I think given the state of the industry (such a commonly used saying these days ) people are scrambling and going to desperate measures to try and work.

I don't think paying for it should be an employees responsibility at all, I almost took a job where a company wanted me to pay for my type and would reimburse me over a year period, I was able to secure a personal loan through a private institution with a 3% interest rate, other public banks I looked at had 18-22% interest, I got smart and so did the company and both decided it was for the best not to go forward, they go belly up and I'm stuck deep in debt with no way to pay for it, no thanks I'll look elsewhere, especially given the time (that saying again!) The company would pay whatever was submitted through receipts and an expense report at the end of training but would NOT reimburse interest, pathetic!

I got laid off back in October and have been scrambling but I have some other options including getting out of aviation for a while which really isn't a problem to me, I love flying and it will always be there but I'm not about to sink a load of my own money into it when I am supposed to be getting paid to do it, and paid to train, that is part of being a professional if I'm not mistaken.

Be careful if you decide to proceed with it, it could be a HUGE gamble.

(I anticipate you are not buying the type for Southwest by the sounds of it)