Training Support Program Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Training Support Program (TSP)?

Amber Education Services Ltd. has an agreement with Service Canada as the community coordinator for the Training Support Program. Geographically, Amber provides service to eligible individuals residing between the Malahat in the South and Bowser in the North. The program provides funding for eligible individuals to acquire training they need to return to work. The training must be deemed to be the most direct route back to work and have a strong likelihood of resulting in sustainable employment. This initiative provides financial assistance to help pay incremental training costs such as tuition, course fees, living expenses.

2. Who is eligible?

To qualify for the Training Support Program, you will need to meet the following criteria:

• You have an active EI claim OR; your EI claim period has ended within the past 36 months OR; your EI Maternity or Parental claim began in the past 60 months.*
  
• You are able to demonstrate that you have exhausted your work search and cannot obtain sustainable work in today's job market with your current skills.
  
• You have identified the barrier preventing you from gaining work and the training that is the most direct route to resolve the barrier in order to return to work.
  
• You are a Canadian Citizen or a Permanent Resident.

3. How can I find out more about the program?

Training Information Sessions are held weekly in Nanaimo and Duncan. In Parksville information sessions are held biweekly. In Ladysmith and Lake Cowichan information sessions are available by appointment. Please contact us for dates and times.

4. How do I apply for the Training Support Program?

Typically, there are four steps for making application.

• Learn more about the program by attending a Training Information Session. Although optional, this can answer many questions you may have about the program.
  
• Develop a Return to Work Action Plan (RTWAP)** which may include employment counselling to ensure employment opportunities are likely upon completion.
  
• Bring your completed RTWAP to one of our offices and complete the short Pre-Application. Once we ensure basic guidelines have been met, we will provide you with a Training Support Program application.
  
• Complete the application. When you are ready, submit your application along with any supporting materials you wish to include.

**Agencies are available to develop a Return to Work Action Plan with you. Call Amber Education for contact information on agencies in your area (collect calls are welcome).

5. Is financial need a requirement for eligibility?

Yes. The Training Support Program is available on a cost shared basis. It is expected that participants will contribute, based on their ability, to the costs of their training intervention.

6. Are there any courses that are not currently being funded by the Training Support Program?

Currently, support for the following programs would need a job offer to strengthen the application. Requests for training in the following fields also require the completion of the Full Training Support Program Application

• Professional Driver Training

A job offer may not be required if applicants are willing to move from or commute outside South-Central Vancouver Island** to an area with strong employment opportunities.

**South-Central Vancouver Island is defined for this purpose as from mid Malahat up to and including Bowser.

Fixed Wing or Rotary Wing Pilot Training

If an applicant is considering training as a pilot they should be aware that the labour market information appears to indicate that 1500 hours of flight time is necessary in order to gain sustainable work without periods of unemployment. Therefore, in order to be successful an applicant must indicate either that they have 1500 hours or have a job offer identifying ongoing employment with the number of flight hours held upon the completion of training. Further, job offers from schools training potential instructors for its own needs will not be sufficient to gain an approval.

Please check back from time to time as this list may change according to Labour Market Information.

7. Is there any way that I can get help filling out the application?

While the actual completion of the application is your responsibility, we do have a Training Support Program Application Advisor for both the Cowichan and Nanaimo areas to assist you with your application. Please contact either office for an appointment. The email addresses are:

Cowichan: applicationadvisorcowichan@ambered.com

Nanaimo: applicationadvisornanaimo@ambered.com

8. Why do I have to provide three recent employment advertisements in the Labour Market Information Section of the application?

A strong likelihood of sustainable employment upon completion of the training is one of the cornerstones of this program. Providing a minimum of three recent employment advertisements helps determine the level of demand for the certification you are pursuing. You also want to ensure that the anticipated wages will cover your personal expenses.

9. I want to open my own business but need to take bookkeeping first. Can you help with this type of training?

Yes. We have a separate application for those pursuing Self-Employment. Please make sure you ask for the correct version.

10. Do I have to go to a school chosen by the Training Support Program?

No, The school you choose to attend must be either a Public institution or a Private institution. Examples of a Public institution could be Malaspina University-College, Camosun College or any other such institution.

If the training you want is at a Private institution and any of the training institution's programs are longer than 12 weeks in duration the institution must be accredited with the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA).

