Ohio TechCred at Kent State

Before applying, review the TechCred eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

• Businesses may apply for up to $30,000 per application.
• Funding is available for up to $1,000 per person per credential.
• Ohio employers registered with the secretary of state and with a physical, non-residential business location in Ohio that employs Ohio resident W-2 employees are eligible to apply, provided those employees are registered and reported to the Ohio Unemployment Insurance Office through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the employer withholds income tax for its employees. Employers that are exempt from these reporting requirements are not eligible for reimbursement under this program. 
• Employers of all sizes and in all industries are encouraged to apply. 
  • Only one application will be accepted per employer (based on FEIN), per application period. 
  • Public entities, including but not limited to, state agencies, local governments, political subdivisions, libraries, and public secondary and postsecondary educational institutions are not eligible to receive TechCred reimbursement.
  •  A private training provider that uses TechCred to upskill its own employees must obtain training from an eligible external training provider. A private training provider that receives TechCred funding for its own employees is not eligible to serve as a TechCred training provider for other employers. 

Submit Your Application

1. Log in to your Ohio ID account:
   https://development.ohio.gov/business/workforce-development/tech-cred/apply
2. Select Apply Online during the open funding round.
3. Choose the appropriate credential.
4. Select the credential and number of employees you wish to enroll.

Employers will be required to submit the following information:

Employer Information:

• Federal Tax ID
• Employer Name
• Payee ID Number, ohiopays.ohio.gov
• Ohio Secretary of State Charter/Entity Number, businesssearch.ohiosos.gov
• Physical, Non-residential Business Address
• Employer’s Industry
• Number of Ohio W-2 Employees
• Employer Website Link
• Employer Point of Contact and Contact Information

Credential Information:

• Credential – Choose a credential from the approved list or select “Credential Not Listed” to request a new credential (see Adding Credentials to the Approved List section below).
• Training Cost (if applicable)
• Certification Test Cost (if applicable)
• Total Actual Cost of Credential (Training and/or Certification Costs Combined)
• Name of Training Provider (from eligible list)
• Requested Reimbursement Amount for Credential (maximum of $1,000)

Trainee Information:

• Number of Prospective W-2 Employees Who Will Earn Each Credential
• Number of Incumbent W-2 Employees Who Will Earn Each Credential

Once your application has been submitted, your application status will change from Application in Progress to Application Submitted. Additionally, the business contact listed in the application will receive an email confirmation.

If your status does not change and/or you do not receive an email, please verify that all required information has been completed, and the application has been successfully submitted. You may also want to check your junk or spam folders, as automated messages can occasionally be routed there.

Applications not submitted cannot be reviewed for approval or funding.

Use the following guidance when completing the TechCred application.

Program Costs

Actual training costs may include:

• Tuition
• Fees
• Books

The TechCred reimbursement covers up to $1,000 per credential per participant.

If you are selecting Kent State University as a provider utilize the tuition rates for the 2026–2027 to help determine costs.

Kent Campus

• $399.13 per undergraduate credit
• $75.17 general course fee per semester

Regional Campuses

• $250.14 per undergraduate credit
• $18.16 general course fee per semester

Most university courses are three credit hours, but be sure to verify course details before registering.

Please allow up to 90 days from the end of the application period for the TechCred staff to review applications and to make award announcements. Once the review process is finalized, you will receive an email notification, and your application status will be updated accordingly. No additional action is needed during this period.

Grant Timeline

• To be eligible for reimbursement, training for approved credentials must start no earlier than the Effective Date of the Grant Agreement, which is the first day of the application period. Training must also be completed by the End Date of the Grant Agreement, which is 12 months after the award date. Any training or costs incurred by the Employer before the award of eligibility and execution of the Grant Agreement are undertaken solely at the Employer’s risk.

Employers may submit a reimbursement request as soon as an employee earns a credential or when the employer has an executed Grant Agreement, whichever occurs last. It is recommended that employers submit reimbursement requests as the credentials are completed. Requests may be submitted no more than once every 30 days. Final reimbursement requests must be submitted within 30 days of the End Date of the Grant Agreement. 

Extensions are not permitted.

Submit a Reimbursement Request

To request reimbursement, employers that have an executed grant agreement must submit the required information (below) through the Reimbursement Request portal, accessible within their application at development.ohio.gov/TechCred.  

Credential Documentation:

• Proof that the individual has completed the specified credential, such as a copy of the certificate or certification which must be issued by the eligible training provider. The credential name must match the one that was approved in your application.

Cost Documentation:

• An itemized invoice which clearly identifies the per-person cost of the credential.
• Proof of payment — which may include either a cleared check, a credit card statement, or a bank statement. The document must identify the training provider, the amount paid and the date paid, and must clearly show that the payor is the TechCred Grantee. A purchase order, receipt, requisition, or an invoice with a $0.00 balance does not qualify as proof of payment.

Credential Earner Information:

• Name (first and last)
• Email (optional)
• Last 4 Digits of Social Security Number
• Date of Birth
• County of Residence
• Wage Prior to Credential
• Wage After Credential is Earned
• Race (optional)
• Gender (optional)
• Employee Hire Date
• Employee Final Date of Employment
• W4 and IT4 Verification
• Date Credential Earned

For additional support, please review the Reimbursement Request Instructions and the Sample Reimbursement Packet posted on the TechCred website. These resources show exactly what must be included and how documents should be formatted.

If you are unsure whether a particular document qualifies as acceptable proof or meets program requirements, please reach out to the TechCred team before submitting your request. A member of the TechCred team will be happy to confirm/document eligibility to help you avoid delays or denials.

Employees cannot apply directly for TechCred funding. Your employer must submit the application through the State of Ohio TechCred program.

If you are interested in earning a credential, start by discussing the opportunity with your manager, HR department or training coordinator. Your employer will determine whether to apply for TechCred funding to support your training.

Work with your employer to identify an Ohio TechCred credential that aligns with your role or career goals.

Kent State University offers several credential programs that may be eligible for funding through the Ohio TechCred program which can help employees develop in-demand skills and advance their careers.

Once your employer has selected a credential and receives TechCred approval, you can begin the enrollment process.

Once your employer has been approved for the Ohio TechCred program, employees may begin the process of earning their credential.

To participate, employees must:

• Be a W-2 employee of the participating organization at the time of the reimbursement request.
• Be registered and reported to the Ohio Unemployment Insurance Office through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
• File income taxes to the state of Ohio.
• Independent contractors or 1099 employees are not eligible for this program. 
• Any individual whose employer is exempt from these reporting requirements is not eligible to have their training reimbursed, even if the individual is classified as a W-2 employee.

Employees earning credentials through Kent State University should apply as a non-degree seeking guest student.

When completing your application, select either:

• Undergraduate Guest Student, or
• Graduate Guest Student

Your selection should be based on the course number associated with the credential program.

Course Number Guide

• Courses 10000–49999 are undergraduate courses
• Courses 50000 and above are graduate courses

After you are accepted as a guest student, you can register for your course.

Be sure to review any prerequisites required for the credential program before registering.

Some courses require prerequisite coursework before enrollment. However, exceptions may be available if you have already gained equivalent knowledge or experience.

Students may request prerequisite approval in the following ways:

Transfer Credit Evaluation

You may submit prior college transcripts to the appropriate academic department to determine whether prerequisite coursework has already been completed at another institution.

Prior Learning or Work Experience

Faculty may waive prerequisites based on relevant professional experience or prior learning.

To request transcript evaluation or a prerequisite waiver, contact:

• Your admissions counselor, or
• The Kent State TechCred Office