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Education and Training Benefit Q&As

Background

The Education and Training Benefit (ETB) recognizes your military service and can provide useful, valuable opportunities for your next career.

Your life after service presents you with an opportunity to plan new goals that are meaningful for you. ETB funding assists Veterans who qualify to achieve education and post-military employment goals. Education and training after service prepares you to be more competitive in the civilian workforce.

Career Transition Services (CTS) is a complementary program to ETB. You are strongly encouraged to apply for CTS, as the program can help you choose institutions/programs that match your career and educational goals/needs.

To qualify

Q1. Who qualifies for the Education and Training Benefit?

To qualify for the Education and Training Benefit (ETB), you must:

  • have been honourably released from the Canadian Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve Force) on or after 1 April 2006 or be a member of the Supplementary Reserve;

AND

  • have at least 6 years (or the equivalent of 2,191 paid days) of Regular Force and/or Reserve Force service.

You may apply for the Education and Training Benefit while you are still serving, but your application will be held for processing until you notify VAC that you have released from the CAF (or transferred to the Supplementary Reserve). VAC will then need to verify your service information.

Q2. Can I participate in the Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program or the Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit at the same time as the Education and Training Benefit?

No. Even if you qualify for these programs, you can only participate in one program at a time. You should choose the program that best suits your needs. To help you make a decision, check out Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Services, Education and Training Benefit, Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit, or call us at 1-866-522-2122.

Q3. How do I apply for the Education and Training Benefit?

The Education and Training Benefit (ETB) has a two-step application process. To access Education and Training Benefit funding, you must:

Step 1: Apply to qualify and be approved by submitting an Education and Training Benefit Application (VAC1537).

Step 2:

*Your proof of enrolment/registration must include your name, as well as the program/course provider's name, dates, and cost. If proof of enrolment/registration cannot be obtained until payment for the program/course is made, proof of intent to enroll/register can be accepted. This can be an invoice, a letter, or an email from the program/course provider confirming that you will be enrolled in the program/course only once payment is received. Your name and the date must be shown on this document.

Note: You will need to have both your application to qualify and your Education and Training Plan application submitted prior to your intended program start date. If both applications are received at the same time, there will be a turnaround time of up to 8 weeks.

You can submit your application forms:

  • Online via My VAC Account (preferable option as there are guided web forms available); or

Download the application forms here and mail them to:

Veterans Affairs Canada
PO Box 6000
Matane, QC G4W 0E4

Q4. I am still serving, but I plan on releasing soon. Can I apply for the Education and Training Benefit?

Yes. You can submit:

They will not be processed until you have officially released or have transferred to the Supplementary Reserve.

Once this has occurred, please notify us of your release date and that you have a pending Education and Training Benefit application(s) by sending us a secure message via My VAC Account or by calling 1-866-522-2122.

It is not recommended that you apply for the Education and Training Benefit more than 6 months in advance of your anticipated release date.

Funding

Q1. How much Education and Training Benefit funding am I entitled to?

The maximum amount of entitlement you can receive is based on the length of your Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) service:

  • At least 6 years (or the equivalent of 2,191 paid days) of service = $40,000* (indexed annually by Consumer Price Index)
  • At least 12 years (or the equivalent of 4,382 paid days) of service = $80,000* (indexed annually by Consumer Price Index)

*Please see current Education and Training Benefit rates here.

Your number of paid days of service is calculated by and provided to VAC by the Department of National Defence (DND).

Regular Force service, Primary Reserve Force (Class A, Class B and Class C) service, Canadian Rangers service, Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service (COATS), and Supplementary Reserve service are all included in the paid days of service calculation.

Q2. Do I have to apply/use funding by a certain date?

Yes. You have 10 years from your release date from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) or transfer date to the Supplementary Reserve to access Education and Training Benefit (ETB) funding.

If you released from the CAF between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2018 you have until 1 April 2028 to access funding.

If you released from the Supplementary Reserve between 1 April 2018 and 4 July 2019 you have 10 years from your date of release to access funding.

If you were a member of the Supplementary Reserve on 5 July 2019 you have until 5 July 2029 to access funding.

If you transferred to the Supplementary Reserve after 5 July 2019 you have 10 years from the date of transfer to access funding.

Q3. How will I receive the funding?

The Education and Training Benefit (ETB) funds will be paid directly to you. You will need to pay the tuition for your approved program/course to the educational institution.

For a Formal Program Plan, a payment schedule will be determined and payments will be calculated according to the:

  • amount of funding you qualify to receive;
  • program duration; and
  • anticipated completion date.

Funds will be disbursed in equal payments throughout your program (across study periods). Any funds remaining after you have paid the program costs may be used to cover other incidentals incurred while you are studying.

For an approved Short Course, your payment will be for the exact amount of the course cost.

Education and Training Benefit payments will be issued no sooner than 60 days prior to the date the payment is due to the educational institution.

To receive payments as quickly as possible, please consider registering for direct deposit. To do so, log in to My VAC Account and complete the direct deposit information on the profile screen.

Q4. Can I still receive Education and Training Benefit funding if I apply after I have already started my educational program or course?

Your Formal Program application or Short Course application must be received by VAC before the start date of your chosen program/course, or an upcoming period of study, begins. Only periods of study that begin after your completed Education and Training Benefit application is received by VAC will be considered for funding.

Example: If your educational program starts on September 10, your completed Formal Program application must be submitted prior to September 10 to be considered for funding for your first period of study (e.g., semester). If your application is submitted after September 10, and it is approved, your funding would be paid for your subsequent period(s) of study.

Q5. I need to travel for school. Will the Education and Training Benefit cover these expenses?

The Education and Training Benefit (ETB) was designed to provide Veterans with financial support to cover tuition for a program/course. Any ETB funding that you have remaining after paying tuition to the educational institution may be used to help you cover other expenses that you incur while studying. It is important to know that travel expenses are not included in the determination of your approved funding amount.

Q6. Are there any tax implications from receiving Education and Training Benefit funding?

Yes. The Education and Training Benefit (ETB) is a taxable benefit and Veterans Affairs Canada does not withhold any tax from ETB payments. You will receive a T4 Statement of Renumeration Paid for the ETB funding amount you receive.

You should consider the financial and tax implications of this benefit, as it may affect other benefits you may qualify to receive, such as Canada Student Loans, bursaries, and other government benefits.

Formal programs

Q1. What kind of programs qualify for Education and Training Benefit Formal Program funding?

A Formal Program must:

Note: For graduate level training, full-time is defined by the granting institution.

Examples of a Formal Program include:

  • Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Personal Care Worker
  • Pharmacy Technician

Q2. Will Veterans Affairs Canada consider institutions that are not on the Employment and Social Development Canada’s Master List of Designated Institutions?

Yes. For institutions that are not on the Employment and Social Development Canada’s Master List of Designated Institutions, you must submit documentation proving that it is a government recognized post-secondary educational institution.

Q3. My Formal Program application has been approved. Do I need to do anything else?

If your Formal Program application is approved, there are additional steps that you will need to take to ensure that you continue to receive your payments.

Prior to each upcoming period of study (i.e. semester), you must submit an Education and Training Benefit Monitoring Form (VAC1550) before you can receive your next payment.

Along with your completed Monitoring Form, you will be asked to include:

  • Proof that the current period of study is in progress or proof of completion of the previous period of study (e.g., transcript); and
  • Proof of enrollment in an upcoming period of study (e.g., confirmation of registration).

If you do not provide the required documentation, you may find yourself in an overpayment situation.

Note: You are encouraged to submit these documents via My VAC Account.

Q4. I have heard that I am entitled to a Completion Bonus if I complete my Formal Program Plan. Is this true?

Yes. Once you have successfully completed your Formal Program Plan, you can apply for a taxable $1,000 Completion Bonus by submitting an Education and Training Benefit Completion Bonus Form (VAC1572)

You will need to provide proof of completion and provide proof from the institution that you have obtained your degree, diploma, certificate, or certification.

The $1,000 Completion Bonus does not reduce your overall entitlement funding amount and the amount is not indexed annually.

A Completion Bonus cannot be paid for a completed Short Course.

Q5. What if I want to change my program/educational institution or if there have been changes to my program since my Formal Program application was originally approved?

If there are changes to your approved Education and Training plan, such as a change in the length of time it will take you to complete your studies or a change in the number of periods of study, you must complete and submit an Education and Training Benefit Plan Amendment Form (VAC1573).

If you want to change your program of study or educational institution, you will need to submit a new Education and Training Benefit Formal Program Application (VAC1547). Your previous plan will need to be completed and you will be required to submit an Education and Training Benefit Monitoring Form (VAC1550) and a proof of completion for the last period of study you completed.

