APPRENTICE SUPPORTS

Apprenticeship Tools Grant

Are you a first-time apprentice who registered with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency within the last 90 days? You may be eligible for the Apprenticeship Tools Grant.  

This is a one-time, taxable $1000 grant for eligible new apprentices to purchase new tools, clothing, and protective equipment for their respective trades.

Note: Tools, clothing, and protective equipment cannot be purchased prior to approval.

What are the eligibility criteria to apply?

To be eligible for the Apprenticeship Tools Grant, you must:

• work and reside in Nova Scotia,
• be employed full-time (minimum of 35 hours per week),
• be a first-time, newly registered apprentice,
• have 500 or less credited employer hours* at the time of your apprenticeship registration with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency, and
• apply within 90 days of the date on your Apprenticeship Welcome Letter. 

How do I apply for the Apprenticeship Tools Grant?

Start your Apprenticeship Tools Grant application.

Supporting Documents

• Apprenticeship Tools Grant Program Guidelines
• How to complete the Apprenticeship Tools Grant application

Contact information

If you have questions, please contact the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency:

• apprenticeship@novascotia.ca
• Halifax Office: (902) 424-5651
• Toll Free (NS): 1-800-494-5651 

Apprenticeship Financial Supports During Technical Training (ENS)

You may be eligible for Employment Nova Scotia’s (ENS) Apprenticeship Program financial assistance to help cover expenses while in technical training.  

What are the eligible training costs?

• Books (receipts required)
• Technology Measures (receipts required)
• Travel
• Accommodations
• Childcare (receipts required)

Upon submitting your application prior to your training start date, you may qualify for advanced funding for books and/or technology equipment and accessories to make the purchase before your training starts.

What are the eligibility criteria?

Full eligibility criteria for ENS Apprenticeship Program funding while in training can be found here.

Technology Measures Eligibility: Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) eligibility is not required to be considered for Technology Measures funding.  

How do I apply?

Online applications are submitted to Employment Nova Scotia. Click here to apply.

Contact Information

Apprentices are encouraged to contact Employment Nova Scotia at 1-877-223-0888 with questions about the financial assistance available under the ENS Apprenticeship Program.  

For further information, please contact the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency at:

apprenticeship@novascotia.ca

Halifax Office: (902) 424-5651

Toll Free (NS): 1-800-494-5651

Grants are issued based on available funding.

Apprentices in a designated non-Red Seal trade:

• Can apply for a taxable $750 Provincial Apprentice Progression Grant if they successfully complete a level of apprenticeship training. Each level of a provincial trade completed will be eligible except the final level of the trade because the apprentice is then eligible for the Provincial Completion Grant.
• Are eligible to apply for a taxable $2,000 Provincial Apprentice Completion Grant once they complete all training requirements and receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship. Apprentices in provincial and Red Seal trades must apply for their progression and completion awards within 90 days of becoming eligible.

Apprentices in a Red Seal trade

• Can apply for a taxable $750 Provincial Apprentice Progression Award if they successfully complete Level 3 of their apprenticeship program. This does not apply if the trade is 3 levels because they are eligible for the Completion Award.

 Apply for the Provincial Progression Grant.

How to Complete the Provincial Apprenticeship Progression Grant Application

Grants are issued based on available funding.

Apprentices in a designated non-Red Seal trade:

• Apprentices in non-Red Seal apprenticeship programs that have 3 or 4 levels of training are eligible to apply for a taxable $2,000 Provincial Apprenticeship Completion Grant once they complete all training requirements and receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship.

 Apply for the Provincial Completion Award. Applications must be received within six months of achieving eligibility.

How to complete the Provincial Apprenticeship Completion Grant

The Canada Apprentice Loan is available to help registered Red Seal apprentices cover the cost of their training. The Government of Canada offers apprentices enrolled in a Red Seal Trade apprenticeship program up to $4,000 per period of technical training.  MORE INFO at the Employment and Social Development Canada website...

The Government of Canada is introducing the Red Seal Completion Bonus, a taxable $5,000 payment for eligible individuals who complete an apprenticeship and obtain journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade.

The bonus will launch on November 16, 2026, and will be available to eligible individuals who obtained their certification on or after April 1, 2025.

Who is eligible?

The bonus is available to eligible individuals who have completed an apprenticeship and obtained certification in a designated Red Seal trade.

For complete eligibility requirements, including application deadlines and required supporting documents, visit the Government of Canada's Red Seal Completion Bonus website.

How do I apply?

Applications will be available beginning November 16, 2026.

Visit the Government of Canada's Red Seal Completion Bonus website for application information and instructions.

Questions & more information

The Red Seal Completion Bonus is administered by the Government of Canada.

