B.C. Employer Training Grant
Get up to 80% of your training back
Who qualifies, what to set up, how long each step takes, and how the money comes back. Everything you need before we talk.
80%
of eligible tuition reimbursed
$10,000
maximum per participant / fiscal year
$300,000
maximum per employer / fiscal year
Step 0
Does your business qualify?
- Your business operates in B.C. Self-employed people qualify too, and can be both the applicant and the participant.
- It has been fully operational for at least one year, and registered with BC Registries for that long, when you apply.
- It has a Canada Revenue Agency business number.
- It has a business licence if your municipality requires one, or proof you are exempt.
- It is in good standing with the Province.
Provincial and federal government employers, Crown corporations, health authorities and public post-secondary institutions are not eligible.
Who can be trained
People aged 16 or over who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons, and who work for you, are self-employed, or are someone you plan to hire. Temporary foreign workers and international students are not eligible. Training a family member? Email WorkBC when you apply to explain why.
The money
You pay, then 80% comes back
The grant is a reimbursement. The business pays our invoice in full, then claims the government's share. Two examples, before GST:
| Program | You pay | Grant returns | Your cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build Your Own AI Assistant, 1 person | $2,000 | $1,600 | $400 |
| AI Operations, 3 people | $9,000 | $7,200 | $1,800 |
The criteria do not say whether GST is reimbursed, so plan as if it is not. The grant counts as taxable income for the business. Prices for every program are on the Programs page.
Timeline
From first call to money back
Allow about three months from your first call to your training day. Most of that is the grant decision.
- 01
Day 1
Book a call with us
We pick the programs, the people, and training dates that leave room for the grant decision. You then get everything the application asks about the training: the course outline, instructor, hours, cost, and our provider details.
- 02
Up to 2 weeks
Get a Business BCeID
Register online in about 15 minutes. Depending on your business type, BCeID may ask you to confirm your identity in person at a Service BC location, with two pieces of original ID. WorkBC says a new BCeID can take up to two weeks, so start here.
- 03
Before training
Apply, one application per program
Log in to the Skills Training Grants System, set up your user and organization profiles, and start an application for each program. Each participant gets an email to fill in their own Participant Information Form. Once theirs are in, you submit.
- 04
Within 60 days
Get the decision
WorkBC answers within 60 days: approved, denied, or returned unassessed. Applications are assessed in priority order, and first-time applicants and small businesses are among the priorities. Apply at least 60 days before your training date.
- 05
Before training
Pay the invoice
Once your application is approved, the business pays the Brydge Academy invoice in full, from a business account, before the session (see our Terms). Participants cannot pay for their own training.
- 06
Training day
Your team trains
In person, at your location. Each participant completes the hands-on assessment and receives a certificate of completion.
- 07
Within 30 days
Claim the 80% back
Within 30 days after training starts, submit your reimbursement claim in the same system with the paid invoice and proof of payment. The grant returns 80% of the approved cost.
- 08
After training
Send the completion report
Once everyone has finished, you submit a short Employer Completion Report in the same system.
Three rules that trip people up
- Apply before training starts. An application cannot be submitted after the training start date.
- One program per application. Two programs means two applications.
- The business answers for itself. You submit the application and answer the questions about your business. Nobody else can apply for you or use your BCeID login.
Before you apply
What to have ready
- Your CRA business number
- Proof of one year in operation: a Notice of Assessment, business bank statements, or paid invoices
- Your business licence, or proof you are exempt
- The name and email of each person you want trained
- Two pieces of original, unexpired ID, in case BCeID asks you to verify in person
We provide the rest: course outlines, instructor details, hours, costs, and our provider information.
Training a team?
Let's talk about group pricing
Several people, several programs, or several companies in one group? We put together a plan and a price for the whole team, schedule sessions around your operations, and prepare the training details for every application.
Brydge Credit
Training that keeps paying off
Programs with Brydge Academy also earn Brydge Credit, which you can put toward work on your business with Brydge Group: a website, automations, or a dashboard. We explain how it works for your business when we talk.
Questions
Frequently asked
How much does the grant cover?
Up to 80% of eligible training costs, to a maximum of $10,000 per participant and $300,000 per employer each fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).
Do I pay first?
Yes. The grant is a reimbursement: once the application is approved, the business pays the invoice in full before training, then claims 80% back within 30 days after training starts. Participants cannot pay for their own training.
Can Brydge Academy apply for me?
No. The employer applies with its own Business BCeID, and training providers cannot apply on your behalf or use your login. We give you every detail the application needs about the training, and we are a call away while you fill it in.
Can training start before the grant is approved?
Training cannot start before you submit the application. It can start before the decision, but if the application is denied or returned unassessed, the business pays the full cost. That is why we plan dates at least 60 days after you apply.
I have several programs or a whole team. Is that one application?
One application per program, with as many participants as you need in each. There is no limit to the number of applications.
Is GST covered?
The criteria do not say. Plan as if it is not, and ask WorkBC at ETG@gov.bc.ca if it matters for your budget.
Is the grant taxable?
Yes. WorkBC says the amount an employer receives is taxable. Check with your accountant.
The official rules
This page summarizes WorkBC's criteria in plain words. The Ministry decides every application at its sole discretion, and approval is not an endorsement of any provider or course. We can't guarantee a grant outcome. Questions about the grant itself go to WorkBC at ETG@gov.bc.ca.
Next step
Book a call with us
We pick your programs and dates together, and you leave with a clear list of what to set up. Start your Business BCeID now if you don't have one yet.