Highway Construction and Maritime Trades Scholarships
WSDOT's On-the-Job Training Support Services Program (OJT/SS) and Pre-Apprenticeship Support Services Program (PASS) provides pre-apprenticeship, training, and apprenticeship scholarship opportunities to support the participation of women, minorities, and other disadvantaged individuals in the highway construction and maritime workforce.
Scholarship applications now closed as of March 17, 2023.
Scholarship Trades:
- Laborers
- Carpenters/Pile Drivers
- Electricians (Inside Wireman)
- Cement Masons
- Painters
- Truck Drivers (CDL-Class A)
- Diesel Mechanics
- Iron Workers
- Heavy Equipment Operators or Mechanics
- Able Body Seaman (AB) preparation programs (above deck)
- Marine Engineering Technology training programs (below deck)
- Ordinary Seaman (OS)
- Other trades or training programs related to highway construction and/or maritime programs upon approval.
Acceptable Use of Funds:
Since funds are dispersed directly to the training institute, the use of funds may be dependent on the training institute.
- Tuition
- Preparatory program costs
- Books
- Supplies
Unacceptable Use of Funds:
- Costs related to union membership or monthly dues.
- Fees for required tests prior to enrollment and/or acceptance into a training program.
Note: Single scholarship award amounts will not exceed $8,000, and the total award amount for a single individual will not exceed $12,000 in up to four (4) separate awards.
How to Apply:
- Complete the Highway Construction and Maritime Trades Scholarship Application (PDF 591KB)
- Obtain proof of enrollment in or acceptance to your training program
- Send an email to OJTSSinfo@wsdot.wa.gov and include
- Completed application (all fields must be filled in for your application to be reviewed)
- Proof of enrollment
Once a complete application packet has been received and reviewed, an award determination letter will be emailed to you and your training provider within 28 business days. Once the training program staff provides an invoice to WSDOT, the funds will be dispersed directly to the training program on your behalf.
Slow down – lives are on the line.
In 2022, speeding continued to be a top reason for work zone crashes.
Even one life lost is too many.
Each year about 670 people are killed nationally in highway work zones. In 2022, Washington had six fatal work zone crashes on state roads.
It's in EVERYONE’S best interest.
95% of people hurt in work zones are drivers, their passengers or passing pedestrians, not just our road crews.