Student Loans and Grants

Eligibility 

To be eligible for loan and grant funding from the Government of Alberta as an apprentice, you must:

• be a registered apprentice, and
• be enrolled in classroom instruction for your apprenticeship program.

Switching trades does not affect your eligibility for funding as long as you remain an AIT-registered apprentice.

Apply for funding

Visit studentaid.alberta.ca for all the information you need about applying for Alberta Student Loans.

• Apply at least 30 days before your classroom instruction period ends.
• When applying online, select the following:
  • Program: Apprenticeship 
  • Program Specialization: your specific trade 
• Full-time apprentices can apply online for funding.
  • You are a full-time apprentice if you are enrolled in a period of classroom instruction that has one of the following delivery types:
    • Block Release
    • Competency-based Apprenticeship Training (CBATS)
    • Mobile
• Part-time apprentices cannot apply online.
  • Instead, complete and mail in a Part-Time Application form (studentaid.alberta.ca).
  • You are a part-time apprentices if you are enrolled in a period of classroom instruction that has one of the following delivery types:
    • Weekly Apprenticeship Training (WATs)
    • Distance Delivery

Interest and payments

As long as you remain a registered apprentice:

• you do not have to make payments on your loans
• your loans will not accrue interest

You have a 12-month grace period with no interest or payments if you:

• are no longer registered as an apprentice
• are a non-progressing apprentice
• have obtained your journeyperson certificate

After the grace period:

• your Alberta loans start gaining interest
• you’ll need to start making payments

If you withdraw within the first 30 days of your classroom instruction period, you must pay back any grant and loan money you received after you are no longer a registered apprentice.

More information

• Visit studentaid.alberta.ca
• Contact the Alberta Student Aid Service Centre

Government of Canada

The Government of Canada provides federal funding for apprentices, including:

• Canada Apprentice Loan
• Canada Tradesperson's Tool Deduction
• Canada Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit (for employers)

Federal apprentice loans and grants must be applied for separately from provincial funding, through the Government of Canada.

About

Pre-employment or pre-apprenticeship programs provide job readiness training to prepare you for an apprenticeship program and help you get a job. 

• These are certificate programs lasting one year or less that count for at least one period of classroom instruction. 

Eligibility for Loans and Grants

To be eligible for funding you must attend an institution that has designated pre-employment program(s). 

• Find out if your school and program are designated.
• You must also meet the basic eligibility criteria (studentaid.alberta.ca) for full-time or part-time Alberta post-secondary students:

Apply for funding 

Visit studentaid.alberta.ca for all the information you need about applying for Alberta Student Loans.

• Apply at least 30 days before your program ends.
• When applying online, select the following:
• Program: Pre-employment
• Program specialization: your specific trade

Interest and payments

As long as you remain a student in your program:

• you do not have to make payments on your loans
• your loans will not accrue interest

You have a 12-month grace period with no interest or payments if you:

• withdraw from your program, or
• graduate from your program.

After the grace period:

• your Alberta loans start gaining interest
• you’ll need to start making payments

If you withdraw within the first 30 days of your program, you must pay back any grant and loan money you received.

Learn more about repaying student loans(studentaid.alberta.ca)

More information

• Visit studentaid.alberta.ca (studentaid.alberta.ca)
• Contact the Alberta Student Aid Service Centre (studentaid.alberta.ca)