Located in:
- Program-specific Requirements for Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities under Title I-B
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following with respect to activities carried out under subtitle B—
b. 3. Training Provider Eligibility Procedure
Provide the procedure, eligibility criteria, and information requirements for determining training provider initial and continued eligibility, including Registered Apprenticeship programs (WIOA Section 122).
Current Narrative:
Colorado’s current policy for training provider eligibility is up-to-date and available at WIOA-2015-06, Eligible Training Providers for WIOA Title I Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs.
New training providers may submit an application through the website (http://www.ColoradoETPL.org) for initial program eligibility for one year. Continued eligibility applications are processed through the same website.
The roles of the entities involved in the determination of training provider eligibility:
- The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment establishes the eligibility criteria and approval process, submits performance reports, and takes enforcement actions against providers that provide false information or violate the requirements of WIOA.
- The Colorado Department of Higher Education hosts the ETPL website, reviews applications for minimum eligibility and/or performance requirements, and notifies local boards and CDLE regarding new requests for initial or subsequent eligibility once online applications are completed and reviewed. They also mark programs eligible for WIOA funding that have been approved by Local Boards and remove programs that don’t meet required criteria or performance standards.
- Local Workforce Development Boards may identify local eligibility criteria in addition to those set by the state, plus they will review initial and subsequent applications and either approve or disapprove programs according to state and local standards. The decision of each local board determines whether a program may be utilized in its respective local area. Local boards may also request the removal of a program for cause based on local and state standards.
- The State Apprenticeship Agency, which received recognition from USDOL on July 1, 2023, is responsible for communicating the ETPL opportunity to new/existing registered apprenticeship program sponsors in Colorado, making updates to the ETPL when a new program becomes registered or when a program loses registration status in the state; and verifying the registration status of currently registered apprenticeship programs every two years, at a minimum, for continued ETPL eligibility.
Registered Apprenticeships: All active apprenticeship programs are automatically eligible for ETPL placement. Registered Apprenticeship Programs can apply through the online system, or work 1-1 with a staff member, to provide the five data elements per the TEGL. The Colorado policy states “When a registered apprenticeship program submits an online application, the state will verify the registered apprenticeship program number and the program will be automatically approved statewide.” (p. 5). Registered apprenticeship programs will not be subject to the same application or performance reporting requirements as other training providers because they go through a detailed application and vetting procedure to become a Registered Apprenticeship program sponsor with USDOL. Any apprenticeship program may remain on the ETPL as long as it wishes if it remains registered by the USDOL Office of Registered Apprenticeship or Colorado’s State Apprenticeship Agency.