Education and Training Benefit (ETB) for Veterans

What you will need

• ✓ Honourable release from the Canadian Armed Forces on or after 1 April 2006, or membership in the Supplementary Reserve
• ✓ At least 2,191 paid days of service (you don't send proof: after you apply, the DND Pension Centre calculates your paid days and sends them to Veterans Affairs Canada)
• ✓ Completed application form (submitted via My VAC Account or by mail)

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact Veterans Affairs Canada to confirm the current funding rates for your specific education plan before you apply. This is a taxable benefit, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a former member of the military looking to pivot your career or reach a personal goal through further education. No single deadline is posted publicly, but you generally have 10 years from your release or transfer date to apply. If you released between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2018, you can access funding up to 1 April 2028. Check Veterans Affairs Canada's program page or call their office to confirm your specific window. This is not a competition. Veterans Affairs Canada first checks that you qualify, and then you apply for funding for your education plan. Approved funding will be paid directly to you. You then use that money to pay your tuition fees to the educational institution. Confirm with Veterans Affairs Canada during your application if there are any other payment methods. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you are counting on this for multiple years of study, confirm with Veterans Affairs Canada whether it is a one-time grant or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must have been honourably released from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF — the unified command of Canada's military) on or after 1 April 2006, or be a member of the Supplementary Reserve. You must have at least 2,191 paid days of service. Application windows depend on your status: - General: You have 10 years from your release or transfer date to apply. - Released between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2018: You can access funding up to 1 April 2028. - Supplementary Reserve released between 1 April 2018 and 4 July 2019: You have 10 years from your release date. - Supplementary Reserve member on 5 July 2019: You have until 5 July 2029. - Transferred to Supplementary Reserve after 5 July 2019: You have 10 years from your transfer date. You cannot qualify if you are currently in the Rehabilitation and Vocational Assistance program or receiving Canadian Forces Income Support. Family members do not qualify for this specific benefit.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Open to college, undergraduate, graduate, trades or certificate students

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.

Tips for applying

• Career PlanningAvoid applying for funding before you have a clear goal. Instead, apply for Career Transition Services first to get a trained career coach who can help you find the best educational path. Contact a Transition Centre to start this process.
• Service RecordsAvoid guessing your total service time. Instead, contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre — Canadian Armed Forces Pensions to get your exact total of paid days. Call 1-800-267-0325 to verify your numbers.
• StrategyAvoid using paper forms if you have internet access. Instead, use the guided form in My VAC Account (the government's secure online portal for veteran benefits) to speed up your application. This reduces errors and gets your request processed faster.
• RealismAvoid assuming this benefit covers every cost. Instead, remember that this is a taxable benefit, meaning you may owe tax on the amount you receive. Plan your budget by asking Veterans Affairs Canada how the tax impact will affect your net funding.

Questions students ask

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