Employment Insurance and training programs

Taking training

You may want to take a course or training program while receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. You may be able to receive benefits if you take:

non-referred training
referred training

You may also be eligible for financial assistance through Canada Student Grants and Loans.

Before training starts

You should declare your training before your course or program starts. We’ll confirm if you can receive EI benefits while attending training.

If you start before declaring training

You must remain available and actively look for work while in training until we can confirm:

your ability to accept work is not affected by taking non-referred training
you have been approved by a designated authority to attend referred training

If we determine that your availability was affected while taking non-referred training, or if you’re not confirmed to attend referred training, you may not be entitled to the benefits you received and might have to pay them back.

Declare your training

If you’re planning to take training, it’s important to let us know.

For non-referred training

We need to know:

the name of the course and the training institution
the duration of the course and the number of hours per week you’ll be learning and studying
the level of the course
the best way to contact you
whether you’ll continue to look for work during the course and whether you would leave the course to accept a job

For referred training

We need to know:

the name and contact information of the training counsellor or referring authority
the start and end dates of the training
the name of the school or training institution

How to provide training information

You can tell us about your training by:

providing information when you apply for EI benefits
contacting the Employment Insurance Telephone Information Service during business hours
giving details when you complete your EI reports by internet or by telephone
completing the Training Course Information form and:
- uploading it in My Service Canada Account (MSCA)
- sending it by mail
- submitting it in person in a Service Canada office near you

After you declare training

Once we receive your course information, we’ll review your claim to determine if you can receive EI benefits while taking training.

For the duration of your course, you’ll confirm whether you’re in training when you complete your EI reports. It’s important to let us know if your course schedule changes.

If we deny benefits during your training, you’ll receive written notice. If you disagree with our decision, you can submit a request for reconsideration.

When training ends

You may continue receiving benefits after the training ends if you haven’t used all the weeks of benefits that you’re entitled to. However, if your training lasts longer than the number of weeks of EI benefits that you’re entitled to, no additional weeks will be provided to cover the entire length of the training.

If you leave or are expelled from referred training

If you leave or stop attending referred training with good cause^{Footnote 1}, you can continue to receive EI benefits as long as you’re available and actively looking for work. However, if you stop attending without good cause, or if you’re expelled from the program, you may no longer be eligible to receive EI benefits.

Non-referred training

Non-referred training is any course or program you choose to take without approval from Service Canada, your provincial or territorial government, or an Indigenous organization. This includes college or university courses, professional certifications, language learning, or other training programs.

If you receive regular or fishing benefits, you must remain capable and available for work, continue looking for suitable employment, and be ready to adjust or cancel your training if you receive a job offer.

Referred training

Once you apply for benefits, we can determine your eligibility to be referred to training. You may be eligible if you:

are receiving or eligible for regular benefits or fishing benefits
are approved to attend a program at a designated educational institution or certified institution in Canada
are considered a full-time student, as defined by the institution
pay for the training yourself
meet the criteria of a long-tenured worker, meaning you have:
- received fewer than 36 weeks of regular or fishing benefits in the last 5 years
- paid at least 30% of the maximum EI annual premium in 7 of the last 10 years

Note: If you’re unsure whether you’re considered a long-tenured worker, apply for EI benefits first, then call Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218.

Referral from your province or territory, or an Indigenous organization

Provinces, territories and Indigenous organizations can refer EI clients to:

training programs, including apprenticeship training
other employment activities designed to help you re-enter the workforce

For information about training and employment programs, visit the webpage of your province or territory:

For information on training and employment supports available for Indigenous people, visit Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program.

Additional training supports

The Government of Canada provides a wide variety of training supports to individuals who need help to overcome obstacles in the job market. For more information, visit:

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Date modified:: 2025-09-16

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