If the training you want is at a Private institution and all the programs offered by the training institution are 40 hours or longer in duration but not more than 12 weeks and where tuition is $1000 or more must be registered with the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA).

• Visit PCTIA’s web site at www.pctia.bc.ca to lookup the private institution you’re interested in.
• Call PCTIA directly at (604)660-4400 or toll free at 1-800-661-7411

11. A computer is required for my training program; may I request that the Training Support Program pay for this item?

No. Such capital expenses exceeding $250.00 will not be considered by the Training Support Program. If you are living with a disability, application for capital items necessary for training may be considered.

12. I have already started school and I just found out that the Training Support Program exists. Is it too late to apply?

Yes it is too late. However, if you have an active EI claim, you can apply as a fee payer to have your remaining EI benefits continued while in training. Service Canada will make the decision to approve or decline this application and they will contact you directly.

13. The course that I want to take is 2 years in duration, is this eligible?

The Training Support Program's mandate is to support training that is the most direct route to self sustaining employment. Typically this is defined as less than 52 weeks in duration. Training that is greater than 52 weeks would need to be strongly supported. Please note that the lifetime maximum access to the Training Support Program offered by Amber Education Services Ltd. is 156 weeks.

14. I have a job offer. Do I still need to complete the Occupational Research and Labour Market Information portion of the training package?

Yes. Amber Education needs to be satisfied that the training will open opportunities beyond the job offer so that in the event the job offer does not result in permanent employment you will be able to apply for other jobs in the industry.

15. When can I expect monies and how will I be receiving those payments?

All cheques are made payable to you. Typically, cheques are issued two weeks prior to due dates for tuition and other deadline driven costs. Living Support is paid in arrears. Living Support cheques are dated for the 25th of the current month and are mailed in order to be received by the month end.

16. I would like to complete my university degree. Is this type of training eligible through the Training Support Program?

University training can be supported if it is occupationally specific and leading to a degree, certificate or diploma. When the University training is multi-year, the Training Support Program will only support the final year of the program. College training, including University Colleges, that is multi-year and leads to a certificate or diploma may be fully supported as long as the intent of the participant is to seek employment upon obtaining the diploma rather than using the credits to obtain a degree.

• Please note that a returning student does not meet the eligibility criteria for this program.

17. I should be able to obtain a job with my current skills. Does this mean I am not eligible for the TSP?

The philosophy of the program is to provide training funding for individuals that have exhausted their job search. The program does not support applications that are viewed as assisting applicants to change careers, gain promotion or simply work in a field that offers a better wage. Therefore, if employment is possible with your current skills then likely an application to the Training Support Program would be declined or ineligible.

18. Does my living support start once I am approved, or once training starts?

The living support you receive will be paid to you in arrears. Living Support cheques are dated for the 25th of the current month and are mailed in order to be received by the end of the month. Your entitled living support will start once training starts and will end on the exact day that the training ends. This may result in pro-rated living allowance payments for partial months of training.

19. Can I apply for the Training Support Program if I am receiving maternity/parental benefits?

No. Maternity/parental benefits were specifically designed by Service Canada and typically the person will be returning to work upon completion of the benefit period and therefore is not unemployed.

20. Can I apply for the Training Support Program if I am receiving medical EI benefits?

No. You would need to be on a regular EI claim to make application to the Training Support Program. Discuss with your Employment Insurance office how participating in the Training Support Program may affect your EI claim.

21. Can I appeal if my application is declined?

Yes, Amber Education Services Ltd. offers a two step appeal process. Each level of the appeal process is initiated by the applicant/participant providing a letter to Amber Education Services Ltd. requesting an appeal of the decision.

Additional information may be submitted to Amber Education Services Ltd. with the letter requesting the appeal.

Note: Additional information must be submitted directly to Amber Education Services Ltd. to be considered in the appeal decision.

The second level of appeal will require the completion of a third-party consent form which is available from an Amber Education Services Ltd. office.

Note: Appeal letters will be accepted up to 30 days from the date of decline.

If an application is declined, the first step is to have the application re-adjudicated by the alternate Amber office (Nanaimo or Duncan). If the application is again declined the second step is to have the law firm, Robert J. Whittome Law Corporation review both decisions and the applied processes to ensure that all procedures were implemented according to policy and methodology. A recommendation to approve or decline will be reached by the firm and shall be considered by Training Support Program management when making the final decision.

Appeals are not possible for applications deemed "ineligible.".