Education Department Approves Arizona's First Workforce Pell Program: Phoenix Phlebotomy Course Now Pell-Eligible, Seventh State Nationwide
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced on October 22 that it has approved Arizona's first Workforce Pell Grant program, making Arizona the seventh state in the nation to receive a program approval. Eligible students at Pima Medical Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, can now use federal Pell Grants to enroll in the institute's Phlebotomy Technician program, which will prepare students for specialized health care careers.
Workforce Pell was established in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act signed by President Trump. It allows eligible students to use Pell Grants to enroll in short-term, accredited programs lasting 8 to 15 weeks. The Department said the reform expands access to postsecondary education beyond the traditional two- and four-year degree pathway by supporting high-quality, workforce-aligned credentials.
"Workforce Pell is creating new opportunities for students to gain the skills they need to succeed in today's economy, and today's approval in Arizona underscores that commitment," said Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent. "Students in Arizona can now enroll in high-quality, healthcare-aligned training that is critical to workforce demands across the state." Mark Luebke, co-CEO of Pima Medical Institute, said approval of the institute's Phlebotomy Technician program in Phoenix will provide more eligible students with access to the training while supporting health care employers' need for qualified professionals.
On background, the Department said President Trump signed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act into law last year, establishing criteria for short-term programs to gain eligibility for Workforce Pell. The Department conducted negotiated rulemaking to establish the program's regulatory framework; the final rule was published on May 18, 2026, and became effective on July 1, 2026. On August 4, 2026, the Department approved the nation's first Workforce Pell Grant program, in Iowa. Since then it has approved programs in Indiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Texas and Florida, with Arizona the seventh. The Department said governors across the country are working with state workforce boards to identify education and training programs that meet the high-skill, high-wage and in-demand eligibility criteria, in order to improve employment outcomes for workers and their local communities.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国教育部（ED）总部 Lyndon Baines Johnson 大楼（资料图）。照片：Carol M. Highsmith 摄，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / File photo: the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building in Washington, D.C. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
