Ontario Apprenticeship Tools Grant

Government of Ontario

Get $400 to $1,000 toward tools as a registered Ontario apprentice (the amount depends on your trade), and a $2,000 bonus if you complete a non-Red Seal trade.

Published by G Paul · last checked September 26, 2026

Total value

$1,000

Level

Trades

Open to

Ontario

Apply on the official site ↗

What you will need

Registered training agreement
Proof of registration as an apprentice for at least 12 months
Proof of completion or exemption from level one in-class training on or after April 1, 2020
For Apprenticeship Completion Bonus applicants: Certificate of Apprenticeship or Certificate of Qualification issued no more than 180 days ago
For Apprentice Development Benefit applicants: Proof of full-time in-class training attendance
For students with disabilities: Contact the disability services office at your local college

About this award

Depending on your trade, you can get a non-repayable, taxable cash grant for tools: $1,000 for motive power trades, $600 for construction trades, $600 for industrial trades, or $400 for service trades. If you complete a non-Red Seal trade, you can get a $2,000 taxable cash grant. Additionally, those in Red Seal trades can access up to $4,000 in interest-free loans through the Canada Apprentice Loan. As these are grants and loans, the grants do not have to be paid back, but the Canada Apprentice Loan must be repaid. This is for you if you are a hardworking apprentice in Ontario who needs help covering the cost of your gear or transitioning into the workforce after finishing your training. No deadline is posted publicly — before you start the application, check Government of Ontario's program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. The page describes no competition for the Tools Grant: eligible apprentices get an email with an application link, and you can also apply online yourself if you think you qualify. The Tools Grant and the completion bonus are paid as taxable cash grants, so keep a record for your tax return. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with Government of Ontario whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To get the Tools Grant, you must have a registered training agreement, have been registered as an apprentice for at least 12 months, and have completed (or been exempted from) level one in-class training on or after April 1, 2020. To get the $2,000 Apprenticeship Completion Bonus, you must be out of high school and have received your Certificate of Apprenticeship in a trade that has no certifying exam or only a provincial (non-Red Seal) exam; you must apply within 180 days of receiving your certificate. For the Apprentice Development Benefit, you must be registered with Skilled Trades Ontario and attending class full-time. If you have a disability, you can access specialized supports through Ontario's 24 Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology regardless of whether you are full-time or part-time.

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.

Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
Open to trades students
Resident of Ontario
Studying skilled trades

How to apply

Read the award's official page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
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

Tool RequirementsAvoid guessing which category your trade falls into. Instead, view the full list of trades on the official site to see if you qualify for $400, $600, or $1,000. Check the list before you apply.
SupportAvoid waiting until you arrive at campus to ask about accessibility. Instead, contact the office for students with disabilities at your local college immediately. Email them to ask what specific tools or interpreters are available.
StrategyAvoid ignoring your email inbox. Instead, keep your contact information updated with Skilled Trades Ontario because the government sends application links via email. Set up a folder in your inbox for government alerts.
RealismAvoid assuming the completion bonus is automatic. Instead, remember that you only have a 180-day window after getting your certificate to apply. Mark the date you receive your qualification on your calendar.

Questions students ask

How do I apply?

Use the Apply on the official site button on this page: it opens the official application page in a new tab.

When is the deadline?

We don't have a confirmed deadline for this one. Check the award's official page for this year's date.

Can international students apply?

No. You need to be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person.

Similar awards

Share this award

FundMyCourse.ca · checked Sep 26, 2026