How does WIOA work in Texas?
Texas runs WIOA through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Services come from 28 local Workforce Development Boards. They work as Workforce Solutions offices across the state. TWC lists all 28 boards on its site. Reference: twc.texas.gov (Board and Workforce Solutions Offices).
For you, it works like this. Find your regional Workforce Solutions office. Do the eligibility intake. Work with a career counselor. Then you get an Individual Training Account (ITA) that pays an approved school directly. The school must be on the Texas Statewide Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL), which TWC keeps.
Who administers WIOA in Texas?
- The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency in charge. It handles the money, keeps the statewide ETPL, checks wage records, and reports results to the U.S. Department of Labor. TWC also runs unemployment insurance, child care help, and adult education.
- 28 local Workforce Development Boards work as Workforce Solutions offices. Each covers a set of counties (Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, Workforce Solutions Alamo, Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas, Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend, and 24 others). Local boards contract with schools, run intake, and set training caps for their region.
- Workforce Solutions offices are the name on the door. They are the centers where you meet counselors, do intake, and get career services. Every county in Texas is covered by one of the 28 boards.
Who qualifies for WIOA in Texas?
Texas follows the federal Title I rules. The three doors:
- Adult program: 18 or older, able to work legally, and signed up for Selective Service if that applies to you. People on public assistance, people with low income, and people who need basic skills go first. Veterans and eligible spouses go first in every program.
- Dislocated Worker program: laid off, on unemployment or out of it, hit by a WARN Act mass layoff, displaced homemakers, and people whose own business failed for reasons outside their control.
- Youth program: 14 to 24 with at least one barrier to work. Most of the money goes to out-of-school youth 16 to 24.
2026 WIOA income limits in Texas
You do not have to be low income for the Adult program. But when money is tight, people under these limits are served first. Count everyone in your family and use your yearly income.
| People in your family | Most of Texas (Texas Metro) | Dallas and Fort Worth (rest of Dallas and Tarrant counties too) | Houston, The Woodlands, and Sugar Land (the cities) | South Plains, Middle Rio Grande, and Deep East Texas board areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $15,960 | $15,960 | $15,960 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $21,640 | $21,640 | $21,640 |
| 3 | $27,978 | $27,320 | $27,320 | $27,320 |
| 4 | $34,542 | $33,260 | $33,000 | $33,386 |
| 5 | $40,767 | $39,257 | $38,680 | $39,399 |
| 6 | $47,680 | $45,905 | $44,360 | $46,076 |
| 7 | $54,593 | $52,553 | $50,612 | $52,753 |
| 8 | $61,506 | $59,201 | $57,018 | $59,430 |
| Each extra person | add $6,913 | add $6,648 | add $6,406 | add $6,677 |
These are the Texas Workforce Commission limits for 2026: the higher of the federal poverty line and 70 percent of the Lower Living Standard Income Level. They are yearly family income. Low income is not required for Adult services; it decides who is served first. Sources: Texas Workforce Commission: WIOA low-income guidelines; U.S. Department of Labor: 2026 LLSIL.
How do you apply for WIOA in Texas?
- Find your board. Every Texas county is covered by one of the 28 boards. Find your county in the board table below, then call or start on the board's site. The Dallas-Fort Worth area alone has several boards.
- Sign up on WorkInTexas.com. The state job site doubles as WIOA intake. Fill out the profile online before your first visit if you can.
- Bring your papers to intake. Photo ID, Social Security card, proof you can work, income or layoff papers (pay stubs, WARN notice, unemployment proof), and school records for youth. Veterans bring the DD-214.
- Do the assessment and the Individual Employment Plan (IEP). A Workforce Solutions counselor checks your skills and interests. WIOA requires the written IEP before any training money is approved.
- Pick a program on the Texas Statewide ETPL. Search the list with your counselor. The program must lead to a job on your board's Target Occupations list.
- Get your Individual Training Account (ITA). The ITA pays the school directly. First visit to a funded seat usually takes two to eight weeks. Smaller boards often move faster.
How long does WIOA approval take in Texas?
Two to eight weeks from your first visit to a funded seat for most people. Smaller boards move faster than Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio when demand is high.
How much does WIOA pay for training in Texas?
