Trades & Apprenticeship Funding · SkilledTradesBC & Canada
Money for apprentices in BC
Facts checked 7 September 2026
Money that keeps you paid while you are at school for your trade.
Funding Amount
EI, loan up to $20,000, tax credits
Amounts and rules change. Confirm on the official page. Last checked 7 September 2026.
Intake & Deadline
Apply before each level starts
Program Overview
Apprentices work most of the year and spend six to ten weeks per level at a college. Three supports cover that time: Employment Insurance, the Canada Apprentice Loan and the BC Training Tax Credit. The old federal grants of $1,000 and $2,000 per level ended on 31 March 2025.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Who qualifies
- You are registered with SkilledTradesBC as an apprentice.
- You are attending technical training for a level.
- For EI, you have enough insurable hours; apply with the training reference code.
COVERAGE & EXPENSES
What it pays
- EI regular benefits while you are in class.
- Canada Apprentice Loan: $4,000 interest-free per level, up to $20,000, paid from day one while EI is processed.
- BC Training Tax Credit: for levels 1 and 2, $1,000 per level in a non-Red Seal trade and $500 per level in a Red Seal trade; $2,000 when you complete level 3 and $2,500 for level 4. First Nations apprentices and persons with disabilities get 50 percent more. The credit ends on 31 December 2028.
APPLICATION PROCESS
How to apply
- 1
Apply for the Canada Apprentice Loan up to three months before your class starts.
- 2
Apply for EI as soon as class starts, using the reference code from SkilledTradesBC.
- 3
Claim the BC Training Tax Credit on your tax return after you complete a level.
IMPORTANT DATES
Deadline
- EI: within four weeks of starting class.
- Loan: up to three months before.
- Tax credit: with your tax return.
MORE TRADES & TRAINING SUPPORTS
Other targeted training grants
BladeRunners
Who: Ages 15 to 30.
What: Free tickets and job placement.
How: Contact a local BladeRunners service provider through WorkBC.
Women in Trades Training
Who: Women in BC.
What: Free foundation programs and tickets at colleges.
How: Apply through participating public colleges or SkilledTradesBC.
BC Trucking Association Class 1 grant
Who: Unemployed or underemployed.
What: Up to $15,000 plus $3,000.
How: Apply through a BC Trucking Association member company.
Employer Training Grant
Who: BC employers and their workers.
What: Your employer gets 80 percent back, up to $10,000.
How: Your employer applies online through WorkBC.
Official Sources & Verification
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the federal apprenticeship grants still available?
No. The Apprenticeship Incentive and Completion Grants ended on 31 March 2025.
Do I pay tax on EI while in class?
Yes, like regular EI.