Financial Incentives & FAQs

Skilled Trades BC / ITABC

Information regarding Grants, Tax Credits, Canada Apprentice Loan

Financial Support | SkilledTradesBC | Training tax credit for apprentices - Province of British
Columbia | Tuition Tax Credit - Canada.ca

Visit the Skilled Trades BC Website

Lather / Wall & Ceiling Installer Red Seal Program

Funding: Apprenticeship Incentive Grant

Change to Apprenticeship Incentive Grant
Note: The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG) ended March 31, 2025. Applications are no longer being accepted.

The Government of Canada will continue to support apprentices financially as they are unemployed and progress through their technical training. Apprentices can access Employment Insurance benefits and up to $20,000 in interest-free Canada Apprentice Loans. Apprentices can apply for a CAL as early as 3 months before the start of their technical training and can receive funding as early as day one of their training while they wait for their Employment Insurance claim to be processed for payment.

Project funding for organizations providing apprenticeship support to individuals is available under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy.

Visit Supports for skilled trades and apprenticeship for information.

Funding: Apprenticeship Completion Grant

Change to Apprenticeship Completion Grant
Note: The Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG) ended on March 31, 2025. Applications are no longer accepted.

The Government of Canada will continue to support apprentices financially as they are unemployed and progress through their technical training. Apprentices can access Employment Insurance benefits and up to $20,000 in interest-free Canada Apprentice Loans. Apprentices can apply for a CAL as early as 3 months before the start of their technical training and can receive funding as early as day one of their training while they wait for their Employment Insurance claim to be processed for payment.

Project funding for organizations providing apprenticeship support to individuals is available under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy.

Visit Supports for skilled trades and apprenticeship for information.

Training tax credit for apprentices

The training tax credit provides refundable income tax credits for apprentices enrolled in programs administered through SkilledTradesBC.  Budget 2025 proposes to extend the training tax credit for apprentices by three years to December 31, 2028.

Budget 2025 also proposes to continue the $500 enhanced tax credit for eligible apprentices who complete level 1 or 2 of an eligible Red Seal program. Find more information Here.

Canada Apprentice Loan

At the start of Level 1, 2 or 3 you can apply for a Canada Apprentice Loan for up to $4,000

The Canada Apprentice Loan is available to help registered Red Seal apprentices cover the cost of their training.

What You Need to Know

The Government of Canada offers apprentices registered in a Red Seal Trade apprenticeship program up to $4,000 per period of technical training.

You can get Canada Apprentice Loans for up to 5 periods of technical training.

Your loan will be interest-free for up to 6 years as long as you are confirmed as being registered in a Red Seal Trade apprenticeship program.

You do not have to make any loan payments as long as your loan is in interest-free status.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must meet all of these criteria:

• be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person;
• be registered in a Red Seal Trade apprenticeship program that is designated by the province or territory where you are registered as an apprentice;
• be enrolled in block release technical training or the equivalent full-time technical training with an approved technical training provider; and
• pass a credit check (required if you are applying for the first time).

You Are NOT Eligible If You:

• are a high school student;
• are an apprentice registered in the province of Quebec;
• are receiving a Canada Student Loan for the same technical training;
• have been told that you are restricted from receiving a Canada Apprentice Loan or a Canada Student Loan;
• have already received funding for 5 periods of technical training; or have already received 6 years of interest-free status.

Find Out More

Frequently Asked Questions