No. The guidance limits qualified ITA expenditures to “tuition, books, and fees” of training providers. Florida law does not allow participation requirements, such as uniforms or tools, or licensing examinations not charged by the training provider as a “fee” to be included in those costs that count toward the 50% ITA expenditure requirement.
The law goes on to state that “other training services prescribed and authorized by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 qualify as an Individual Training Account expenditure.” The inclusion of this language allows the direct costs associated with other training services such as OJT and Employed Worker Training Programs to count toward the 50% ITA requirement and the guidance reflects that. It does not, however, mean that all costs associated with those “other training services” count. Florida law limits costs associated with traditional classroom training programs to tuition, books, and fees, so the guidance applies that same principle to other training services and excludes costs such as licensure, tools, etc. that may be required for an individual to participate in the training program or complete certification for that training program unless those costs are either included in the tuition or charged as a fee by that provider.