It is important to notify VAC as soon as possible of all changes to your Formal Program Plan and submit all required documentation, to avoid being in an overpayment situation.

Q6. What do I do if I discontinue my program in the middle of a semester/period of study?

It is your responsibility to let us know if you discontinue your program by sending us a secure message via My VAC Account or by calling 1-866-522-2122.

You will be required to submit:

  • the reason you discontinued your program;
  • the date you stopped attending the program;
  • a final Education and Training Benefit Monitoring Form (VAC1550), including proof of completion from the institution (even a record of a withdrawal or not completed); and
  • any amount of refunded tuition that the institution has returned to you.

Once we receive and review this information, you will be advised if you have been overpaid.

Technical education

Q1. If my program is offered by an approved post-secondary school and results in a diploma, but it is shorter than 12 weeks, what kind of funding will I receive?

Technical Education programs can be approved under a sub-component of the Formal Program funding stream. These programs are offered by trade and specialized technical skill training schools and may run less than 12 weeks in a 15-week period.

To be approved for Formal Program funding, a Technical Education program must:

Examples of a Technical Education program include:

  • Truck driving course
  • Firefighter course

For an approved Technical Education program, funding will cover the tuition and mandatory fees charged by the post-secondary institution, rounded up to the next $5,000 increment. For example, if your program costs $8,700, you will receive $10,000.

As with any other Formal Program, you will be required to submit a Monitoring Form and a proof of completion of the program when the program ends to avoid being overpaid.

Once you have successfully completed a Technical Education program, you will qualify to apply for a Completion Bonus.

If your program does not meet the criteria for Formal Program funding, it may qualify for Short Course funding.

Short Courses

Q1. How do I know if the course I want to take qualifies for Short Course funding?

To be approved for Short Course funding, the program or course must:

  • be offered by an organization recognized by provincial and federal authorities or community groups;
  • be offered and available to a broad population of Veterans and the Canadian public;
  • be conducted online or in a public forum; and
  • be publicly advertised and accessible to the public.

Examples of a Short Course include:

  • Entrepreneurial boot camps
  • Community school courses (i.e., photography, woodworking, and art classes)
  • Business development workshops/seminars
  • Instructor certification courses (i.e., life coach, dance, fitness, and yoga)

Note: If you submit a Short Course application and we determine the program could qualify for Formal Program funding, we will reach out to you to confirm whether you wish to submit a Formal Program application instead. If we do not hear back from you regarding the offer after two weeks, we will proceed with processing your Short Course application.

Q2. How much can I receive for a Short Course?

The Education and Training Benefit (ETB) Short Course amount is indexed annually according to the Consumer Price Index. Please see current ETB rates here.

Short Course funding can be used for multiple courses, up until the maximum amount has been used. Funds you receive for Short Courses reduces your overall ETB entitlement amount.

Completion Bonus

Q1. What is a Completion Bonus and how do I apply?

If you have successfully completed a Formal Program plan (including any Technical Education programs), you can apply for a taxable $1,000 Completion Bonus by submitting an Education and Training Benefit Completion Bonus Form (VAC1572).

You will need to provide a proof of completion from your educational institution to confirm that you have obtained your degree, diploma, certificate, or certification.

An approved $1,000 Completion Bonus does not reduce your overall Education and Training Benefit entitlement funding amount. The amount is not indexed annually.

A Completion Bonus cannot be paid for completed Short Courses.

General information

Q1. Can I receive help choosing an education program?

If you would like help planning for your education, please consider applying for our Career Transition Services (CTS) program. The CTS contractor can help you look at education funding options and help you to find the schools/programs that are best suited for your academic goals. They can also help you find employment when your education or training is completed.

Q2. I do not have my high school diploma or the General Education Development. Is that a problem? How do I get one?

A high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) high school equivalency certification is not necessarily needed to access the Education and Training Benefit (ETB), but it may be required to enroll in your selected post-secondary program.

To find out more, you can contact your provincial or territorial department of education or visit High School Diploma and Continuing Education. If you do need to obtain your GED, ETB funds cannot be approved for secondary school/high school level diplomas.

Q3. I am being advised to attend a specific school because they say they focus on Veterans. Does Veterans Affairs Canada recommend any schools?

Veterans should decide to go to the school that best suits their academic and employment goals. Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) does not make any recommendations or endorse any schools. The Career Transition Services (CTS) program can provide you information to help you choose a school.

Updated: May 2023

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