Updated August 2026 · Verified against Government of Ontario / Skilled Trades Ontario guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Milestone-Based
Grant Provincial Active

Ontario Achievement Incentive Program

Government of Ontario / Skilled Trades Ontario
Maximum Funding
Up to $17,000
No deadline is published. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and S...
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
Varies
Ontario Achievement Incentive Program provides Up to $17,000 per apprentice in milestone payments. $1,000 per in-class training level to a maximum of 4 levels, plus $1,000 on certification. A $1,000 registration payment and matching $1,000 bonuses at each milestone are payable only for an apprentice who is under 25 and/or self-identifies as part of an under-represented group (registration maximum $2,000, in-class maximum $12,000, completion maximum $3,000). Provides milestone payments to Ontario employers and group sponsors training apprentices registered with Skilled Trades Ontario, with enhanced amounts when apprentices are under 25 or self-identify as under-represented. No deadline is published. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development notifies eligible employers automatically when their apprentices complete a level of in-class training or attain the highest level of trade certification, and issues a one-time secure online application link at that point..

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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Provides milestone payments to Ontario employers and group sponsors training apprentices registered with Skilled Trades Ontario, with enhanced amounts when apprentices are under 25 or self-identify as under-represented.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Ontario employer or group sponsor with apprentices registered with Skilled Trades Ontario.
  • Apprentice must complete in-class training levels, up to a maximum of four levels where applicable.
  • Apprentice must achieve the highest certification in their trade (Certificate of Apprenticeship or Certificate of Qualification).
  • Enhanced bonus amounts require the apprentice to be under 25 and/or self-identify as part of an under-represented group.
Provinces
Ontario
Industries
Construction Manufacturing Automotive Services Trades
Business Stage
Startup Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $17,000 per apprentice in milestone payments. $1,000 per in-class training level to a maximum of 4 levels, plus $1,000 on certification. A $1,000 registration payment and matching $1,000 bonuses at each milestone are payable only for an apprentice who is under 25 and/or self-identifies as part of an under-represented group (registration maximum $2,000, in-class maximum $12,000, completion maximum $3,000).
Type
Grant
Level
Provincial
Deadline
No deadline is published. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development notifies eligible employers automatically when their apprentices complete a level of in-class training or attain the highest level of trade certification, and issues a one-time secure online application link at that point.

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
3/5

Moderate — standard application process

Competition
2/5

Below average competition

Difficulty
3/5

Moderate — standard requirements

Processing Time
Budget Trend
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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

The bonus criteria attach to the apprentice, not to your business, and they are worth more than the base payments.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Rejection Pitfalls 5

  • The apprentice is not registered with Skilled Trades Ontario
+4 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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Premium All 5 pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓

How Ontario Achievement Incentive Program judges your application

What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.

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Sections4
Judged on4 criteria
Can reject you3 rules

Distilled from 6+ source documents, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-07.

6 of the sources

What Ontario Achievement Incentive Program favours

Grant payments to employers when apprentices reach major milestones◦

“Supports apprentice progression by giving grant payments to employers when their apprentices reach major milestones”

1 more, in their words

The formthe outline

Payment milestones3 sections
  1. 1Registrationshort answer
  2. 2In-class training progressionshort answer
  3. 3Completionshort answer
How to qualify1 section
  1. 4How to qualifylist

Ontario Achievement Incentive Program states no length limits for these answers.

4 more prompts, in the funder’s words

Judged against4 questions · 4 criteria

  1. 1

    Does this apprentice registration qualify?

    Show them Show the Skilled Trades Ontario registration date, the apprentice's age, and any under-represented-group self-identification.◦

    In the funder’s words · 1
    • New registration and applicable enhancement characteristics
  2. 2

    Has the apprentice finished a schooling level?

    What to show, and the funder’s 1 criterion behind it in Premium

  3. 3

    Has the apprentice earned the top certificate?

