JobsOhio Technician Path

The JobsOhio Technician Path incentive program helps Ohio employers build a pipeline of skilled technicians. Employers who participate can access up to $10,000 per worker who completes an approved training pathway, with payments tied to three milestones along the way. The financial incentive is one part. Employers who run structured training programs also report stronger worker retention and a more reliable path to filling open technician roles.

1. Apply: Employer completes and submits the online application. The application is reviewed and eligibility decisions are communicated. 

2. Enroll: Employer enrolls eligible participant(s) in the incentive program. 

3. Request disbursement along milestones: Employer submits documentation when workers achieve eligible incentive milestones. 

4. Receive funds: JobsOhio provides incentive payments to the employer for milestone achievement above the employer’s established baseline, up to program maximums and while funding remains available.

The incentive is split into 3 disbursements triggered by verified educational and employment progress.

Milestone 1: Enrollment Verified - $1,000  per eligible participant

Milestone 2:  Intermediate Progress - $4,000  per eligible participant

Milestone 3: Pathway Completion - $5,000  per eligible participant

An earn-and-learn arrangement means a worker is employed as a W-2 employee and also enrolled in a training program related to their career path credential. For this program, the worker must be enrolled in an approved technician training pathway and a W-2 employee within a JobsOhio sector company. Common models include registered apprenticeships, co-ops, and paid internships. 

JobsOhio identified high-demand, yet under supplied, occupations vital for Ohio’s economic development and industry growth using a combination of quantitative and qualitative criteria. These include, but are not limited to, sectors with high employment, employers expressing high demand across regions, employment growth forecasts, and median wages. 

The program focuses on technician roles: jobs like industrial machinery mechanic, robotics technician, electrical and electronics engineering technologist, semiconductor processing technician, and aircraft mechanic, among others. Training programs in areas like mechatronics, automation, engineering technology, chemical process technology, and similar fields are covered. 

TechCred helps employers build in-demand technical skills and strengthen talent pipelines through short term credentials that allow workers to enhance skills for their current role or take a step forward. The JobsOhio Technician Path incentive program is designed for a longer journey, supporting employers who want to take a worker from the start of a career path all the way to a highly-skilled technician. This program pays up to $10,000 per worker. 

Your concierge service provider (found here) is your starting point. A dedicated advisor will help you identify approved programs, design your training setup, connect you to local training providers and education partners, and walk you through the application and milestone process. 

JobsOhio has engaged Guild as the program's central administrator. All applications, employer onboarding, ongoing milestone requests, eligibility assessments and incentive disbursements will be submitted and managed through our co-developed online portal – we’ve made the online process as simple as possible but in case you need assistance, please contact Guild's support team at techpath@guild.com 

To complete the JobsOhio Technician Path incentive program application, the company representative who completes and submits the online form will need the following: 

• Basic company details: Legal name, federal tax ID, business type, state of incorporation and Ohio location 

• Industry and business description: Your primary industry, NAICS code, and a link to your website 

• Earn-and-Learn history baseline: The number of associate's degrees in qualifying technician programs and four-year registered apprenticeship completions in qualifying technician occupations, over the three calendar years prior 

• Legal, regulatory and financial standing: Attestation that your company is in good standing 

• Key contacts: Name and contact information for the person completing the application and the person authorized to sign the legal agreement  

Great Question! The baseline is simply your company’s typical pattern of earn-and-learn employee activity prior to the introduction of the incentive. Above that baseline, JobsOhio will award incentives for any net-new activity throughout all incentive milestones to inspire growth in experiential learning across technician occupations and advance JobsOhio’s mission to grow Ohio’s STEM and technical workforce. 

Why we require a baseline: 

• We designed the JobsOhio Technician Path incentive program to encourage additional employee upskilling, not to reward past practices. 

• By setting a baseline, JobsOhio can apply incentives only to earn-and-learn activity above a company’s historical norm. 

• This approach helps accomplish the program’s goal to expand Ohio’s STEM and technical talent pool, rather than incentivizing current business practices. 

The baseline is set at the time of the employer application and will remain unchanged throughout the duration of the Incentive Program. It is determined by taking the average number of completions of associate's degrees in qualifying technician programs and four-year registered apprenticeships in qualifying technician occupations, over the three calendar years prior. 

How baseline factors into your application: 

• Sum the total number of associate degrees obtained, and four-year registered apprenticeships completed in qualifying technician programs during each of the three preceding calendar years. 

• Supply this information in your company’s application. 

• The average of the three-year total establishes your company’s baseline, which JobsOhio will use to determine the JobsOhio Technician Path incentive program awards. 

