Self Employment Assistance Program (SEAP)

Program Update: Due to limited funds at this time, Worker Retraining will only enroll new students for Winter Quarter 2025 that are currently receiving Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. Students are still encouraged to apply, and eligible students will be added to a waitlist and notified via email when funding is available.

The Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP) is a Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) training program that gives unemployed workers the opportunity to continue receiving Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits while creating new businesses and job opportunities for other workers through self-employment. If you received a SEAP eligibility letter from ESD, you may be eligible to participate in the SEAP.

North is a SEAP Approved Training Program provider. The SEAP Approved Training Program we provide is the Entrepreneurship Program – which includes both the Certificate and Foundation Certificate options. For more information about the Entrepreneurship Program, including curriculum and program contact information, please visit the Entrepreneurship Program website. For more information about SEAP, including Approved Training Programs, eligibility requirements, SEAP application and FAQs, go to the ESD SEAP website.

While the SEAP provides continuation of UI benefits, it does not cover the costs of the Approved Training Program. Funding assistance for the Entrepreneurship Program is available through the Worker Retraining Program. The necessary steps to qualify for SEAP are available on this checklist. To see if you are eligible for funding through the Worker Retraining program, you will need to meet the following qualifications: