Trade Adjustment Assistance

Approval of Classroom/Online Training

Summary
Minnesota Trade Adjustment Assistant (TAA) is outlining the required Six Criteria to Approve Training for classroom/online training that will be funded by the program. Once a trade-affected worker is eligible under a TAA certification, the worker may apply for the TAA training benefit at any time the worker is not suitably employed and has the goal of full-time employment. Some TAA benefits have an application deadline, and each TAA benefit can only be used once under an eligible petition.

Relevant Laws, Rules, or Policies
20 CFR 618.110 Suitable employment
20 CFR 618.610 Criteria for approval of training
20 CFR 618.610(c)(5) Entrepreneurial activities
20 CFR 618.615 Limitations on Training Approval
20 CFR 618.620 Selection of training program
20 CFR 618.650 State standards and procedures for establishing reasonable cost of training
20 CFR 618.665 Amending approved training

Effective Date
4/25/2014

Last Updated
9/26/2024

Contact
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Team, DEED.TAA@state.mn.us
Tel   651.259.7543
Fax  651.256.0288
TTY  651.296.3900

Policy

1. All TAA supported classroom/online training programs must result in an industry recognized credential upon completion. Examples of recognized credentials include:

Degrees; AA, BA, BS, MA, MS, etc.
Licenses usually awarded by governmental agencies.
Certifications recognized by organized labor, appropriate business/industry groups, governmental agencies, etc.
Diplomas.
Certificates awarded by licensed educational agencies.

Test Preparation Coursework Exception: TAA will provide funding for specific courses whose completion, although not directly resulting in a credential, will facilitate achieving one. This includes test preparation courses for licensure exams and classes that lead to the successful completion of a certification. For example, a test preparation course for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or a preparation course for the Certified Nursing Assistant exam would be funded. Classes must be structured, and instructor led. TAA will examine these requests on a case-by-case basis.

2. In addition to credentialed training, the following can be added to a training application:

Prerequisite: Prerequisite education is defined as courses or training required by a training provider before entering an occupational training program. Prerequisite training is typically added to the front end of a TAA training plan and cannot be approved as a standalone training if it does not result in a credential.
Remedial Education: Remedial Education (including English Language Learning (ELL) or Diploma/High School Equivalency (including General Educational Development (GED) and High School Equivalency Test (HiSET)): Basic skills training and English language learning programs are considered “remedial education” under current federal regulations. The training must be paired with a credentialed training program under one TAA training plan. A trade-affected worker may also pursue a diploma or a High School Equivalency (HSE) credential as a sole credential, yet Minnesota TAA encourages workers to combine diplomas/HSE credentials with other credentialed training to increase their success in the labor market.

3. Entrepreneurial Activities: TAA can support a training plan where the trade-affected worker’s employment goal is self-employment provided the training is occupational. For example, if a worker’s employment goal is to own a hair salon, then TAA could support Cosmetology training. TAA cannot fund business start-up courses or Entrepreneur specific degrees or credentials (such a post-secondary diploma in Entrepreneurship). The training application must still meet the TAA six eligibility criteria for approval.

4. When determining approval for TAA-funded training, the trade-affected worker must establish they have met the Six Eligibility Criteria as defined below:

Criterion 1. There is no suitable employment available for the trade-affected worker.

The trade-affected worker must establish there is no suitable employment available now or in the foreseeable future, in either the local commuting area or the area the trade-affected worker intends to relocate.

Note: Please refer to the "Definition of Suitable Employment" policy in the "Related Links" at the bottom of this policy for additional guidance.

Criterion 2. The trade-affected worker would benefit from appropriate training.

The selected training must increase the likelihood that the trade-affected worker would obtain employment that would result in higher wages than in the absence of training or place the worker on a pathway to do so.
The trade-affected worker must have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to undertake, make satisfactory progress in, and complete the training program.

Criterion 3. There is a reasonable expectation of employment following completion of such training.

The trade-affected worker must supply labor market projections that establish there is a reasonable expectation of employment following completion of training. Minnesota TAA interprets favorable labor market conditions to have 1) a Demand of greater than 5% based on a10-year projected growth percentage, and 2) greater than 80% of Median wages of the worker's adversely affected employment. Please refer to the "Use of Labor Market Information (LMI)" policy in the "Related Links" at the bottom of this policy for additional guidance.

Note: If labor market conditions are not favorable the trade-affected worker must supply documentation that a reasonable expectation of employment may exist.

