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Indiana Credential Reimbursement Programs for Employers

Indiana's employer route for credential costs is the Employer Training Grant. DWD reimburses up to $5,000 per employee for training that ends in a post-secondary or nationally recognized industry credential, up to $50,000 per employer, after the employee has stayed six months. The IEDC Skills Enhancement Fund can also pay, typically 50%, when the credential supports new capital investment. The Workforce Ready Grant pays tuition to individuals, not employers.

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  • State pre-filled: IN
  • Program type pre-filled: credential_reimbursement
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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

  1. 1

    Choose a credential tied to an in-demand occupation in one of six sectors

  2. 2

    Submit the interest form and get the training plan approved

  3. 3

    Pay for the training and keep wage and attendance records

  4. 4

    Invoice after the six-month retention date

2 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the Indiana money comes from.

Run by Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD), with your regional WorkOne local workforce area. Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

Employer Training Grant (ETG), credential training

Up to $5,000 per credential
OPEN, THROUGH LOCAL AREAS
WHAT YOU GET

Reimbursement of what you paid for training that ends in a post-secondary or nationally recognized industry credential, up to $5,000 per employee.

HOW MUCH

Up to $5,000 per employee for training that ends in a post-secondary or nationally recognized industry credential; up to $1,000 per employee for specialty company training; up to $50,000 per employer. The amount is based on actual training cost.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer, by electronic payment from the local workforce area after DWD approves the invoice.

WHO QUALIFIES
  • Indiana employer with an Indiana SUTA account, Secretary of State registration and a physical Indiana location
  • Training in one of six sectors: advanced manufacturing, agriculture, building and construction, health and life sciences, IT and business services, transportation and logistics
  • Occupational skills training of at least 40 hours that ties to an in-demand occupation; onboarding and informal job shadowing do not count
  • Trainees kept six months from the start of training; new hires paid a minimum wage and current employees given a raise (see FAQ for conflicting figures)
Before you start: Yes. DWD or the local area must approve your training plan and you must sign a grant agreement before training starts.
HOW TO APPLY
  1. 1Submit the online interest form on the DWD website
  2. 2Send the job description with salary range and your training plan to the local area
  3. 3Sign the training agreement, train, then submit the invoice after the six-month retention date

Deadlines and windows: Agreements run 9 months and training must begin within 3 months of the agreement start. Invoices are due within 14 days of the agreement end date. Funding is not guaranteed (manual covers the 2025 grant cycle; confirm current funding with your region).

SOURCE: IN.GOV

Skills Enhancement Fund (SEF), credential training

Typically 50% of training costs
OPEN, BY CONTRACT WITH IEDC
WHAT YOU GET

Reimbursement, typically 50%, of training costs for credentials tied to new capital investment.

HOW MUCH

Typically 50% of eligible training costs. No dollar cap is published on the IEDC pages. At most 50% of the award can go to trainee wages and 30% to travel.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer, as reimbursement of eligible training costs under a grant contract with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).

WHO QUALIFIES
  • Training supports new capital investment in Indiana
  • Training leads to a post-secondary or nationally recognized industry credential, or is specialized company training
  • Existing employees who are trained must also get a wage increase
  • Creates or keeps full-time permanent jobs for Indiana residents at the project location
Before you start: Yes. Only costs between the commencement and expiration dates in the grant agreement count.
HOW TO APPLY
  1. 1Contact IEDC through the Contact Us link on the SEF page
  2. 2Agree a training plan and grant contract before you spend
  3. 3Report each calendar year and submit training expense data with each payment request

Deadlines and windows: Costs count over two full calendar years from the commencement of the project. Annual reporting runs for about seven years. No application deadline is published.

SOURCE: IEDC.IN.GOV
AVOID THESE

What gets Indiana Credential claims denied.

  • Training that is not occupational skills training of 40 hours or more, such as onboarding or informal job shadowing.
    SOURCE: IN.GOV
  • Starting training before the training plan is approved and the agreement signed, or starting more than 3 months after the agreement start.
    SOURCE: IN.GOV
  • Trainees who leave or do not finish. Invoices may only include trainees who completed training and were kept six months.
    SOURCE: IN.GOV
  • Training with no certificate or credential at the end, other than approved specialty company training.
    SOURCE: IN.GOV
  • Training costs from before the grant start date or after the end date.
    SOURCE: IEDC.IN.GOV
STRAIGHT ANSWERS

Indiana Credential questions.

Does the employee get the money or the employer?

The employer. ETG pays you by electronic transfer, and it reimburses training you already paid for.

SOURCE: IN.GOV
What if a trained employee leaves before six months?

You are paid only for people kept six months from the start of training. If one finishes and leaves on good terms for another job, the requirement may be waived.

SOURCE: IN.GOV
Is the Workforce Ready Grant a credential reimbursement for employers?

No. It provides tuition-free training to eligible Hoosiers at approved providers. It pays the provider, not your company.

SOURCE: IN.GOV
What wage rules apply to ETG trainees?

Two DWD documents dated for the current grant cycle, the 2025 compliance manual and the FY26 fact sheet, say new hires must start at $19 an hour and current employees must get a 5% raise. An older DWD FAQ page still shows $17 and 3%, and the how-it-works page lists no figure for new hires. Plan on $19 and 5%, and confirm with your regional contact before you sign.

SOURCE: IN.GOV

How we checked. Every fact on this page comes from a state agency, a local workforce board or federal regulation, read on . Where a board publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. Programs and funding change often; confirm with the program before you commit. Written by Jason Meehl, founder of Reimbursa. Found an error? Email hello@reimbursa.com.

OTHER PROGRAMS IN INDIANA

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