VA HB551

Establishes a state recognition pathway for nondegree workforce training programs through the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, effective January 1, 2027

Requires recognized programs to provide at least 40% of instructional hours as hands-on laboratory or tool time, use instructors with relevant trade credentials or at least 5 years of occupational experience, and align curriculum with the federal O*NET occupational framework

Allows individuals 16 years or older to participate in recognized programs, including public/private school students and homeschooled students, with those lacking a high school diploma required to pass a basic skills assessment

Mandates programs report credential pass rates, job placements, starting wages, and retention rates at 90 days and 12 months, with the Department publishing aggregate data by occupation and region

Makes recognized programs eligible for state workforce grants and federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding, with explicit protection that funding shall not reduce or displace allocations to institutions of higher education