If a trade-affected worker intends to relocate within the United States, but outside the worker's present commuting area after completion of training, the worker must supply labor market projections (demand and wages) for the area of the planned relocation.

Criterion 4. Training is reasonably available to the trade-affected worker

Trade-affected workers should apply for training that is reasonably available and (1) will result in the soonest training completion, (2) is available at a reasonable cost in comparison to other training institution choices, (3) is within the worker’s commuting area.

Note: TAA can consider training that is outside the worker’s commuting area or is at a higher cost provided it would result in a soonest completion date.

Criterion 5. The trade-affected worker is qualified to undertake and complete such training.

The trade-affected worker's knowledge, skills, abilities, educational background, work experience, and financial resources must be adequate to undertake and complete the specific training program being considered.
An assessment and employment plan that supports the trade-affected worker’s ability to undertake and complete the training program must be completed.

Criterion 6. Such training is suitable for the trade-affected worker and available at a reasonable cost.

The proposed training must be appropriate for the trade-affected worker given the worker's knowledge, skills and abilities, background, and experience relative to the worker's employment goal.
The proposed training must be available at a reasonable cost in comparison to other training programs with a similar training completion date and similar commute.

Available at a reasonable cost means that training must not be approved at one provider when, all costs being considered, training better or substantially similar in quality, content, and results can be obtained from another provider at a lower total cost within a similar timeframe.

Tuition/fees and related expenses such as books, tools, computers, uniforms, internet access, etc. as well as supplemental assistance (subsistence and transportation expenses) should be considered as part of the total cost of training when determining reasonableness.

Training costs cannot be unreasonably high in comparison with the average costs of training other workers in similar occupations at other providers.

Length of Training

Trade-affected workers must select training that allows for achievement of the desired skill level in the shortest possible timeframe. TAA will also consider the appropriateness of the length of training based on the worker’s employment status (full-or-part time), breaks in training, and the need for supportive services. The worker must be able to complete the training within the maximum number of allowable training weeks which is determined by the petition number and applicable TAA Law.

Only scheduled training weeks are counted. Scheduled breaks in training are not counted.
TAA may approve funding for training, but a worker's Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) may end before graduation. The worker must have a financial plan for living expenses if TRA doesn't last through the training end date.

Petition Number (TA-W-XX,XXX)	Trade Act Program	Number of Available Training Weeks
69,999 and below	2002 Law	104 (130 with remedial training)
70,000 – 79,999	2009 Law	104 (130 with remedial training) (156 with justifiable cause)
80,000 – 84,999	2011 Law	130 training weeks
85,000 – 97,999	2015 Law	130 training weeks
98,000 and above	2021 Reversion	130 training weeks

*With the exception of 2021 Reversion, a worker can apply for TAA-funded training as soon as the petition is certified. Training would be approved one term at a time while the worker continues to work at the TAA-certified employer.

**If combined with On-the-job-training (OJT) the OJT portion may not exceed 104 training weeks.

Limitations of Training Approval

One training plan: A trade-affected worker can only receive one approved training plan under a single certification.

Note: Some exceptions may be given to certain workers who perform a period of duty in the Uniformed Services.

Modifications: A training plan may be modified under certain conditions provided the request is approved by TAA before the last day of the currently approved training plan. All modifications must be pre-approved by TAA and overall training weeks must not exceed the maximum allowable training weeks.
Full-time or part-time training: A trade-affected worker's approved training plan may consist of either part-time or full-time training, or a combination of both (with the exception of 2002 Law which only allows for full-time training). A worker may switch from part-time to full-time training or from full-time to part-time training during the period of the worker's participation in the TAA Program. The training plan must be pre-approved by TAA and modified each time this occurs.

Note: A worker enrolled in part-time training is not eligible for TRA, including a worker who ceases full-time training to engage in part-time training. A worker may continue their TAA training plan, either full-time or part-time, if they become employed after training has been approved by TAA. The modified training plan must not exceed the allowable training weeks for that certification.

Training Outside the United States

TAA cannot approve any training plan that is totally or partially located outside the United States or if the trade-affected worker is located outside the United States while taking part in training. For distance learning, both the training provider and the worker must be located within the United States.

This includes any J-Term, May-term, or similar sessions.
Trade-affected workers are not permitted to self-fund any portion of the training
If a worker participates in overseas training this will result in cancelation of the full TAA training plan.

Alternate formats such as Braille, audio-visual and large print are available upon request.