There is no statewide cap. Each of the 28 boards sets its own. Most cap training at $4,000 to $20,000, and two (Alamo and West Central Texas) set no dollar cap. Find your county below to see your board's cap, its phone number, and where to start.
| Board and counties | Training money cap | Call | Start here |
|---|---|---|---|
| PanhandleArmstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Wheeler | Not published | 806-372-5521 | Board site |
| South PlainsBailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hockley, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley, Terry, Yoakum | $15,000; finish within 3 years | 806-765-5038 | Board site |
| North TexasArcher, Baylor, Clay, Cottle, Foard, Hardeman, Jack, Montague, Wichita, Wilbarger, Young | $10,000 (up to $11,000 with need) | 940-322-1801 | Board site |
| North Central TexasCollin, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Wise | $15,000 | 1-888-548-9675 | Board site |
| Tarrant CountyTarrant County | Not published | 817-413-4000 | Board site |
| Greater DallasDallas County | $15,000 | 214-624-7444 | Board site |
| Northeast TexasBowie, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Morris, Red River, Titus | $20,000; up to 2 years | 903-794-9490 | Board site |
| East TexasAnderson, Camp, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Marion, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt, Wood | $14,000; up to 2 years | 844-389-6757 | Board site |
| West Central TexasBrown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Fisher, Haskell, Jones, Kent, Knox, Mitchell, Nolan, Runnels, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor, Throckmorton | No dollar cap; up to 2 years | 325-795-4200 | Board site |
| BorderplexBrewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Presidio | $10,000; up to 2 years | 915-887-2600 | Board site |
| Permian BasinAndrews, Borden, Crane, Dawson, Ector, Gaines, Glasscock, Howard, Loving, Martin, Midland, Pecos, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Ward, Winkler | $14,000 a year; usually up to 2 years | 432-367-3332 | Board site |
| Concho ValleyCoke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reagan, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Tom Green | $10,000; up to 2 years | 325-653-2321 | Board site |
| Heart of TexasBosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone, McLennan | $3,200 to $17,500 by program; local colleges at their listed price | 254-296-5341 | Board site |
| Capital AreaTravis County | $7,500 (up to $10,000 with board approval) | 512-381-5100 | Board site |
| Rural Capital AreaBastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Williamson | $8,000 a year; finish within 2 years | 844-344-2780 | Board site |
| Brazos ValleyBrazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, Washington | $10,000 lifetime | 800-386-7200 | Board site |
| Deep East TexasAngelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler | $12,000 | 936-639-1351 | Board site |
| Southeast TexasHardin, Jefferson, Orange | $5,000 a program year; up to 2 years | 877-834-5627 | Board site |
| Golden CrescentCalhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Lavaca, Victoria | $12,000; up to 2 program years | 361-576-5872 | Board site |
| AlamoAtascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, McMullen, Medina, Wilson | No dollar cap; up to 2 years | 210-438-0581 | Board site |
| South TexasJim Hogg, Webb, Zapata | $4,000 per training; up to 24 months | 956-794-6500 | Board site |
| Coastal BendAransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio | $7,000 lifetime | 361-882-7491 | Board site |
| Lower Rio Grande ValleyHidalgo, Starr, Willacy | $9,000 ($18,000 for RN and LVN) | 888-261-3286 | Board site |
| CameronCameron County | $9,000 lifetime | 956-546-3141 | Board site |
| TexomaCooke, Fannin, Grayson | Set per program, from $4,000 for a certificate | 903-463-9997 | Board site |
| Central TexasBell, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Milam, Mills, San Saba | Not published | 254-200-2000 | Board site |
| Middle Rio GrandeDimmit, Edwards, Kinney, La Salle, Maverick, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Zavala | $8,000 a year; usually up to 2 years | 830-591-0141 | Board site |
| Gulf CoastAustin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, Wharton | $6,000 a year for job training | 1-888-469-5627 | Board site |
Caps come from each board's own plan or policy, checked October 2026; tap a cap to read the source. "Not published" means the board posts no dollar figure, so ask at intake. Some boards ask you to apply for a Pell Grant first, and some go above the cap with a director's approval.
Ask your counselor whether money is left this program year. Get the number in writing before you choose between schools.
Before your intake appointment
Rehearse your Texas WIOA intake appointment: $6.99 for 7 days
The counselor's first question is usually this one: "Why this training, and how will you get to class every day for the length of the program?" Your answer at that appointment decides your funding. Practice it and the rest of the visit out loud for 7 days. The AI plays the counselor and scores how clear you were. One payment, nothing renews.
