How to Get a MassHire Training Voucher (ITA): Step by Step

A MassHire training voucher — officially an Individual Training Account (ITA) — is money the state can put toward tuition at an approved school. Getting one is a step-by-step process at your local career center. Here is the whole path, start to finish.

Every MassHire center runs things a little differently, so treat this as the general map, not the exact turn-by-turn. When in doubt, ask your career-center advisor. Plan on the whole process taking about 6 to 8 weeks.

First, what is an ITA?

An Individual Training Account, or ITA, is not a check that lands in your bank account. It is an approval from your career center that says the state will pay an approved school directly for your training, up to a set amount. You pick the program (from an approved list), the center approves it, and the money goes to the school. Your job is to qualify, choose well, and finish. Now, the steps.

Step 1: Register in MassHire JobQuest

Start online. Create a MyMassGov account and register in MassHire JobQuest at jobquest.mass.gov. This is the state's job and training system, and your career center will expect you to be in it. Save your Jobseeker ID somewhere safe — you will use it again.

Step 2: Find your MassHire career center

Your center is based on where you live or last worked. Find it at mass.gov (MassHire career center locations). Call or visit and say: "I want to train for a new career, and I want to see what funding I qualify for."

Step 3: Attend the Training Information Meeting

Most centers ask you to attend a short Training Information Meeting before they will talk about funding. Some hold it in person; others (like Downtown Boston) ask you to watch a training- grants video and fill out a screening form first. This is where you learn how the local process works.

Step 4: Take the TABE assessment (if asked)

Many centers ask you to take the TABE, a short reading and math assessment. It is not a pass/fail test — it helps the center confirm the training is a good fit and meets any basic-skills requirements. Ask ahead of time whether yours requires it.

Step 5: Meet a career counselor and make a plan

You will sit down with a counselor to talk through your work history, your goals, and which jobs are hiring. Together you build a simple career plan. Some centers ask you to sign an engagement letter that spells out what you both agree to do.

Step 6: Gather your documents

Bring proof you can work in the U.S., proof of age, your income for the last few months, proof of family size, Selective Service registration (for men born after January 1, 1960), and any layoff paperwork. Our guide to who qualifies for WIOA has the full checklist.

Step 7: Choose an approved program

Here is a key rule: the training you pick usually has to be on the state's approved list, the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). You can search approved programs inside JobQuest, under "Locate Training." Look for short, job-focused options that lead to a recognized credential — for example IT support or medical billing and coding. Bring the school's program details, cost, and schedule to your counselor.

Step 8: Submit the ITA (training proposal)

With a program chosen, your counselor helps you submit the ITA, sometimes called a training proposal. The center reviews it based on three things: whether you are eligible, whether the program you picked is on the approved ETPL list, and whether funding is available. Programs earn their ETPL spot by showing they lead to in-demand jobs, so once you choose from the list that part is already settled. If everything lines up, they approve it and set the amount, up to their limit.

Step 9: Wait for written approval, then start

This is the one step people get wrong. Don't start class until your career center approves your training in writing. Ask them first. Training that begins before approval usually cannot be paid for. Once you have the approval, you enroll and begin. For the honest picture on what the money covers, read is WIOA training really free?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Starting class before approval. The most common and costly mistake. Wait for the written OK.
• Skipping the information meeting. Many centers will not move forward until you have attended it.
• Picking a program that is not on the ETPL. If it is not approved, the voucher cannot pay for it.
• Waiting until late in the year. Funds can run out, so start while money is available.
• Showing up without documents. Missing paperwork slows everything down.

Tips to keep things moving

• Start early. Funding is limited and can run low later in the program year.
• Keep copies of everything you submit.
• Pick from the approved list. Programs on the ETPL are already state-vetted as leading to in-demand jobs, so choosing one from the list keeps your approval straightforward.
• Ask about support services (like help with transportation or childcare) if you need them.

After you're approved

Once your training is approved, the center works with the school to set up payment, and you enroll and start. Keep in touch with your counselor while you are in class — they may check on your progress, and they are the person to call if your schedule or plans change. Finishing the program is part of the deal, so treat attendance and completion as seriously as the funding.

The bottom line

Getting a MassHire voucher takes a few weeks and some paperwork, but the payoff — training paid for and pointed at a real job — is worth it. Register in JobQuest, call your career center, and start the clock early.

Frequently asked questions

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