Funding for Professional Development and Training
Corporate and Community Education at UA Little Rock offers training programs, workshops, and courses for professionals and corporations. There are several funding options available to assist individuals in meeting their training and development goals.
Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship (AWCS)
The Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship awards up to $3000 for Arkansas residents to receive training in healthcare, IT, and industry. Verify eligibility and apply on the AWCS Website.
Note: We are unable to apply this scholarship to current opportunities until July. Want to receive an update when the AWCS becomes available for our courses? Click this link.
The following professional skills certificate programs are eligible for a $3,000 award:
Health Care:
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Pharmacy Technician
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
- Sterile Processing Technician
- Certified Physical Therapy Aide
- Patient Care Technician
Information Technology:
- CompTIA Certification Training: A+, Network+, Security+
- Java Developer + Python Developer
Logistics and Distribution:
- Certified Supply Chain Professional + Freight Broker/Agent Training
The following UA Little Rock professional skills certificate programs are eligible for a $1,500 award:
Health Care:
- Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS)
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services offers a scholarship through the Arkansas Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities (AGCPD). This scholarship is a one-time award for Arkansans with disabilities who are seeking higher education and/or vocational training. Contact your local ARS office for more information: ARS Website
Note: ARS does not maintain a list of eligible professional skills courses. You will need to work with your ARS counselor to select an appropriate professional skills course and determine eligibility. UA Little Rock Corporate and Community Education can provide an Education Plan for your counselor upon request.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act offers funding or scholarships to Arkansans who are underemployed or unemployed to receive training. Those interested should contact their local Arkansas Workforce Center to speak with a Career Advisor in order to apply: AWC Website
The following professional skills certificate programs are approved for WIOA funding:
Check with your supervisor to see if professional development funding or reimbursement is available. If your employer requires documentation, an invoice, or alternative payment methods, please email [email protected] to request what you need.
There are several options for private loans and scholarships that can be used to fund professional skills courses. The approval and disbursement of these options are based on their policy. Options may include community funding, private foundations, and church, professional, tribal or civic organizations. Donors or recipients of a private loan or scholarship that wish to apply it to our training opportunities should contact us at [email protected].
Office of Skills Development (OSD) Training Grants
The Arkansas Office of Skills Development (OSD) offers training grants for Arkansas businesses. Our corporate clients regularly receive grants from OSD that reimburse 50-75% of their pre-approved training program expenses. To learn more about this funding, visit the OSD Website.
Corporate Training Discounts
The following corporate training discounts are available to all clients. Relevant discounts will be applied to your training proposal.
- Bulk Discount (5%): For programs that include 10 or more courses
- Corporate Partner Discount (5%): For registered Corporate Partners of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Click the link to see if your company is a Corporate Partner: UA Little Rock Corporate Partnerships
- Government/NPO Discount (5%): Government and Nonprofit employees receive a 5% discount
UA Little Rock employees can access selected online training courses for a steeply discounted rate. Choose between instructor-moderated or completely self-guided formats. Each course is 24 hours over 6 weeks. Email us at [email protected] to apply a discount.
Computer Applications | $125 each
- Introduction to Microsoft Excel 365
- Intermediate Microsoft Excel 365
- Microsoft Excel – Pivot Tables
- Getting Started with Google Workspace
Administrative Assistants | $115 each
- Administrative Assistant Fundamentals
- Administrative Assistant Applications
- Effective Business Writing
- Administrative Assistant Suite: Bundle all three admin courses for $300
Have questions? Email us at [email protected]