North Carolina Workforce Pell

Where North Carolina stands on Workforce Pell

Status

Live: an operational approval process underway, an open application window, a pilot cohort accepting programs, or an eligible-program list being finalized and submitted to ED (the Record’s definition).

Phase

Seven Programs Federally Approved (Forsyth Tech 6, Wake Tech 1)

Lead agency

NCWorks Commission (lead, designated by Governor Stein); NCCCS

Current holdup

ED

ED approved six programs at Forsyth Technical Community College September 25, the first federal approvals in the state, and the state's approved-program list added Wake Technical Community College's Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) to its federally approved table on its October 26 modification (no ED release; the college's own page confirms state and federal approval); the other 47 of the 54 state-approved programs (21 colleges, from the August 12 and September 16 actions) remain in federal review, and the regular quarterly cycle continues: the Commission's November 18 business-session agenda is posted and lists "Workforce Pell Program Approvals" as a 1:25 pm action item, the review of submissions received by October 15

State portal

www.commerce.nc.gov

What the record documents

On June 23, 2026 Governor Stein and the NCWorks Commission announced that Workforce Pell applications are open: institutions apply through the existing Eligible Training Provider List at nc.works/ETPL and submit the additional Workforce Pell information. The first-cycle window closed July 15, 2026 on schedule; submissions are reviewed August 12, then on a quarterly cycle (October 15 submissions reviewed November 18). On August 12, 2026 the NCWorks Commission announced its first state-level approvals: 43 programs at 16 community colleges, with the approved-program list posted; those programs must now seek federal approval from ED, and the next quarterly cycle takes submissions by October 15 for November 18 review (NC Commerce). An updated NCCCS analysis in July 2026 found that fewer than 1 percent of North Carolina community college programs meet all eligibility requirements, down from a 4 percent February estimate. The framework rests on Commission Policy CPS 04-2026 and an eligible occupations list of 364 occupations (health care, skilled trades, engineering, and more). The cycle is quarterly: submissions by October 15, 2026 are reviewed at the November 18 Commission meeting, with January 15 and April 15, 2027 deadlines following. At its August 12, 2026 business session the Commission, acting on behalf of Governor Stein, approved the state's first 43 programs at 16 community colleges (counted from the posted list: 43 program rows, 16 distinct institutions, from Beaufort County to Wake Tech), concentrated in nurse aide and CNA, phlebotomy, EMT and paramedic, fire academy, truck driving and CDL, electrical lineworker, welding, BioWork, IT support, and mechatronics; each institution now proceeds to seek final approval from the U.S. Department of Education. The Commission held its virtual special meeting on September 16, 2026 (1:00 to 1:30 pm, Zoom), with "Workforce Pell Pending Program Approvals" the action item on the posted agenda, and the approved-program list was updated the same day (the page is marked last modified September 16, 2026) to 54 programs at 21 community colleges, counted from the posted list: 54 program rows and 21 distinct institutions, adding 11 programs and five colleges (Brunswick, Cleveland, Johnston, Richmond, and Rowan-Cabarrus) to the August 12 set. No press release or meeting minutes for the September 16 action are posted yet. On September 25, 2026 the U.S. Department of Education approved six Forsyth Technical Community College programs, the state's first federal approvals and the nation's fifth state with announced approvals: Nursing Assistant, Nursing Assistant II, Electrical Lineworker, Emergency Medical Technician (Basic), Fire Academy, and Welding Industrial, titles per the state approved-program list, which was reorganized the same day (page marked last modified September 25, 2026) into a "Programs Approved on both the Federal and State Levels" table carrying exactly these six and the state-level table, which still counts 54 programs at 21 colleges. Secretary McMahon announced the approvals at New Bern High School, and the NCCCS system office release states that eligible students can use Pell funds in the six programs beginning with the spring 2027 term (January) (ED release, NCCCS announcement). By October 26, 2026 the state's List of Programs Approved for Workforce Pell (page modified that day) showed seven rows in its federal-and-state table, adding Wake Technical Community College's Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) to the six Forsyth Tech programs, while the state-level table held at 54 rows across 21 institutions (recounted from the page tables); Wake Tech's own EMT page states the program "has been approved by state and federal officials for Workforce Pell eligibility," and no ED release names it. The November 18 Commission meeting is posted without an agenda. The Commission's November 18, 2026 business-session agenda (1:00 pm, NCSU McKimmon Center and Zoom) lists "Workforce Pell Program Approvals" as an action item at 1:25 pm, the second-cycle review of submissions received by October 15. Nov 18 agenda, Source, approved-program list

Verified against the sources on November 6, 2026.

Eligible occupations in North Carolina

North Carolina has 364 occupations on the state’s eligible-occupation list. Open the state’s list. Its list design, side by side with the other published frameworks, is in the State Approval Comparison.

Approved programs (state / federal)

43 state, at 16 colleges (Aug 12)

List philosophy

Broad list, strict program-level screen

High-wage definition

At or above regional or state median

Skill and demand logic

Three alternative pathways (Star Jobs, regional, high-skill credential)

Lead and approver

NCWorks Commission (state workforce board)

List refresh

Quarterly

Sources

Every primary source the record cites for North Carolina, last checked November 6, 2026.

• State Workforce Pell portal (www.commerce.nc.gov)
• NC Commerce (www.commerce.nc.gov)
• Commission Policy CPS 04-2026 (www.commerce.nc.gov)
• eligible occupations list of 364 occupations (www.commerce.nc.gov)
• virtual special meeting (www.commerce.nc.gov)
• posted agenda (www.commerce.nc.gov)
• ED release (www.ed.gov)
• NCCCS announcement (www.nccommunitycolleges.edu)
• List of Programs Approved for Workforce Pell (www.commerce.nc.gov)
• Nov 18 agenda (www.commerce.nc.gov)
• State Workforce Pell policy (State Approval Comparison source) (www.nccommunitycolleges.edu)
• Forsyth Technical Community College: forsythtech.edu (www.forsythtech.edu)
• Forsyth Technical Community College: forsythtech.edu (www.forsythtech.edu)
• Forsyth Technical Community College: forsythtech.edu (www.forsythtech.edu)
• Forsyth Technical Community College: forsythtech.edu (www.forsythtech.edu)
• Forsyth Technical Community College: forsythtech.edu (www.forsythtech.edu)
• Forsyth Technical Community College: forsythtech.edu (www.forsythtech.edu)
• Wake Technical Community College: waketech.edu (www.waketech.edu)