Financial Supports
One of the many benefits of apprenticeship is that you can graduate debt free. Use this tool to search for scholarships, bursaries, tax credits, tool credits and loans for which you qualify.
Don’t forget to inquire if there are additional financial supports available through:
- Your province/territory who offers grade 12 graduation scholarships.
- The Office of the Registrar at your post-secondary institution.
- The company who employs your parent/guardian/yourself.
- Your local bank.
- Your union.
National Indigenous Scholarships
Veterans
Elgibility: a class member or a class member’s spouse, child, grandchild, niece, nephew, son-in-law or daughter-in-law as selected by the class member. The eligible applicant must have pursued post-secondary studies sometime over the last five academic years (2018-2019 to 2022-2023).
Deadline: June 30 @ 1:00 EST (no deadline extensions)
Eligibility: transitioning and former military members entering the building trades
Eligibility: honorably released from the Canadian Armed Forces
- $86 671.95 of funding for individuals who have 12 years of CAF Service
- $43 335.98 of funding for individuals who have 6 years of CAF Service
- Funding available for up to 10 years following your release date.
National Scholarships
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/apprentices.html
Funding opportunities for skilled trades apprentices
Funding opportunities for employers
Tool Reimbursement Allowance
LEARN MORE
Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit
A non-refundable investment tax credit equal to 10% of the salaries and wages payable to eligible apprentices (maximum of $2,000/year for each eligible apprentice).
LEARN MORE
Capital Costs Allowance
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Eligibility: high school graduate in financial need who has overcome adversity, is enrolled in a three year or less career or technical degree/certificate program, under the age of 30, and is a Canadian citizen.
Application OPENS: March 15
Eligibility: students in any year of study pursuing a future in Canada’s automotive industry in skilled trades, engineering, cross border logistics, and policy leadership.
Deadline: September 30
Eligibility: Canadian, American, or Australian female citizen or permanent resident enrolled in a full-time post-secondary skilled trades program.
Deadline: June 30
Deadline: August 31
Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: student continuing their education at a college, university, or vocational school whose parent or guardian is employed (or has history of employment) with a company who is a member or partner of the Pipe Line Contractors Association of Canada.
Deadline: mid-October
Eligibility: individuals pursuing the piping trades or piping apprenticeship.
(numerous mechanical contracting industry financial awards)
Eligibility: registered apprentices in a mechanical contracting trade
Deadline: August 12
Eligibility: student enrolled (full-time or part-time) in an occupational health and safety related course or program leading to an occupational health and safety certificate, diploma or degree at an accredited college or university in Canada. Programs include mine safety, occupational or industrial health and safety, industrial hygiene, safety management or other related safety degree programs.
Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: A foster child of an official Canadian or American foster care program enrolled as a full-time student at a general/vocational college or post-secondary and is age 24 or younger.
Deadline: September 1
Search for funding by program or by post-secondary institution
Custom tools, resources, advice, and funding for Canadian students.
Hundreds of scholarships available across Canada specifically for students with disabilities.
Wondering how to budget? Looking to learn about credit or for advice on debt?
A free Canadian service which can teach you how to budget, learn about credit & consolidate debt.
Alberta
Scholarships, grants, and bursaries for students applying to any post-secondary in Alberta.
Student scholarships, bursaries, grants, loans and band funding.
British Columbia
Find loans and grants available to youth, adult, and Indigenous students.
For students in the foster care system:
Eligibility:
- A B.C. resident at the end of December 31 of the taxation year claiming the credit,
- Registered with the ITA as an apprentice in an eligible program (PDF), and
- Not enrolled in a public high school, registered in a home-schooling program or attending an independent school
Eligibility: a member in good standing, enrolled in a union-recognized trades training program, and the submission of a 250-word essay on the topic of “Commitment to Trade Union Principles.”
Deadline: June 30
Eligibility: a child or legal ward of a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 entering first year studies in any discipline at a recognized Canadian college, university or vocational school as a full-time student.
Deadline: September 30
Eligibility:
- financial need.
- proof of enrolment, tuition payment and transcripts in a vocational, technical, or technological program at a public Canadian post-secondary
- a recent letter of reference from a credit union, coach or other individual who speaks to your community involvement and shared credit union values.
- BC resident who is a Canadian Citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or designated as a protected person.
- applicants attending accredited private schools will only be considered if the program is not offered at a public school. Applicants must provide a statement as to why they are not attending a public school and provide a receipt for tuition.
CUFBC has three application periods:
- Winter: January 1 – February 15
- Spring: May 1 – June 15
- Fall: September 1 – October 15
These bursaries provide supplemental assistance to assist disadvantaged youth pursue higher education in academic, vocational or technological programs at B.C. educational facilities.
Various grants, scholarships, bursaries, and funding for individuals living in British Columbia.
Manitoba
- Counselling and assistance to develop an employment plan.
- Access to information on occupations and training opportunities (including apprenticeship, occupation and/or skills training, co-operative education programs, academic upgrading, literacy and/or English as a Second Language)
- Access to the Manitoba Student Aid Program to fund training for 12 weeks to two years
Financial support for:
- tuition
- living allowance
- living away from home allowance
- commuting
- childcare
- textbooks
- any additional allowances.
- Support for essential skills (such as reading, math, interpersonal communication and computers).
- Special accommodations for examinations (due to a disability; language barrier requiring translator or reader; or requirement of additional time).
