Nova Scotia — Skills Development Program

About this award

Income-based, non-repayable funding for unemployed Nova Scotians retraining for in-demand work — you can apply year-round through your local Nova Scotia Works centre.

The Skills Development Program is Nova Scotia's mainline retraining grant for unemployed adults whose return to work depends on getting new credentials. It is funded under the federal–provincial Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) and delivered through Employment Nova Scotia's network of Nova Scotia Works employment centres. The provincial government runs it because Atlantic Canada has long-standing labour-market gaps in healthcare, trades, and IT, and getting unemployed Nova Scotians into short, industry-recognized programs is the fastest way to close them. If you qualify, the program pays a customized, non-repayable funding package. That can cover tuition, books, dependent care, transportation, and accommodation, plus a weekly living allowance for the time you are in school. If you are already on Employment Insurance, your EI benefits keep flowing during training (the program does not extend the EI period, just lets you train without losing it). Your contribution to costs is calculated based on your household income, so the lower your income, the more the program pays. Funding is tied to one training intervention at a time, ranging from a minimum of 5 days to a maximum of 3 years. It is not renewable in the academic sense — you train, you finish, you go to work. To apply, you book an assessment with a case manager at your local Nova Scotia Works centre, build a return-to-work action plan together, and submit a formal application at least two weeks before training starts.

Can you get it?

• ✓ Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident — citizenship requirement
• ✓ Certificate, College, Professional — study level
• ✓ Resident of NS — provincial eligibility
• ✓ Studying all — field of study

How to apply

1. 1

   Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour

   Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.

2. 2

   Submit before the posted deadline~1 hour

   Check the official source for the current deadline — save a copy and submit at least 24 hours early.

More details