Last verified: October 2026
Can a Broward family pay for industry certifications & career training with Florida scholarship money?
It depends on the program: Unique Abilities: eligible; PEP: eligible; Private School Scholarship: eligible from leftover funds after tuition. Fees for certification exams, tuition for a pre-apprenticeship and career-interest assessments are all authorized.
What are the rules for industry certifications & career training in 2026-27?
These rules come from Step Up's 2026-27 purchasing guides and its September 16, 2026 summary of changes.
- Transition services and job coaching are FES-UA-only categories.
What is not allowed for industry certifications & career training?
The items below are excluded or need approval first.
- Commercial-grade tools and equipment
How do Broward families use industry certifications & career training?
Certification coursework pairs naturally with a part-week hybrid, because the school costs less and more of the 9-12 award is left for the course.
How does a Broward family pay for industry certifications & career training?
Begin with MyScholarShop, where listed items need no further approval, and next try Find Providers in EMA so tutors, therapists and instructors are paid directly. If neither works, pay by card, save the itemized receipt and ask for reimbursement. Something the guides leave out must be approved before you buy it, and requests for 2026-27 approval stop on May 28, 2027.
Which programs allow industry certifications & career training, and which do not?
Each program treats industry certifications & career training differently, and the table gives the status for all three.
| Program | Status | What the rule says |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Industry certification exams, pre-apprenticeship tuition (16 and up), transition services and job-coach transition services. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Eligible | Industry certification exams and pre-apprenticeship programs. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Eligible from leftover funds after tuition | Allowed from leftover funds. |
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Based on the FES-UA Purchasing Guide (FCSUA and Step Up For Students) and the PEP Purchasing Guide for 2026-27, plus Step Up's "Program Handbooks and Purchasing Guides: Summary of Changes" dated September 16, 2026. Treat this as a plain-language summary and not legal advice, since the handbook of your funding organization governs.