Second Career
Ontario Government Financial Assistance
Second Career is an Ontario government program that enables laid-off Ontarians to train for a new job in high-demand careers.
Second Career helps people get the training or education they need to get a good job. It is a cost-sharing grant provided on the basis of need, so you may be asked to contribute what you can to your training or education. It may provide financial support up to $28,000 to pay for things like:
- Tuition
- Books
- Living expenses
- Help caring for dependents
- Travel
- Transportation
- Disability supports
- Basic living allowance (during skill training)
Additional costs may be considered for disability accommodation, dependent care, living away from home and academic upgrading.
Skills training for up to two years in duration will be considered. If academic upgrading or English as a Second Language training is required as a prerequisite to skills training, the total training period can be up to three years.
IF you accepted EI, you may qualify for:
- between six months and two years of skills training for National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level B and equivalent occupations in demand in Ontario
- up to one year of academic upgrading where necessary as a prerequisite for skills training.
Non-EI-eligible individuals may qualify for:
- up to two years of skills training for either NOC skill level B or NOC skill level C occupations and equivalent in demand in Ontario
- up to one year of academic upgrading where necessary as a prerequisite for skills training.
For more information on Second Career, please see the Ontario Second Career website.
