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Employment & Training Programs and Services

Published Date: September 19, 2019
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General Programs and Services Eligibility

Length of Training

Maximum Duration of Training Service Plans

AUTHORITY

Income Support, Training and Health Benefits Regulation, Sections 44(2-6),  57 and 97(1)(h)

INTENT

The Government of Alberta supports participation in the type and duration of training needed to allow an individual to move towards further education or employment, while remaining accountable for the use of public funds.

POLICY
Eligible individuals may receive support to attend Alberta Works approved training on a full-time basis for up to 20 months for any of the following learning streams:

  • English Language 
  • Basic Skills (Grades 1-9) 
  • Academic Upgrading (Grades 10-12) 
  • Training for Work


Exceptions to the 20 month learning stream maximum

The Basic Skills learning stream can be extended up to 30 months for individuals with limited primary education. Limited primary education is defined as an individual assessed as functioning at the primary level (grades 1-3).

The Academic Upgrading learning stream can be extended up to 30 months for eligible youth to achieve the credits required to complete a high school diploma. Eligible youth are between 16 and 19 years of age and are attending a full-time education program under Alberta’s Education Act and receiving Learner Income Support. 

The rationale for the exception must be documented in Mobius.

Eligible individuals may receive support up to 30 months when combining learning streams.

Exceptions to the 30 month maximum:

Individuals assessed with low literacy levels and/or low levels of education can receive up to an additional 10 months. This exception allows individuals additional time to acquire the basic language skills necessary for employment or to acquire the academic pre-requisites for an achievable employment goal.

The following individuals may be considered: 

  1. English as a Second Language (ESL) Literacy participants– assessed as functioning within Canadian Language Literacy Benchmarks, phases I to IV (reading, listening, writing and speaking).
  2. Participants with limited primary education – assessed as functioning at the primary level (grades 1-3).


Persons with permanent disabilities may be approved by an HS Authorized Official to take a reduced course load so they can achieve the certification needed for employment, or acquire the academic pre-requisites for an achievable employment goal. The length of training will vary depending on the nature of the individual's disability. The maximum duration of employment and training benefits may not exceed 50 months.

To calculate the number of months for which training benefits are provided, refer to the Counting Months of Training Benefits policy.

Part-time Training– Skills Investment Bursary is not considered for the purposes of calculating months of training benefits.

Subsequent Training Service Plans

Subsequent training service plans will not be approved if it has been less than 48 months since the learner last attended training.

Exceptions to returning to training before the 48 months has elapsed can be considered. Individuals must participate in a Service Needs Determination Assessment and/or an Employability Assessment to determine their suitability for further training. The type of assessment will be determined by the complexity of the individual’s past and current situation.

For exemptions for a Subsequent Training Service Plan, please refer to the business process.