New to intake? Read how to prepare for your WIOA appointment.
Not sure yet? Answer the first question free
What training programs does WIOA pay for in Texas?
The Texas ETPL favors training that leads to jobs on each board's Target Occupations list and TWC's statewide priorities. Common approved types:
- Healthcare: CNA, LVN, RN bridge programs, medical assistant, phlebotomy, surgical technology, EMT, radiology tech, dental assistant.
- Information technology: CompTIA certifications, cybersecurity, cloud (AWS, Azure), coding bootcamps where the state approves them, IT support and networking.
- Transportation: CDL Class A and B, logistics and supply chain, warehousing, port work (mainly Houston and the Coastal Bend).
- Skilled trades: HVAC, electrical, plumbing, welding, industrial maintenance. Demand is strong across the state.
- Oil, gas, and energy: well operations, petrochemical process technology, wind turbine technician (mainly West Texas and the Permian Basin).
- Advanced manufacturing: CNC machining, robotics, aerospace assembly (mainly around Fort Worth, Austin, and Houston).
Always check a program against the current Texas Statewide ETPL with your Workforce Solutions counselor before you enroll. Target Occupations lists differ by board.
What are Texas's WIOA program outcomes?
Texas reports the six WIOA indicators to the U.S. Department of Labor every year. The table shows the targets the state agreed to for Program Year 2024 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), what it delivered, and the level it agreed to for PY2025. The numbers come from the Department of Labor's state performance reports.
| Indicator | PY2024 target | PY2024 actual | Result | PY2025 target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (12,945 served, 10,028 exited) | ||||
| Employment rate, 2nd quarter after exit | 75.9% | 78.4% | Met | 75.9% |
| Employment rate, 4th quarter after exit | 76.4% | 76.8% | Met | 76.4% |
| Median earnings, 2nd quarter after exit | $8,468 | $8,061 | Missed | $8,468 |
| Credential attainment rate | 72.9% | 66.4% | Missed | 72.9% |
| Measurable skill gains | 72.1% | 65.5% | Missed | 72.1% |
| Dislocated Worker (5,458 served, 4,153 exited) | ||||
| Employment rate, 2nd quarter after exit | 75.6% | 78.1% | Met | 75.6% |
| Employment rate, 4th quarter after exit | 77.9% | 79.9% | Met | 77.9% |
| Median earnings, 2nd quarter after exit | $10,886 | $10,802 | Missed | $10,886 |
| Credential attainment rate | 80.3% | 74.3% | Missed | 80.3% |
| Measurable skill gains | 79.5% | 56.2% | Missed | 79.5% |
| Youth (7,098 served, 4,958 exited) | ||||
| Employment or education rate, 2nd quarter after exit | 74.3% | 72.1% | Missed | 74.3% |
| Employment or education rate, 4th quarter after exit | 75.2% | 72.0% | Missed | 75.2% |
| Median earnings, 2nd quarter after exit | $4,900 | $5,365 | Met | $4,900 |
| Credential attainment rate | 53.6% | 54.8% | Met | 53.6% |
| Measurable skill gains | 63.5% | 64.8% | Met | 63.5% |
In PY2024 Texas met 7 of 15 targets. Both the Adult and Dislocated Worker programs beat their two employment targets and missed median earnings, credential attainment, and skill gains. The biggest gap was Dislocated Worker skill gains, 56.2 percent against a 79.5 percent target. The Youth program went the other way. It missed both employment targets and beat earnings, credentials, and skill gains. The full story is on how Texas measures workforce program success.
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How does Workforce Pell interact with WIOA in Texas?
Texas is in the accepting tier on our Workforce Pell tracker for Texas. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) published program rules with a list of eligible jobs. Its application window closed September 1, 2026, with more than 60 programs submitted. In July, THECB told Weatherford College that three of its programs meet the state rules, the first in Texas. Those still need the governor's sign-off and federal approval. Reference: highered.texas.gov (THECB Workforce Pell Grant Program).
For a Texan looking at training money today, WIOA is fully open. Workforce Pell will come online at schools that clear THECB review and the governor's sign-off. WIOA and Pell are separate. Most people can qualify for one, the other, or both once Pell is live in Texas.