Skills Training for Employment

Kootenay Career Development Society has been contracted by Ministry of Social Development – Employment and Labour Market Services to assist eligible participants to connect to funding for training or education that will help them find and maintain employment. Important Skills Training is often a necessity.

This program is meant for individuals who are having trouble finding work because they have a lack of skills. It is also meant for individuals who have been out of the workforce for some time and find their skills are out of date.

Eligibility Criteria

• Individuals must be currently on regular EI benefits or have had a regular EI claim expire within the past 3 years or have had a maternity/parental claim expire within the past 5 years and are re-entering the workforce.
• Individuals are unemployed, entitled to work in Canada and looking for full-time employment.
• The school or training institute you want to attend must be registered with the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA).
• Individuals are expected to contribute a portion of the financial cost of the training they are requesting. Cost of training can include books, tuition and living expenses during the training period.

This program is not designed for individuals wanting to make a career change. If a participant has existing relevant skills in their field, they are expected to make every effort to find employment with their existing skills.

Application Process

• Make an appointment with a KCDS employment counsellor to discuss your employment needs.
• Develop a “return-to-work” action plan that details career research and labour market information related to your career goal.
• The employment counsellor will make a referral appointment for you to present your action plan to the Skills Development Employment Benefits service provider who will evaluate your training proposal and make a decision on whether or not to fund the training.

Please Note:

The process of applying and receiving approval for training takes time. Allow yourself 4 – 6 weeks before the start of your training to do the necessary research and work on your return to work action plan.

Further details regarding this Government of British Columbia initiative can be accessed by clicking here.