Nova Scotia — Skills Development Program

About this award

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.

Who qualifies

Unemployed citizen or permanent resident of Nova Scotia. LMDA-eligible: current or recent EI claim, OR $2,000+ earnings in five of the last ten years. 36 months of labour-market attachment (24 if you're part of an underrepresented group).

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

• ✓ Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• ✓ Open to certificate, college or professional students
• ✓ Resident of Nova Scotia

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's own page

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

2. 2

   Apply when you're ready

   This one takes applications all year.

More details