Apprentice Services

You may be eligible for temporary financial support during the in-school portion of your apprenticeship program. Two types of financial supports are available while attending apprentice classroom training.

Employment Insurance benefits are provided through Service Canada. To determine if you’re eligible for this financial support, visit Service Canada - Applying for Employment Insurance.

WorkBC Apprentice Services Financial Support is managed by the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, to help with your expenses while you attend in-school training.

It may cover:

• Living supports to assist with basic living expenses, such as food, shelter and utilities
• Dependent care / childcare expenses – new cost that is a result of participating in training
• Commuting costs for daily commuting to and from the training location
• Travel costs for relocation to a temporary residence while in training at the beginning and end of training
• Disability related costs - new cost that is a result of participating in training. Applied after training institution accommodations, and provincial and federal disability supports for training are exhausted 
• Living away from home costs to maintain a temporary residence during training

The Online Employment Services portal

The Online Employment Services (OES) portal is a secure portal that lets you connect with WorkBC electronically. It is a simple, confidential way to find services and financial assistance to support your apprenticeship training.

You can use The OES portal to:

• Complete an application for WorkBC services
• Upload documents to support your application
• Communicate directly with WorkBC Centre staff
• View your personal action plan

You must apply for WorkBC Apprentice Services Financial Support through the Online Employment Services portal if any of the following applies:

• You have an employer sponsor or an Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program (ISET) sponsor
• You have a union hiring hall
• You are unemployed with pre-existing SkilledTradesBC registration and are attached to your employer sponsor, but at the time you request financial support, you do not have a specific return-to-work date to attend classroom technical training
• You are unemployed and without an employer sponsor, but at the time you request financial support, you have an active SkilledTradesBC apprentice registration to attend classroom technical training
  • Please note that the SkilledTradesBC keeps registration active for 18 months from the date an apprentice loses his or her employer sponsor

How to apply

1. To begin your online application, visit Online Employment Services
2. When prompted, use the BC Services Card App or your Basic BCeID to login and start your application. If you don't have the BC Services Card app installed or don't have a Basic BCeID, follow the links provided in the online application process
3. Once you have completed the questions, submit your application. Your application will then be sent to the WorkBC Apprentice Services Contractor
4. You will receive an email notification via the OES regarding EI Reference Code once you have submitted your completed application. Be sure to check your junk mail if you don't see it in your inbox. If you do not receive an email before your course start date, please contact your WorkBC Apprentice Services Contractor 
5. Once you have received the email, login to the OES with either the BC Services Card app or your Basic BCeID to retrieve your EI Reference Code. More information can be found in the document Retrieving your EI Reference Code (PDF, <1MB)
6. To apply for employment insurance (EI), visit the Service Canada website and click on the 'apply for employment insurance' link. You will need to have your EI Reference Code ready to complete the EI application process. 
7. Once you have begun your training course, the WorkBC Apprentice Services Contractor will confirm with the training institution that you are in attendance. Once this has been confirmed, you will receive a notification that your application is being processed
8. Your WorkBC Apprentice Services Contractor will contact you to let you know if you will get financial support

If at any time you have questions or concerns regarding the application process, please contact your WorkBC Apprentice Services Contractor or the apprentice services email: info@workbc-apprenticeservices.com