Are you an apprentice in a Red Seal trade working towards your apprenticeship program, or have recently completed your program? Do you want some help paying for your expenses? If so, you should check out these grants offered by the Canadian government. Find out if you’re eligible and how you can apply:

The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant

Grant amount: $1,000 per level (up to $2,000)

Have you completed your first year/level of your apprenticeship program? You could be eligible for the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant. This grant is meant to help you pay for your expenses while you train as an apprentice in a Red Seal trade. You must complete your first year/level (or equivalent) to apply for the AIG, and you can apply for your second AIG after completing your second year/level (or equivalent) of training.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for this grant, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
• not be a high school student
• demonstrate registration and completion of your level
• be registered as an apprentice in a Red Seal trade with a provincial/territorial apprenticeship authority

Click here for more information about the AIG.

Apprenticeship Completion Grant

Grant amount: $2,000

The Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG) is a one-time taxable grant of $2,000 intended for registered apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeship program and also get their journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for the ACG, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
• not be a high school student
• demonstrate completion of an eligible apprenticeship program
• be a certified journeyperson who completed your apprenticeship training in a designated Red Seal trade

Click here for more information about the ACG.

How to apply for the AIG and ACG

There are four steps you’ll need to take to apply for these grants:

1. Gather your supporting documents — these documents are determined by your province/territory, but may include documents like your certificate of apprenticeship or a confirmation of progression letter

2. Gather your personal info — social insurance number, provincial or territorial apprentice ID number, and banking info for direct deposit

3. Complete your online application — it takes approximately 28 days for Service Canada to process your application and make a decision

4. Submit your supporting documents within 28 days of your application — you can do this online, by mail, or in person

The deadline to submit your application for these grants is 12 months after your date of progression (AIG) or your date of completion (ACG), and then your deadline to submit your supporting documents is within 28 days of submitting your application. Your date of progression is determined by when you finish your technical and on-the-job training portion of your program.

So, if your progression or completion date is December 15, 2023, then you’d have until December 15, 2024 to submit your application.

For more information on eligibility criteria, grant tax information, and how to apply, check out the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant and the Apprenticeship Completion Grant.

Also, if you were a tradesperson this past year, did you know you could get a deduction on your taxes for the tools you bought? You could get a maximum deduction of $500 determined by a formula, which you can learn more about here.