Skills Training and Certifications
As a job seeker, you may need additional training or news skills to qualify for the jobs or careers you are best suited for and interested in. To get and keep these jobs, you may need a one-day certificate course, courses to complete high school, trades training or a longer program that leads to a diploma or a degree.
If you are receiving Employment Insurance (EI), or BC Incomed Assistance (BCEA) or you are a Person with a Disability, you may be eligible for government funding to get training. You must be a case managed client of WorkBC to be eligible. In addition to funding for tuition and course costs, you may also be eligible to for financial supports for childcare, transportation, living costs and other supports.
To get more information about eligibility, funding, and applying and accessing training, contact us at WorkBC Maple Ridge at 604-466-4600.
There are a wide range of training options available. The following describes the different training that eligible EI recipients may be able to complete with government funding.
Adult Basic Education (ABE) and Academic Upgrading
These are programs or courses that support Clients to complete high school graduation requirements and/or specific pre-requisites for higher levels of training or employment.
Programs and courses include:
- Grades 8 through 12;
- Basic literacy/numeracy;
- English as a Second Language (ESL); and
- BC Adult Graduation Diploma or General Educational Development (GED)
Occupational Skills Training
These are programs or courses that provide the skills and knowledge necessary to obtain employment in a chosen occupation, as determined by the Client and the Client’s Case Manager. The training must meet a minimum mandatory entry requirement for an occupation or industry, and must lead to a certificate, diploma or degree that is recognized by educational institutions and/or industry.
Occupational Skills Training may include:
- An occupationally-specific under-graduate or post-graduate degree program (less than 2 year in length)
- Foundation Trades Training programs (pre-apprentice/entry level trades training), and Level I of classroom training;
- Training specific to the Aviation and Commercial driving industries; and
- Work placements or practicums as part of a course curriculum (as defined in the StudentAid BC policy manual)
Short Duration Training
These are programs and courses that are short-term (less than 4 weeks) occupation-specific training that provide the skills and knowledge necessary to obtain employment in the field determined by Clients and their Case Managers. Examples include training in Computer Skills, Emergency First Aid, SuperHost, Serving It Right, WHMIS, etc.