- Funding offered to cover expenses such as living allowances and childcare.
New Brunswick
A tuition rebate (lump-sum payment) equal to amount the apprentice paid for tuition (eg. the number of weeks of training x $85.00 per week).
Newfoundland & Labrador
Loans and grants are available to access and pay for post-secondary education. StudentAidNL will assess you for both federal and provincial financial assistance with one application.
Building Trades of Newfoundland & Labrador Post-Secondary Entrance Scholarships (10 X $1000)
Eligibility: Awarded to a Trades NL Member or a dependent of a Trades NL Member who is a resident of Newfoundland & Labrador, has completed high school, and is enrolled full-time at a recognized post-secondary (university, college, trade school).
For teachers: Education School Grant (20 x $1000)
Funding for student enrichment initiatives in schools to support programming, resources, and equipment.
Eligibility: a permanent resident of Newfoundland & Labrador who is a full-time student entering her first year of a skilled trade or technology post-secondary program.
Deadline: September 30
Northwest Territories
Eligibility: permanent residents of their respective territory attending an educational institution with plans to work in the construction industry (including high school and college/university students).
Deadline: May 30
Deadline: May 24
Eligibility: UNW members in good standing and current/retired/deceased members’ spouses and relatives enrolled in full-time study who’s permanent residence is Canada.
Deadline: June 30
Nova Scotia
A taxable award of $750 upon successfully completing each level of apprenticeship training. See the website for award details upon completing the final level of the trade.
Apprentices in Nova Scotia may be eligible to receive additional benefits such as financial assistance to cover costs associated with training, childcare, living away from home, travel assistance, commuting allowance and disability allowance.
Ontario
https://www.supportontarioyouth.ca/scholarships/
Support Ontario Youth Education Scholarships (10 x $500)
Eligibility:
An apprentice in the following trades: electrical (construction), plumbing, motive power, millwright, general machinist, refrigeration & air conditioning, sheet metal, tool & die maker, mould maker, industrial electrician
Deadline: October 31
BOLT Women in Construction Scholarships (4 x $500 awards)
Eligibility: A female registered apprentice (between age 17-29) working in a construction trade and living in the GTA.
Successful recipients receive $500 and are connected to a female mentor from their own or similar trade to help provide additional career advice and support.
Multiple scholarships are awarded throughout the year:
- January 1 – March 31
- April 1 – June 30
- July 1 to September 30
- October 1 – December 31
BOLT Financial Awards are offered to students pursuing construction-related college or university programs. Successful candidates receive $3,000 to $5,000 for the school year, depending on the type and length of their program.
Eligibility: A Canadian citizen or permanent resident between the ages of 17-29 living in the GTA who is enrolled as a full-time student in a construction related program.
Two $3,000 scholarships awarded to students who identify as Indigenous, First Nations, or Metis.
Eligibility: A Canadian citizen or permanent resident between the ages of 17-29 living in the GTA who is enrolled as a full-time student in a construction related program.
CBTU (Ontario) Canada seeks to fulfill the dream of Black trade unionists who, throughout their labour history in Canada, have courageously and unremittingly struggled to build a national movement that brings collective strength and varied talents to bare in an unending effort to achieve economic, political and social justice for all.
Skills training for in-demand jobs and financial support.
Up to $28,000 for costs, including:
- tuition
- books
- other instructional costs, including student fees, supplies and electronic devices
- transportation
- basic living allowance (up to $500 per week)
Additional funding may be available for:
- childcare
- disability-related supports
- living away from home
- Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) and/or language training
Tools grant for apprentices:
- $1,000 for motive power trades
- $600 for construction trades
- $600 for industrial trades
- $400 for service trades
Eligibility:
- completed, or been exempted from, level one in-class training, on or after April 1, 2020
- a registered training agreement
- registered as an apprentice for at least 12 months
The Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit. The tax credit is based on salaries and wages paid to an apprentice during the first 36 months of an apprenticeship program. Qualifying businesses can claim 25% of eligible expenditures (30% for small businesses). The maximum credit for each apprenticeship is $5,000 per year. The maximum credit over the first 36-month period of the apprenticeship is $15,000.
Prince Edward Island
SkillsPEI will pay up to 70% of course costs. Applicants may be eligible for travel and childcare costs.
Eligible Islanders can apply to receive Employment Insurance (EI) while attending post-secondary training.
Eligibility: Students apply in their graduating year and are registered in the Youth Apprenticeship Program with at least 250 hours of paid work experience.
Award: $1,000 (combined $500 bursary + $500 tuition credit to Holland College)
Workplace Skills Training is a program developed for employers to train new or existing employees to develop their skills aligned with the business’ needs. Up to 50% of the direct training costs can be contributed by SkillsPEI.
Saskatchewan
A tax rebate, up to $20,000, to graduates who remain in Saskatchewan and file a Saskatchewan income tax return.
Yukon
https://yukon.ca/en/education-and-schools/financial-support-students/find-non-government-scholarship
Yukon Foundation Scholarships and Grants
Deadline: May 31
Ed Chambers Scholarship (2 x $1000)
Eligibility: Canadian citizen who has lived in the Yukon for at least one year and is a first-year pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship student in the following electrical related programs: electrician, power line technician, electronics technician, heavy duty mechanic, industrial instrument mechanic, industrial mechanics (millwright) or machinist.
Deadline: June 30 @ 4 p.m.
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