Skills Training

Skills Training

Skills Enhancement Training Services help eligible clients gain the skills needed to find work by taking training that may range from Adult Basic Education (ABE) and Academic Upgrading to Occupational Skills Training to Short Duration Training.

Eligible training must lead to a certificate, diploma or degree that is recognized by educational institutions and/or industry.

Training Durations:

  • Adult Basic Education (ABE) and Academic Upgrading must not exceed 1 year in duration as defined by the training institution.
  • Occupational Skills Training must not exceed 1 year in duration (including authorized breaks, i.e. Spring Break)
  • Short Duration Training must not exceed six calendar weeks or 180 training hours in total duration.

Financial Supports may be available to eligible clients receiving Skills Enhancement Training Services.

To be eligible for Financial Supports through WorkBC Employment Services, the training must:

  • lead to a certificate, diploma or degree that is recognized by educational institutions and/or industry
  • not be generally offered by employers or be free of charge in the community, and
  • be universally accepted in an industry or sector (e.g., hospitality), but not be specific or unique to an individual employer
  • Eligible training includes:Adult Basic Education (ABE) and Academic Upgrading - programs or courses that support clients to complete high school graduation requirements and/or specific pre-requisites for planned higher levels of training or employment. Includes:
    • Grades 8 through 12
    • Basic literacy/numeracy
    • English as a Second Language (ESL)
    • BC Adult Graduation Diploma (General Educational Development (GED)

    Occupational Skills Training - provides the skills and knowledge necessary to obtain employment in a chosen occupation, as determined by the Client and WorkBC Staff. The training must be part of a defined curriculum that meets 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:

    1. The final year of an occupationally-specific degree program if the client has been in the workforce for a number of years and is now unemployed and seeking work
    2. Trades training that includes only Foundation Trades Training programs (pre-apprentice/entry level trades training), and Level I of classroom training
    3. Training specific to the Aviation and Commercial driver industries
    4. Work placements or practicums as part of a course curriculum as defined in the StudentAid BC policy manual

    Short Duration Training - includes shorter duration training, occupation-specific training that provides the skills and knowledge necessary to obtain employment in the chosen field as determined by the client and WorkBC Staff. It may be provided when required for a client to obtain employment, and relevant to client's employment objective.

    To learn more, please contact us at 250-545-2215 x230