    What to show, and the funder’s 1 criterion behind it in Premium

  4. 4

    Are you an eligible sponsor the ministry notified?

    What to show, and the funder’s 1 criterion behind it in Premium

1 question the reviewer answers about you, in Premium.

Premium · the rest of this brief

See all 3 rules that can reject you and every criterion you are judged on. Then we draft your application for you.

3 more criteria · 4 more prompts

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Do you pass?3 checks

Each one can rule you out. Tick the ones you meet.

Your organisation

  • Eligible employer or group sponsor

    Eligible employer and group sponsors

The trainee

  • Apprentice completes training and certification milestones

    Apprentices complete levels of in-class training and attain the highest level of trade certification

  • Under 25 or under-represented apprentice

    Under the age of 25 and/or self-identifies as part of an under-represented group

The money

Registration payment$1,000 per apprentice, up to $2,000

Employers can receive a $1,000 initial registration payment for each apprentice newly registered to Skilled Trades Ontario who is under the age of 25 and/or self-identifies as part of an under-represented group (for a maximum of $2,000, if applicable).

In-class level payment$1,000 per level, max 4 levels

Employers can receive a $1,000 milestone payment for each level of in-class training completed, up to 4 levels of schooling (where applicable).

Completion payment$1,000 at highest trade certification

Employers can receive a $1,000 milestone payment when your apprentice achieves the highest certification in their trade, either a Certificate of Apprenticeship or a Certificate of Qualification.

Payment timingPaid at registration, in-class, completion milestones

Grant payments follow registration, in-class progression and completion milestones through a one-time application link.

From application to money

  1. Ministry notifies youMinistry notifies you at level completion
  2. Apply through the linkApply via secure one-time online link
  3. Milestone payment issuedPayment issued for each verified milestone
In the funder’s words · 3
Ministry notifies you
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development notifies you when your apprentice completes a level of in-class training or attains the highest level of trade certification.
Apply through the link
Use the secure, one-time online application link the ministry sends you.
Milestone payment issued
The one-time application link releases payment for each verified milestone.

Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.

What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win Ontario Achievement Incentive Program

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Register your apprentice with Skilled Trades Ontario The incentive is tied to apprentices registered with Skilled Trades Ontario, and the registration payment applies to a newly registered apprentice who is under 25 and/or self-identifies as part of an under-represented group.

Required Documents 4

✓ Proof of apprentice registration with Skilled Trades Ontario
✓ In-class training level completion records

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Stacking partner data not yet available.

Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk
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How Ontario Achievement Incentive Program Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Ontario Achievement Incentive Program

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How much can an employer get per apprentice?
Up to $17,000 when the apprentice meets training and certification milestones. That maximum is made up of up to $2,000 at registration, up to $12,000 across in-class training levels, and up to $3,000 on completion.
Does every apprentice earn the $1,000 registration payment?
No. The page states the $1,000 initial registration payment is for each apprentice newly registered to Skilled Trades Ontario who is under the age of 25 and/or self-identifies as part of an under-represented group, to a maximum of $2,000.
What do the in-class payments look like?
$1,000 for each level of in-class training completed, up to 4 levels of schooling where applicable, plus an additional $1,000 per level for an apprentice under 25 and/or who self-identifies as part of an under-represented group, to a maximum of $12,000.
What happens when the apprentice certifies?
The employer can receive a $1,000 milestone payment when the apprentice achieves the highest certification in their trade, either a Certificate of Apprenticeship or a Certificate of Qualification, plus an additional $1,000 for an apprentice under 25 and/or from an under-represented group, to a maximum of $3,000.
How do I apply?
You do not apply in advance. Eligible employers and group sponsors are automatically notified by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development when their apprentices complete levels of in-class training and attain the highest level of trade certification, and receive a web-link to apply electronically through a secure, one-time online application.
Who do I contact with questions?
Employment Ontario handles questions about the Achievement Incentive.

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