Overview

The Ontario government provides financial support to apprentices. During your time working and studying, you can get funding:

  • to help you buy tools you need for your trade
  • once you complete your apprenticeship and receive your certificate
  • if you are studying full-time
  • if you have a disability

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development primarily communicates with apprentices via email. Make sure your contact information is up to date with Skilled Trades Ontario to ensure you receive correspondence on the following programs.

Support for apprentices in any trade

Tools grant

The Tools Grant is a non-repayable, taxable cash grant available for Ontario apprentices to help pay for trade-related tools and equipment.

The amount of the grant depends on the type of trade you’re apprenticing in. The grant amounts are as follows:

  • $1,000 for motive power trades
  • $600 for construction trades
  • $600 for industrial trades
  • $400 for service trades

View the full list of trades.

Eligibility

To qualify for the grant, you must have:

  • completed, or been exempted from, level one in-class training, on or after April 1, 2020
  • a registered training agreement
  • been registered as an apprentice for at least 12 months

How to apply

All apprentices who are eligible will receive an email with an application link to apply for this provincial grant.

You can also apply online if you think you qualify for the grant.

For any questions about the Tools Grant, please contact Skilled Trades Ontario.

Apprentice Development Benefit

The Apprentice Development Benefit provides financial assistance for apprentices while they are attending full-time, in-class training at a ministry-approved training delivery agent. Eligible costs can include:

  • basic living expenses
  • dependent care
  • commuting and travel
  • expenses for living away from home
  • special assistance for persons with disabilities

Eligibility

To qualify for the benefit, you must be:

  • attending class on a full-time basis
  • registered as an apprentice with Skilled Trades Ontario

How to apply

When you begin your in-class training, you will be provided with:

  • an application package that includes instructions about how to apply
  • the application form

If you have started your in-class training and did not receive the package, please contact Skilled Trades Ontario.

Support for apprentices with disabilities

This program is offered through Ontario's 24 Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology to help people with disabilities participate in:

  • apprenticeship programs
  • pre-apprenticeship programs
  • Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Programs

The program supports the accommodation and accessibility needs of apprentices with disabilities attending colleges across Ontario and aims to:

  • improve access for apprentices with disabilities
  • ensure apprentices with disabilities receive individualized services and have access to tools and technologies, such as:
    • interpreters
    • note-takers
    • offices for apprentices with disabilities
    • transcription of educational materials
  • help apprentices with disabilities make a successful transition to postsecondary education and employment

Eligibility

To be eligible, apprentices (part-time or full-time) seeking assistance must contact the office that provides services for students with disabilities at their local college offering their training.

Disability eligibility is defined by the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Policy and Guidelines on Disability and the Duty to Accommodate (2001) and Guidelines on Accessible Education (2004), which are permanent or temporary in nature.

How to apply

This funding is provided directly to college training delivery agents. Please reach out to the office that provides services to students with disabilities at your college for information on supports that may be available as part of your training.

Support for apprentices in Red Seal trades

Apprentices training in a Red Seal trade can apply for up to $4,000 in interest-free loans through the Canada Apprentice Loan.

Get more information about federal programs available to help you train and complete your apprenticeship in a Red Seal trade.

Support for training in a non-Red Seal trade

Apprenticeship Completion Bonus

This $2,000 taxable cash grant is available to those who are out of high school and have completed their training in a non-Red Seal trade.

To qualify, you must have:

  • received your Certificate of Apprenticeship in a trade that either:
    • does not have a certifying exam, or
    • has only a provincial (non-Red Seal) certifying exam
  • been issued a Certificate of Apprenticeship or Certificate of Qualification no more than 180 days prior to the date you are applying.

Skilled Trades Ontario will send you an application when you are eligible to apply for this provincial bonus. For more information, contact Skilled Trades Ontario.

Ontario’s employer supports

Employers who sponsor and train apprentices may be eligible for grants to help ease the cost of training. The Achievement Incentive Program may help more employers take on apprentices to build Ontario’s apprenticeship and skilled trades pipeline.

Achievement Incentive Program

The Achievement Incentive is a grant program that:

  • helps employers train apprentices by reducing some of the cost of training
  • supports apprentice progression by giving grant payments to employers when their apprentices reach major milestones

The program offers up to $17,000 to eligible employers when apprentices meet training and certification milestones.

Registration

Employers can receive a $1,000 initial registration payment for each apprentice newly registered to Skilled Trades Ontario who is under the age of 25 and/or self-identifies as part of an under-represented group (for a maximum of $2,000, if applicable).

In-class training progression

Employers can receive a $1,000 milestone payment for each level of in-class training completed, up to 4 levels of schooling (where applicable).

Receive an additional $1,000 milestone payment for each apprentice under the age of 25 and/or apprentice that self-identifies as being part of an under-represented group (for a maximum of $12,000, where applicable).

Completion

Employers can receive a $1,000 milestone payment when your apprentice achieves the highest certification in their trade, either a Certificate of Apprenticeship or a Certificate of Qualification.

Receive an additional $1,000 for each apprentice under the age of 25 and/or apprentice that self-identifies as being part of an under-represented group (for a maximum of $3,000).

How to qualify

Eligible employer and group sponsors will:

  • automatically be notified by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development when their apprentices complete levels of in-class training and attain the highest level of trade certification
  • receive a web-link to apply electronically through a secure, one-time online application

Federal employer supports

In addition to the provincial funding, employers may be eligible for money from the federal government including:

Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit

This tax credit is equal to 10% of the apprentice salary. It is payable to eligible employers with a maximum of $2,000 per year, per apprentice for the first 2 years of the apprenticeship in Red Seal trades.

Federal wage subsidies and other assistance programs

These programs can help you hire the right employees for your business.