Ohio TechCred at Kent State

Before applying, review the TechCred eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

• Employers may participate in up to six funding rounds each year.
• Businesses may apply for up to $30,000 per funding round.
• Funding is available for up to $2,000 per credential per employee.
• Businesses of all sizes and industry sectors are eligible.
• Funding must be used within 12 months of approval.
• Participating employees must be Ohio residents with a verifiable address.

Before submitting a TechCred application, your organization must create two accounts with the state of Ohio.

Account 1: Create a TechCred Account

1. Visit the TechCred website and click Apply.
2. Select Create a New Account.
3. Follow the prompts to complete the registration process.

Tip

The person responsible for submitting applications and monitoring deadlines should create the account. This ensures the primary administrator receives approval notifications and reminders.

This role is typically handled by someone in Human Resources, Finance, or Workforce Development.

You will need your company’s tax ID number during the registration process.

Account 2: Apply for a State Supplier (Payee) ID

Before submitting a TechCred application, your organization must also have a State of Ohio Supplier (Payee) ID number.

If your company does not already have one:

1. Follow the prompt provided during the TechCred account setup.
2. Submit the application for a State Supplier ID.

This ID allows the State of Ohio to process reimbursement payments.

Confirmation

Once the registration process is complete, you should receive a confirmation email from TechCred verifying your account.

Once your accounts are established, you can apply for funding during an open TechCred application period.

Submit Your Application

1. Log in to your Ohio ID account:
   https://techcred.ohio.gov/apply
2. Select Apply Online for Grants during the open funding round.
3. Choose the appropriate credential category.
4. Select the credential and number of employees you wish to enroll.

Funding Limits

Each application may include:

• Up to 15 credential slots
• Up to $2,000 per employee
• Up to $30,000 per funding round

Slots can be divided across multiple credentials.

Examples

• 15 employees enrolled in one credential program
• 5 employees each across three credential programs
• Multiple employees enrolled in multiple credentials

After submitting your application, you will receive an email confirmation from TechCred.

Use the following guidance when completing the TechCred application.

Training Provider

Select Kent State University as the training provider.

Program Costs

Actual training costs may include:

• Tuition
• Fees
• Books

The TechCred reimbursement covers up to $2,000 per credential per participant.

Typical Kent State tuition rates for the 2025–2026 academic year:

Kent Campus

• $399.23 per undergraduate credit
• $75.17 general course fee per semester

Regional Campuses

• $250.14 per undergraduate credit
• $18.16 general course fee per semester

Most university courses are three credit hours, but be sure to verify course details before registering.

Credential Slots

Employers may submit up to 15 credential slots per application.

If submitting fewer than 15 slots for a credential:

1. Select Add Another Credential.
2. Repeat the process until all credential slots are assigned.

An employee may be listed for multiple credentials in the same application.

Wage Information

The application will ask you to estimate:

• Employee wages before credential completion
• Employee wages after credential completion

This helps demonstrate workforce impact, but a wage increase is not required.

If your application is approved, the administrator listed on your TechCred account will receive an approval email notification.

Accept the Grant

1. Log in to your TechCred account.
2. Accept the grant within 10 business days.

Grant Timeline

• The effective date may begin before approval to allow retroactive reimbursement.
• Funding remains active for 12 months after acceptance.

Status Reporting

Employers must submit status reports every four months throughout the grant period.

Setting calendar reminders is strongly recommended.

Status reports must be submitted every four months from the grant’s effective date.

These reports allow the State of Ohio to track employee progress toward credential completion.

Important Notes

• The effective date may be earlier than the approval date, allowing reimbursement for recently completed training.
• Missing status reports may void your funding eligibility.

Employers should update the status of open grants whenever logging in to apply for additional funding rounds.

For assistance, contact the Kent State TechCred Office.

Once employees complete their credential programs, employers may submit a reimbursement request through the TechCred portal.

Submit a Reimbursement Request

1. Log in to the TechCred portal:
   https://techcred.ohio.gov
2. Click Apply.
3. Under Submit for Reimbursement, select Log in to OH|ID.
4. Locate the funding round and select View/Edit.
5. Select Reimbursement Request.

Add Employee Information

For each participant:

• Enter the employee’s hourly wage before credential completion.
• Enter the employee’s hourly wage after credential completion.
• Enter $2,000 as the reimbursement request amount.

Upload Required Documentation

You must upload:

• Certificate of completion for each employee
• Proof of payment or invoice for the training

After submitting your request, TechCred will review the documentation and process reimbursement.

Employees cannot apply directly for TechCred funding. Your employer must submit the application through the State of Ohio TechCred program.

If you are interested in earning a credential, start by discussing the opportunity with your manager, HR department or training coordinator. Your employer will determine whether to apply for TechCred funding to support your training.

Work with your employer to identify a TechCred-approved credential that aligns with your role or career goals.

Kent State University offers several credential programs approved for the Ohio TechCred program that help employees develop in-demand skills and advance their careers.

Once your employer has selected a credential and receives TechCred approval, you can begin the enrollment process.

Once your employer has been approved for the Ohio TechCred program, employees may begin the process of earning their credential.

To participate, employees must:

• Be a W-2 employee of the participating organization
• Be a resident of the State of Ohio

Employees earning credentials through Kent State University should apply as a non-degree seeking guest student.

When completing your application, select either:

• Undergraduate Guest Student, or
• Graduate Guest Student

Your selection should be based on the course number associated with the credential program.

Course Number Guide

• Courses 10000–49999 are undergraduate courses
• Courses 50000 and above are graduate courses

After you are accepted as a guest student, you can register for your course.

Be sure to review any prerequisites required for the credential program before registering.

Some courses require prerequisite coursework before enrollment. However, exceptions may be available if you have already gained equivalent knowledge or experience.

Students may request prerequisite approval in the following ways:

Transfer Credit Evaluation

You may submit prior college transcripts to the appropriate academic department to determine whether prerequisite coursework has already been completed at another institution.

Prior Learning or Work Experience

Faculty may waive prerequisites based on relevant professional experience or prior learning.

To request transcript evaluation or a prerequisite waiver, contact:

• Your admissions counselor, or
• The Kent State TechCred Office