Financial supports for apprentices
Learn about the provincial and federal financial supports for apprentices, find out if you qualify and how to apply.
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 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
We will send an email with an application link to all apprentices who are eligible 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 Employment 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 the ministry
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 your local Employment Ontario apprenticeship office to speak with an Employment Training Consultant.
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 training in a Red Seal trade
The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG) and the Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG) will be ending on March 31, 2025. Applications for these grants will not be accepted by the federal government after this date. Please visit the Government of Canada’s Apprenticeship Grants page for additional details.
Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG)
These are taxable cash grants of $1,000 per year level of schooling, up to a maximum of $2,000 per person, for those who are out of high school and training in a Red Seal trade.
To qualify for the first grant, you must have:
- been a registered apprentice for at least 12 months
- passed your first level of classroom training
To qualify for the second grant, you must have:
- been a registered apprentice for at least 24 months
- passed your second level of classroom training
Deadline to apply
You must apply within 12 months following your date of training progression.
You apply to the federal government for both grants. Learn more about qualifying and applying for the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant.
Apprenticeship Completion Grant
This one-time $2,000 taxable cash grant is available to those who are out of high school and have successfully completed their apprenticeship program in a Red Seal trade.
To qualify, you must have received your Certificate of Apprenticeship and your Certificate of Qualification in a Red Seal trade.
Deadline to apply
You must apply within 12 months following your date of program completion.
You apply to the federal government for this grant. Learn more about qualifying and applying for the Apprenticeship Completion Grant.
Other federal programs 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:
- gotten 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.
Deadline to apply
You can apply for the bonus year-round.
We will send you an application when you are eligible to apply for this provincial bonus. For more information, contact your local apprenticeship office.