TechCred, without
the paperwork headache.
Ohio reimburses employers up to $1,000 per employee for each technology credential they earn. Here's exactly how that works with the Paglow AI Builder credentials, and the parts I prepare for you.
Where our listing stands
Listing in progress
Both credentials are being prepared for TechCred review. Until the state lists a credential, reimbursement for it isn't guaranteed, so I'll tell you exactly where it stands before you apply.
Updated Oct 12, 2026
What TechCred can pay back
$1,000
per employee, for each credential they earn
$30,000
per employer, in one application period
1
application per employer, per period
12 months
to finish the training after the award
A seat in either Paglow AI Builder class is $1,000, so one credential fits under the per-person limit. An employee who earns both credentials counts twice.
TechCred pays for skills people apply.
The state funds credentials that pass three tests. Both AI Builder credentials are designed around them: every session ends in something the learner built, configured or ran.
Industry-recognized
Sought or accepted by employers in the industry for hiring, screening, keeping or promoting people.
Technology-focused
Applied, practical skills in developing, building, configuring or operating technology, not just understanding concepts or using software at a basic level.
Short-term
Finished in under 12 months, or under 900 clock hours. The state recommends at least 8 hours.
Six steps, and who does each
Plan
We pick the credential, the people and the dates. I send you everything your application asks about the course.
Apply
You apply online during an open window, signed in with your own OHID. I give you every answer the form asks for.
Award
The state reviews applications for up to 90 days after the window closes, then tells you what it approved.
Train
Your people take the class within 12 months of the award. I schedule funded classes after the award, because money spent before it is at your risk.
Pay
When the class is done, you get one itemized invoice with a line per person. You pay it like any invoice.
Get reimbursed
You upload one PDF: the certificates, the invoice and your proof of payment. I assemble all of it except your bank or card statement.
What the application asks for
Have these in hand before you start. If your business doesn't have an OhioPays payee ID yet, get that first.
- Federal Tax ID (FEIN)
- Employer name
- OhioPays payee ID number
- Ohio Secretary of State charter or entity number
- Physical, non-residential business address
- Industry
- Number of Ohio W-2 employees
- Website
- Point of contact and contact details
And the people earning the credential
- W-2 employees of your business (not 1099 contractors)
- Ohio residents with an Ohio address
What I prepare, and what stays with you
I prepare
- The course details and credential information your application asks for
- The cost per person, matching the invoice exactly
- Certificates whose name matches your award, character for character
- The itemized invoice, a line per person
- The reimbursement packet, assembled in the order the state asks for
- A reminder of your dates: the training deadline and any reports your award letter asks for
You do
- Apply in the state's portal, signed in with your OHID
- Pay the invoice
- Add your proof of payment: a cleared check, a card statement or a bank statement
- Enter each employee's details in the state's portal
I never collect your employees' private details
The state asks for things like Social Security digits, birth dates and wages. You enter those straight into the state's portal. They never pass through me.
What the state asks you to enter for each person ›
- First and last name
- Last 4 digits of Social Security number
- Date of birth
- County of residence
- Wage before and after the credential
- Race and gender (optional)
- Hire date and, if it applies, final date of employment
- W-4 and IT-4 verification
- Date the credential was earned
TechCred pays for training, not software.
That's why your Claude and Vapi accounts are billed to you by those companies and never appear on the training invoice. A clean invoice keeps the reimbursement simple.
Covered
- Tuition
- Lab fees
- Manuals
- Textbooks
- Certification costs
Never covered
- Training bundles and libraries
- Subscriptions and memberships
- Software platforms and licenses
- Conferences
- Wages
- Travel
- Hardware and equipment
Most Ohio employers can. A few can't.
Can apply
- Registered with the Ohio Secretary of State
- A physical, non-residential business location in Ohio
- Ohio-resident W-2 employees, reported to Ohio unemployment insurance, with state income tax withheld
Can't apply
- Public entities, such as schools, libraries, local governments and public colleges
- 1099 contractors (the person earning the credential must be a W-2 employee)
Schools and districts can't use TechCred, but districts can bring me in for a paid staff PD day on putting their AI policy into practice. Ask me.
Windows open and close
The October 2026 window runs Oct 1, 2026 to Oct 30, 2026, closing at 3:00 p.m. The state expects decisions by about Jan 28, 2027.
The state hasn't announced the next window yet. Tell me you're interested and I'll let you know the day it's set.
Paglow AI Builder classes start in 2027.
Straight answers
Is TechCred free training?
No, and it's worth being exact about. You pay for the training, your employee earns the credential, and then the state reimburses you up to $1,000 per person per credential, if your application was approved.
Are the AI Builder credentials on TechCred's list yet?
Not yet. Both credentials are being prepared for TechCred review. Until the state lists a credential, reimbursement for it isn't guaranteed, so I'll tell you exactly where it stands before you apply.
Can one person earn both credentials?
Yes. Each level is its own credential, so each can be reimbursed up to $1,000, within your $30,000 per-period limit.
Can several small businesses share a class?
Yes. Each business applies for its own seats and gets its own itemized invoice, so each reimbursement stands on its own.
Do you submit the application for us?
No. The state's portal is tied to your own OHID login, so you submit it. I prepare every answer about the course, the cost and the credential, so it's a matter of copying them in.
What if we aren't awarded?
Then you decide: take the class anyway and pay the invoice yourself, or wait and apply in the next window. Nothing is invoiced before a class runs.
Who is the training provider on the application?
TechCred lists approved training providers, and the application picks one from that list. Ours is being settled now. I'll tell you exactly which provider and credential to choose before you apply.
Is Paglow endorsed by the State of Ohio?
No. TechCred is a program of the Ohio Department of Development, and the state doesn't endorse any training provider. The state's own guidelines are the final word on every rule here.
TechCred is a program of the Ohio Department of Development. Paglow isn't affiliated with or endorsed by the State of Ohio. Program rules change, and the state's guidelines govern; this page summarizes them as of the date above.
The state's own pages
Ready to plan a class?
Tell me about your team. I'll reply myself with dates, a plan and the exact TechCred steps.