and $5.9 million (August 2026). Learn more at commcorp.org.
4. Employer-paid training (Workforce Training Fund – Express)
If you already have a job, your employer may be able to get part of your training cost reimbursed by the state through the Workforce Training Fund Express Program, run by Commonwealth Corporation. This is money employers pay into, meant to train current staff. If that could be you, ask your manager or HR — and point them to our information for employers when we publish it.
5. Payment plans and other options
- Payment plans. Many schools, including us, offer a monthly plan so you can spread the cost out. See Ways to Pay.
- Veterans benefits. If you served, you may have education benefits (like the GI Bill). The VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool shows which schools are approved.
- Scholarships and community programs. Local nonprofits and workforce boards sometimes offer help. Your career center can point you to these.
Which option fits your situation?
- Just laid off? Start with a WIOA voucher as a dislocated worker, and ask about Section 30 to keep your unemployment while you train.
- Working, but low pay? You may still qualify for a WIOA voucher as an adult. Ask your career center, and check whether your employer would use the Express Program.
- On unemployment and want to keep your checks? Section 30 is built for you — just watch the 20th-week deadline.
- Not eligible right now, or the funds are gone? Look for a Donnelly-funded free program, ask about veterans benefits if you served, or use a monthly payment plan to start now.
- Already employed and your boss is open to it? The Express Program can reimburse your employer for training you.
Most people mix and match. Your career center will help you build a plan that fits.
How long does it take?
What to bring to your career center
Centers ask for different things, but most want to see:
- Proof you are allowed to work in the U.S.
- Proof of your age (a photo ID works).
- Selective Service registration, if you are a man born after January 1, 1960.
- Your household income for about the last 6 months.
- Proof of your family size.
- Layoff paperwork, if you were laid off.
The honest first step
- Register in MassHire JobQuest at jobquest.mass.gov (you will also set up a MyMassGov account).
- Find your local MassHire career center — it is based on where you live or last worked. Search at mass.gov (MassHire career center locations).
- Call or visit and say: "I want to train for a new career, and I want to know what funding I might qualify for."
- Ask about WIOA and an ITA — and if you are on unemployment, ask about Section 30 at the same time.
- Pick an approved program that fits your goals. Career Skills Center is preparing programs in IT, Medical Billing & Coding and Skilled Trades — join our interest list to hear when they open.
You do not have to figure this out alone. Career centers exist to help, and they do not charge you to walk in and ask.
The bottom line
Free or low-cost training in Massachusetts is real, but it takes a few steps and a little patience. The single best move is to register in JobQuest and talk to your local MassHire career center early — before funds run low for the year. Bring your documents, ask about every option above, and pick an approved program that leads to a job you actually want.
And if funding does not come through right away, that does not have to stop you. A payment plan can get you started now, and you can keep working on funding in the background.
Want help figuring out how to pay?
Start with how the main public training fund works, then check what you may qualify for. It only takes a minute.
How WIOA worksFrequently asked questions
Is job training really free in Massachusetts?
It can be, for people who qualify. Programs like WIOA, handled through MassHire career centers, can pay for approved training. It is not automatic — your local career center decides — and "free" may not cover 100% of every cost. Ask your career center what you qualify for.
Can I get paid while I'm in training?
You may be able to. If you are collecting unemployment, Section 30 (the Training Opportunities Program) can let you keep your benefits during full-time approved training — at least 20 classroom hours a week, for up to 26 extra weeks. You usually must apply by the 20th paid week of your claim.
Do I have to be unemployed to get WIOA funding?
No. WIOA serves adults, dislocated workers, and youth. People who are working but earning low wages may also qualify. Your career center reviews your situation.
Do I need to be a U.S. citizen?
Not necessarily, but you generally must be authorized to work in the United States, and centers will ask for proof. Rules can vary, so ask your career center about your situation.
Can I choose any school?
No. To use a training voucher, the program must be on the state's approved list (the ETPL). You can search approved programs in MassHire JobQuest.
Can I train online?
Yes, as long as the online program is approved. Online training can be a great fit for fields like medical billing and coding or IT support.
What if my career center says the funds are gone?
It happens, because funding is limited each year. Ask about the next program year, look for a Donnelly-funded free program, or use a payment plan to start now. See Ways to Pay.
How long does it take to get approved?
Plan on about 6 to 8 weeks, though it varies by career center and by how quickly you complete the steps. Start early, because funds can run out mid-year and training must be approved before it begins.
Does Career Skills Center accept WIOA funding?
We are working toward approval to accept state training funds. Until then, we will help you check what you may qualify for and show you other ways to pay, like a monthly payment plan. Only your MassHire career center can approve funding.