The short answer
In WIOA on-the-job training (OJT), an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor hires you and trains you under a contract with the workforce board. You earn a wage from day one, and the employer is reimbursed typically up to 50 percent of your wage for the extra cost of training, or up to 75 percent in limited circumstances.
How OJT works
The regulation describes OJT as occupational training "in exchange for the reimbursement, typically up to 50 percent of the wage rate of the participant, for the extraordinary costs of providing the training and supervision related to the training" (20 CFR 680.700). In limited circumstances, the reimbursement may be up to 75 percent.
- You are an employee. You are hired and paid like other workers in the same job.
- Training has an end date. The contract is limited to the time you need to become proficient, based on the job's skills, your current skills, experience and your plan.
- Employers must keep people on. Boards cannot keep contracting with an employer that has a pattern of not keeping OJT trainees as regular employees with the same wages, benefits and conditions as others.
Who OJT suits
OJT can work well if you learn best by doing, if you cannot afford to be without a paycheck while you train, or if your field has employers ready to hire and train. Employed workers can sometimes get OJT too, for example when they are not earning a self-sufficient wage and the training relates to changing technology or a step up to a higher-level job (20 CFR 680.710).
Other work-based options
Apprenticeship listings are at Apprenticeship.gov.
How to find OJT
- Ask your career planner whether your area runs OJT and with which employers.
- If you have found an employer willing to hire you, ask the job center whether an OJT contract is possible. Some employers already know the program.
- Ask your area's business services team; they set up OJT contracts with local employers.
Common questions
Do I get paid during WIOA on-the-job training?
Yes. You are an employee and the employer pays your wage. WIOA reimburses the employer for part of it during the training period.
How long does WIOA OJT last?
Only as long as you need to become proficient in the job. The length is set in the contract based on the job, your existing skills and your plan.
Can I find my own OJT employer?
Often yes. Talk to your job center first. The center has to set up the contract with the employer before training starts.
Sources
Last reviewed October 12, 2026. WIOA details are set by states and local workforce boards and can change; confirm with your local American Job Center before you enroll anywhere.