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Employment & Training Programs and Services

Published Date: July 07, 2021
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Career & Employment Information Services

Exposure Courses

AUTHORITY
Employment Insurance Act
Employment and Immigration Grant Regulation
Government Organization Act
Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA)
Workforce Development Agreement (WDA)
*Note: Labour Market Transfer Agreements (LMTAs) refers to the LMDA and WDA

INTENT

To provide general direction and considerations for Authorized Officials assessing individuals for Exposure Courses eligibility, and service management decisions. Exposure Courses is an element under Career and Employment Information Services. Exposure Courses provide job ready individuals with funding for short-term courses.

The objectives of Exposure Courses are:

  • to augment an individual’s job specific skills or provide the certification required to obtain employment in as short a period as possible, and
  • to respond to employer or industry need for skilled workers by providing short-term skills enhancement courses to individuals seeking to obtain/maintain employment, and
  • to meet conditions of employment in a specific occupation as prescribed by employer or industry expectations


Examples of eligible Exposure Courses are courses that teach specific skills required for a job:

  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
  • H2S Alive
  • Computer courses that are required for a specific job (e.g. Microsoft Office Word or Excel course)
  • Transportation of Dangerous Goods
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Standard First Aid
  • Fall Protection
  • Confined Space

    Note
    These are examples only and not an inclusive list.


Examples of courses ineligible as Exposure Courses are:

  • General courses that offer basic skills training required for a job 
  • Courses that do not lead directly to employment but to further training
  • Payment of exam fees
  • Courses that lead to an exam where the exam is not part of the course

    Note
    These are examples only and not an inclusive list.


POLICY

Eligible Individuals

To be eligible for an Exposure Course an individual must be:

  • an Alberta resident
  • a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or convention refugee and be legally entitled to work and train in Canada
  • unemployed or marginally employed,
  • job ready except for certain job specific skills that can be filled by training under two weeks in duration,
  • committed to seeking employment at the conclusion of their training
  • referred or self-referred to the Government of Alberta or contracted service provider for employment services
  • referred or self-referred to the Government of Alberta or contracted service provider for employment services
  • Assessed by an Authorized Official


In addition

  • The Individual must sign a WCB Acknowledgment to participate.
  • The individual must have a job offer or reasonable expectation of employment within one month of completing the Exposure Course.
  • If the complete assessment indicates the individual requires and will benefit from an Exposure Course, the individual is then referred to a specific training provider to take the needed Exposure Course(s).

Employment Insurance (EI) Reporting Instructions

Instructions outlining the required procedure for EI eligible learners/training participants to complete their EI reporting process can be accessed through the Tools section of the Manual. 

Expectations of the Individual

Individuals must:

  • adhere to the acceptable attendance and acceptable progress standards as outlined by the training provider providing the specific Exposure Course, and
  • provide information as requested.


Eligibility and Expectations of Contracted Service Providers

  • To be eligible to deliver Exposure Courses, the contracted service provider must meet the requirements as outlined in the contractual agreement signed with the Government of Alberta (see Training Providers, Obligations and Expectations).
  • The contracted service provider is an agent that acts on behalf of the Government of Alberta (third-party contract) and has overall responsibility for assessing individuals, arranging Exposure Courses, and meeting all specific contractual performance requirements to achieve objectives and deliverables.
  • The contracted service provider must ensure that the training provider is qualified to provide the specific Exposure Course and that the course leads to a skill set credential recognized by the employer.
  • The contracted service provider and the training provider may or may not be one and the same.


Training Providers

  • To be eligible to provide specific Exposure Courses, the training provider must meet the requirements as outlined in Government of Alberta legislation and policy and be able to deliver a course that leads to a skill set or credential recognized by industry.
  • Training providers providing specific Exposure Courses must deliver specific Exposure Courses as negotiated with the Government of Alberta/the contracted service provider.
  • The training provider provides the specific short-term training that is needed by the individual,
  • The training provider and the contracted service provider may or may not be one and the same.
  • Training providers must be third-party trainers separate and distinct from the employer.
  • The employer may not act as the training provider and the training provider may not employ the training recipient.
  • Training must be a main business activity of the training provider.


Program Components

Exposure courses are designed to offer short-term (maximum two weeks) training courses that:

  • Eliminate barriers to job search and employment
  • are a requirement for a specific job,
  • are structured to ensure completion at a set point in time,
  • are monitored by the provider for progress and completion,
  • lead to a skill set credential recognized by industry,
  • are offered in the Province of Alberta,


Exposure Courses must not be used to:

  • pay for exams for credentials, registration or professional status or fees,
  • support progression through sequential courses such as those offered at the beginner, intermediate or advanced level (e.g. computer courses), or 
  • support individuals to change occupations.


Exposure Courses are not intended to duplicate the Government of Alberta's Work Foundations or Training for Work programs.

Duration

  • Exposure Courses can be taken on a full-time or a part-time basis. 
  • Individuals are eligible to receive full-time Exposure Course funding for a maximum of 2 weeks per 12 month period (January 1 to December 31).
  • Individuals are eligible to receive part-time Exposure Course funding for a maximum of six weeks per 12 month period (January 1 to December 31).
  • Any combination of Exposure Courses cannot exceed the maximum number of weeks.
  • If an individual has exhausted the maximum number of eligible weeks for full-time Exposure Course funding they are not eligible to receive further funding for part-time Exposure Courses or vice-versa.


Funding Parameters

The Government of Alberta provides funding for Exposure Courses up to a maximum of $2,500 per 12 month period (January 1 to December 31). 

Note
Any combination of Exposure Courses must not exceed the maximum funding or duration per 12 month period (January 1 to December 31).
Procurement Method
  • When the Government of Alberta is the provider, the department assesses the individual and provides an approval letter to a specific training provider advising them to invoice the department so that the individual can access the Exposure Course.
  • When a contracted service provider makes referrals, details of the referral process are outlined in the contract.
  • Payment for Exposure Courses does not include GST.


Monitoring of Contracted Service Providers and Training Providers

The Government of Alberta is responsible for monitoring contract-based training.

PROCESS

Exposure Courses

RELATED POLICIES

Service Needs Determination        Needs Identification 
Employability Assessment        Service Plan
Service Management        Performance Measures