STAND Program (Skilled Trades Associate Degree)
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC), Division of Financial Aid
Covers tuition and approved fees for up to 21 general-education credits so registered apprentices and journey workers can finish an Associate of Applied Science in skilled trades.
- How much
- Tuition and approved fees for up to 21 general education credits
- Who qualifies
- Registered apprentice (U.S. DOL) or journey worker with a DOL Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship
- WV resident 12 months; age 18+; high school diploma or equivalent; participating WV community college.
- For adults going back to school, trade school students
- For AAS in Skilled Trades / Occupational Development students
- U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- When to apply
- Apply any time Rolling, first-come first-served from March 15 each year (2026-27 application opened March 15, 2026); reapply each year.
- How to apply
- Submit the STAND application in your WVSAM account (opens March 15 each year
- One application covers fall through summer) and apply for admission to the community college
- Apprentices must list their local union
- Journey workers upload their DOL Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship when asked
- What you'll need
- state application + membership
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (cfwv.com), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
For West Virginia residents enrolled in a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship or holding a DOL Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship (journey workers) who are taking general education courses toward the AAS in Skilled Trades or Occupational Development at a participating West Virginia community college. Covers tuition and approved fees (same fees approved for WV Invests) for up to 21 general education credits or until general education requirements are met; amount set by the college based on credits; no books, not refundable to the student. Must be used within six years of the first award (or two years after finishing the apprenticeship, if longer, for apprentices). Requirements: WV resident 12 months, U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, high school diploma or equivalent, at least 18, satisfactory academic progress for renewal. No FAFSA needed. First-come, first-served while funds last.
More money from West Virginia
- West Virginia PROMISE ScholarshipUp to $5,500 per year (or tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less)
- West Virginia Higher Education GrantUp to $3,400 per year at eligible West Virginia schools; up to $600 per year at eligible Pennsylvania schools (2026-27)
- Future Workforce Grant (formerly HEAPS Workforce)Up to $2,000 per academic year
- Reduced Tuition for Senior Citizens (60 and older)Non-credit: up to $50 per course; for credit: no more than 50% of normal resident tuition and fees
- West Virginia Invests GrantTuition, mandatory fees and approved academic program fees not covered by other grants or waivers (last-dollar)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
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