JobsOhio has engaged Guild as the program's central administrator, you will submit your application, requests, documentation, and communications throughout the course of the incentive program using our co-developed online portal. If you need assistance, please contact Guild's support team for application help at techpath@guild.com.   

Note: While Guild will be your primary contact, you may receive outreach from JobsOhio for any complex eligibility determinations. 

You’ll need to complete the application in one session– unfortunately, it’s not possible to save it and come back to it later. That’s why we recommend gathering all your information first! 

JobsOhio reviews and approves your application, then you sign a legal agreement. After that, you: 

• Identify workers to participate 

• Share their information (current/intended approve training program, wages paid, current role, etc.) 

• Begin approved training program 

• Submit milestone requests as your employee progresses

Your company is eligible to participate if you meet the following criteria: 

• Are in a JobsOhio targeted industry sector 

• Are located in Ohio 

• Pay workers participating in technician earn-and-learn program at least $20/hour 

Yes. Headquarters location does not determine eligibility. If your company operates a facility in Ohio and the participating worker is employed at that facility, you can apply as long as all other eligibility requirements are met. 

JobsOhio requires your company’s primary NAICS code to confirm that your business operates within our ten targeted industry sectors. A NAICS code is a 6-digit number that describes what your company does. NAICS codes are part of a national system used by government agencies that standardizes business classifications by industry. 

1. Advanced Manufacturing 

2. Aerospace and Aviation 

3. Automotive 

4. Energy and Chemicals 

5. Financial Services and Insurtech 

6. Food and Agribusiness 

7. Healthcare 

8. Logistics and Distribution 

9. Military and Federal 

10. Technology 

To find your company’s NAICS code, consult the government’s official NAICS site online and search by keyword in the box on the left side of the page.

Or, you may find your company’s primary NAICS code on several tax forms, including Form 1120 (for C-Corps), Form 1120-S (for S-Corps), Form 1065 (for partnerships), Schedule C (for sole proprietors), and Form 990 (for nonprofits).

No. There is no retention requirement. The incentive is designed to support employers that invest in technician talent development. While not required, employers often experience the benefits of stronger retention and productivity gains when workers have access to structured training and career advancement opportunities. 

No. There is no promotion, or wage increase requirement. 

Yes. You can combine this with other programs. However, costs already covered by another funding source, such as state or federal programs including WIOA or TechCred, cannot count toward your employer match. 

Yes. The concierge service provider is built for employers starting from scratch. A dedicated advisor (found here) will help you apply for the incentive, manage disbursement requests, set up your earn-and-learn program, and connect you to local training partners. 

If you want to start a Registered Apprenticeship, your concierge service provider can also connect you to the right resources, including ApprenticeOhio and your local workforce development board. 

To receive Milestone 2 and Milestone 3 disbursements, employers must demonstrate a 1:1 match of their own investment in the participant.  

• Milestone 1: No match is required to access Milestone 1 disbursement 

• Milestone 2: Employer must show $5,000 in eligible matching investment (representing the sum of Milestone 1 and Milestone 2 incentive disbursements to date)  

• Milestone 3: Employer must show an additional $5,000 in eligible matching investment ($10,000 in total) 

Any of the following count – and can be combined:  

• Wages paid to the worker during training (including classroom and travel time) 

• Supervisor wages for time spent mentoring 

• Tuition and fees 

• Books and supplies 

• Career coaching 

• Screening and assessments  

• Program administration costs

Workers must meet the following requirements: 

• W-2 employee  

• Engaged in earn-and-learn role at a company based in Ohio  

• Be an Ohio resident 

• Authorized to work in the U.S. permanently without sponsorship 

• Paid at least $20/hour 

• Enrolled in an academic program aligned to one of the approved 46 CIPS, or participation in an approved Registered Apprenticeship Program within one of the 30 approved SOC codes, to qualify.

Yes. In order to be eligible, the individual must be authorized to work in the United States, on a permanent basis, without a sponsorship. 

No. Both new hires and current (incumbent) employees can qualify. The worker just needs to be enrolled in an approved program and meet all other requirements.  

Participants with prior academic credits are eligible to enroll in the JobsOhio Technician Path incentive program. Prior credits do not affect a participant's ability to participate. 

However, prior credits do affect whether an employer can claim Milestone 1 (verified enrollment) for that participant. The determining factor is whether the participant has previously earned credits in any of the 46 program CIP codes, the academic programs covered by this program. 

Milestone 1 Eligibility 

An employer may claim Milestone 1 for a participant if the participant has no prior credits in the 46 program CIP codes. An employer may not claim Milestone 1 if the participant has previously earned credits in any of the 46 program CIP codes. 

