The U.S. Department of Education has published a proposed rule to create “Workforce Pell Grants” that allow students to receive grants for eligible workforce programs that are 150–599 clock hours in length or an equivalent number of credit hours and that take at least 8 weeks but less than 15 weeks of instructional time to complete. These grants, authorized in the One Big Beautiful Bill of 2025, would provide financial aid in training programs that currently fall outside the traditional Pell Grant structure.

This new grant program could support funding for CDL and diesel technician training programs. The current Pell Grant criteria require a program to offer at least 15 weeks of training to be eligible for student funding. CDL and diesel mechanic or technician training is often less than 15 weeks.

NEFI is working with the Jobs & Career Coalition and other stakeholders to submit comments highlighting the need for these programs to also be supportive of jobs and careers training in the HVAC space. Comments are due before April 8, 2026. We will keep our members apprised of our actions on this matter. If you have any questions, contact NEFI President & CEO Jim Collura at jim.collura@nefi.com.