Training Fee Support

This program helps unemployed and underemployed people, and those temporarily laid off due to COVID-19, take short-term courses, online or in-person, that help them secure employment. This program provides up to $1,000 for tuition.

People that are self-employed, plus workers who need to diversify their skills to adapt to businesses that have modified their products or services due to COVID-19 are eligible.

This program also provides 75 percent of the training costs, up to $7,500 for a specialized training bursary where there is an identified skills shortage and high labour demand in the Columbia Basin. Now includes early childhood education, health care and agriculture related certification. The following are eligible specialized skills training areas:

• Agriculture Work or Related Certification
• Early Childhood Education
• Forestry Work
• Health Care Aide
• Health Care Clerk
• Heavy Equipment Operator
• Office/Business Administration
• Prep Cook
• Programming and Coding
• Security Guard/Officer

Who Can Apply

You may apply if you:

• Are a resident of the Columbia Basin;
• Have been a resident of British Columbia for a minimum of six continuous months prior to time of application;
• Are legally entitled to work in Canada;
• Are unemployed, underemployed or temporarily laid off (including furloughed) at the time of application or at risk of the above if you do not diversify your skill set for your employer who has had to modify services or products in response to COVID-19 (underemployed refers to working less than 20 hours per week or earning a wage that is not meeting an individual’s basic financial needs);
• Have exhausted all other fee support programs; and
• Can demonstrate a commitment to learning by contributing a reasonable portion of the costs associated with training
• Other eligibility criteria may apply.

You may keep applying for tuition support until you have used up the full $1,000 limit. After you’ve used $1,000, you must wait five years to reapply.

How to Apply

The program accepts applications year-round. Tuition fees are paid directly to the training institution.

If you are self-employed, or at risk of being laid off or becoming underemployed due to COVID- 19 call 1.844.427.1798 for further details.

If you are currently unemployed, underemployed or temporarily laid off call your local WorkBC centre for further details and eligibility criteria, see numbers below.