Examples 

• A participant who previously enrolled in a business administration program but did not complete it: eligible for Milestone 1 

• A participant who holds an associate degree in the arts: eligible for Milestone 1 

• A participant who took a break mid-program but had not yet earned any technical credits: eligible for Milestone 1 

• A participant who previously completed coursework in a engineering technology program covered by the 46 CIP codes: not eligible for Milestone 1 

Prior hours completed on or after July 1, 2026 can count toward Milestones 2 and 3, but the program will not pay out for milestones the worker already completed prior to the launch. JobsOhio will count milestones achieved on or after July 1, 2026.  

Yes, if the coursework has an articulation into credit at an Ohio public institution of higher education. 

Approved training programs can be found on this list. The JobsOhio Technician Path incentive program supports training programs that fall within this list of 46 approved CIP codes.

If you’re unsure if a training program qualifies, contact your regional concierge service provider to confirm whether a specific program qualifies before completing your application 

CIP stands for Classification of Instructional Programs. It is a federal numbering system that categorizes academic programs by field of study. Every college program – a engineering technology certification, a mechatronics associate's degree, a robotics technician program – has a CIP code assigned to it. Think of it like a product code for a training program.  

If you’re unsure what the CIP is for a specific training program, ask your concierge service provider (found here). They can give you the CIP code for programs in your region. You can then check it against the list of 46 approved CIP codes.

Yes, it may still qualify. The approved program list is updated regularly, so some programs that meet the requirements may not appear on it yet.  

Contact your regional concierge service provider (found here) for support in reviewing your preferred training program's CIP code against the 46 approved CIP codes.  They can then confirm whether the specific program meets all requirements and help get it added to the approved list if it does.  

Yes, Registered Apprenticeships qualify for this incentive. Workers must meet the following requirements:  

• For Milestone 2: at least 144 hours of related technical instruction and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training.  

• For Milestone 3: at least 576 hours of related technical instruction and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. 

Note: Only Registered Apprenticeships qualify. Informal or unregistered apprenticeship-style arrangements must meet the milestone criteria associated with a academic pathways to qualify.  

For registered apprenticeships, eligibility is determined by the SOC code listed on the apprenticeship standards – the eligible SOC codes are (found here). Your regional concierge service provider (found here) can confirm whether the role aligns with one of the 30 approved SOC codes. 

SOC stands for Standard Occupational Classification. It is a federal numbering system that categorizes jobs by the type of work performed. Every job type, such as industrial machinery mechanic, electrical engineering technician, semiconductor processing technician, has a SOC code. Think of it like a job category code. For workers in registered apprenticeships, the apprenticeship must fall within one of the 30 approved SOC codes to qualify. 

For registered apprenticeships, the SOC code is listed on the apprenticeship standard. Your regional concierge service provider (found here) can help connect you with ApprenticeOhio and other resources.  

Non-credit training qualifies if it has a formal articulation agreement leading to at least 15 credit hours toward a program at an Ohio public institution of higher education within the 46 approved CIPs. 

Your regional concierge service provider can help you work through this. 

Yes. Credits from multiple approved non-credit programs can be combined, as long as they articulate to at least 15 credit hours within the 46 approved CIPs.  

There are different pathways for college credit conversion. Your regional concierge service provider (found here) can help assist you with understanding how non-credit programs can count towards the incentive. 

Credits must articulate to an Ohio public institution of higher education. The program must fall within one of the 46 approved CIP codes. 

Your regional concierge service provider can help you work through this. 

Yes, if the training results in articulated credits toward a program at an Ohio public institution of higher education within the 46 approved CIPs. 

Your regional concierge service provider can help you work through this. 

Up to $10,000 per worker, paid across three milestones:  

• Milestone 1: $1,000 at verified enrollment (30+ days after class start)  

• Milestone 2: $4,000 once the worker achieves intermediate progress towards an Associate’s degree (non-credit or for-credit) or a four-year registered apprenticeship 

• Milestone 3: $5,000 for completion of an Associate’s degree or a four-year registered apprenticeship 

The JobsOhio Technician Path incentive program allows for up to $10,000 per worker across the three milestones. The maximum total award amount a company may receive is capped at $500,000.

Once JobsOhio pays the disbursement, there are no strings attached – be creative – the funds are a company’s to use as the company sees fit! JobsOhio does not restrict Incentive award funds to specific purposes or expenditures, however, please keep in mind, you will need to show a 1:1 employer match to receive the disbursements for Milestone 2 and 3. 

Milestone disbursement requests are submitted through the application portal. You provide documentation that the worker reached the milestone, along with proof of your employer match. The Central Administrative Vendor reviews the request and JobsOhio approves payment on a monthly basis. 

Yes. Milestone 2 must be completed within 1 year. Milestone 3 must be completed within 3.5 years for an associate degree or 4 years for a registered apprenticeship.