For questions about eligibility, applications or program requirements, visit the Government of Canada's Red Seal Completion Bonus website or contact Service Canada at 1-866-742-3644.

Through the MOST program, those under the age of 30 (in the tax year) and who are employed and registered as an apprentice or a certified journeyperson in an eligible skilled trade will receive a rebate on provincial income tax paid on the first $50,000 of income earned.

Eligible workers can apply for their rebate after they file their 2022 income tax return and receive a notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency.

For more information about eligibility or to apply:

• Visit the Government of Nova Scotia’s website
• Email: most@novascotia.ca
• Phone: 902-424-6132

Women in Trades Incentive (WITI)

The Women in Trades Incentive (WITI) supports women in the skilled trades. 

Women who are newly registered apprentices working in one of the 39 construction and manufacturing trades can receive $750 to help reduce barriers and support costs associated with new employment as an apprentice. This grant is available until March 2027 or until funding runs out. 

Eligibility 

To be eligible for the Women in Trades Incentive (WITI), individuals must meet the following criteria: 

• Self-identify as a woman.
• Have registered as an apprentice with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency on or after December 4, 2023.
• Be employed in one of the 39 Red Seal construction and manufacturing trades.
• Live and work in Nova Scotia. 

How do I apply? 

Eligible women will be contacted by the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency after being registered as an apprentice to complete an application form for the Women in Trades Incentive (WITI).

Contact Information

For more information, please contact the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency: 

• WiT@novascotia.ca
• Halifax Office: (902) 424-5651
• Toll Free (NS): 1-800-494-5651

Women who are registered apprentices working in one of the 39 construction and manufacturing trades can receive a one-time grant to help purchase assistive technology (e.g. iPad, text-to-speech software, drawing tablet, smart pen) to support their apprenticeship journey. This grant is available until March 2027 or until funding runs out. 

Eligibility  

To be eligible for the Women in Trades Accessibility Support, individuals must meet the following criteria:  

• Self-identify as a woman.  
• Be employed in one of the 39 Red Seal construction and manufacturing trades.  
• Need assistive technology to support their apprenticeship journey.
• Not be eligible for funding from Employment Nova Scotia to purchase similar technology.

How do I apply?  

To apply, contact the Women in Trades Team at the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency: WiT@novascotia.ca

Contact Information

For more information, please contact the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency: 

• WiT@novascotia.ca
• Halifax Office: (902) 424-5651
• Toll Free (NS): 1-800-494-5651

Apprentices will be paid a wage for their experience on the job and they will have the opportunity to apply for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits when they begin apprenticeship technical training. You can find details, including the application process, on Service Canada’s support for skilled trades and apprenticeship page.

Employers can also now complete and submit apprentices' Records of Employment (ROEs) online. MORE INFO at the Service Canada website...

Existing Claim (If you are already in receipt of EI benefits, or to re-open an existing claim)

• Approximately 6 weeks prior to scheduled training, the Agency will mail a class acceptance letter to you.
• Immediately contact or visit your local Service Canada office to advise them you will be attending apprenticeship technical training. (Service Canada may ask to see your class acceptance letter).

New Claim

• You can apply for Employment Insurance benefits online at Government of Canada.
• In the online application you will be prompted to enter a reference code. The 2026-27 EI code is 1512-02-2026-262705.

Although the information on this page may be accurate, apprentices should consult the Government of Canada website, the official source of information about Employment Insurance.

Youth Apprentices are exempted from the registration fee.

The Tradesperson's Tools Deduction provides employed tradespersons with an annual deduction of up to $500 to help cover the cost of new tools necessary for their trade. The deduction applies to the total cost of eligible tools if:

• the total cost exceeds $1,000;
• the tools were purchased after May 1, 2006;
• the purchase was made by an employed tradesperson.

MORE INFO at the Canada Revenue Agency website..

Tradespersons may also be eligible for a HST Rebate on the the purchase of new, required tools.

The Government of Canada ended the following apprenticeship grants on March 31, 2025:

Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG)

This grant provided eligible registered apprentices in designated Red Seal trades with $1,000 for completing their first or second year/level of apprenticeship training, up to a lifetime maximum of $2,000.

Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG)

This grant provided a one-time taxable payment of $2,000 to eligible registered apprentices who completed their apprenticeship training and obtained journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade.

Both programs are closed, and applications and supporting documents are no longer being accepted.

For historical program information, visit the Government of Canada – Apprenticeship Grants website.

Looking for current federal financial support?

Individuals who completed an apprenticeship and obtained certification in a designated Red Seal trade on or after April 1, 2025, may qualify for the new $5,000 Red Seal Completion Bonus. See the Red Seal Completion Bonus information under financial supports for eligibility requirements and application details.