Who can get EI regular benefits during full-time technical training, the 16-digit reference code, when to apply, the one waiting week, and an estimate for your training block.
| Who | Apprentices whose province or territory has referred them to full-time technical training (sometimes called block-release training) as part of their apprenticeship may be able to get EI regular benefits while they attend the course. |
| Proof of referral | A 16-digit reference code from your province, territory or training institution, issued once you are approved for full-time technical training. Each block needs its own referral and gets a new code. |
| When to apply | Online. You can apply as early as 7 days before your last day of work. |
| Waiting week | One week, served only once for the same apprenticeship program. |
| How much | For most people, 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to $729 a week as of January 1, 2026. Taxes are deducted. |
| Hours needed | For EI regular benefits, 420 to 700 hours of insurable employment in the qualifying period, depending on the regional unemployment rate (more if you have received a notice of violation). |
| When it ends | If you are on leave from work for the training, on the last day of the course. |
| Announced for 2027 | An announced Apprenticeship Training Grant of $400 a week, paid in addition to EI, while apprentices attend mandatory in-class technical training, for eligible weeks beginning on or after January 3, 2027. Not in effect yet; how to apply has not been published. |
The estimate uses the basic rate that applies to most people (55%), the $729 weekly maximum from January 1, 2026, and leaves out the 1-week waiting period when it applies. It rounds to the nearest dollar, so treat it as approximate, and it is before tax. It does not check whether you qualify or have enough insurable hours. The announced Apprenticeship Training Grant is shown on a separate line and is not added in, because it is not in effect and how to apply has not been published.
If your province or territory has referred you to full-time technical training (sometimes called block-release training) as part of your apprenticeship, you may be able to receive EI regular benefits while you attend the course. You need a referral for each block of full-time technical training.
Other EI benefits may also apply: sickness, maternity, parental or caregiving benefits.
The reference code is your proof of referral. Your province, territory or training institution issues it once you are approved to attend full-time technical training, and a new code is issued for every block.
The 1-week waiting period is served only once for the same apprenticeship program. If you served it at an earlier block of the same program, it does not apply again at a later block.
EI regular benefits normally require a report every 2 weeks to receive payments. Apprentices can ask to be exempt from these biweekly reports. If you asked for the exemption and then work or earn money, contact Service Canada to report it.
If you are on leave from work to attend full-time technical training, your EI benefits end on the last day of the course.
If you lose your job through no fault of your own before the end date of your claim, you may be able to keep receiving regular benefits while you look for work. In general, EI regular benefits last 14 to 45 weeks, depending on your region’s unemployment rate and your insurable hours.
For most people the basic rate is 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum. The average comes from your best weeks: your total insurable earnings over the best 14 to 22 weeks, depending on your region’s unemployment rate (14 in the regions with the highest unemployment, 22 in those with the lowest), divided by that number of weeks.
As of January 1, 2026 the maximum yearly insurable earnings is $68,900, which puts the maximum at $729 a week. Taxes are deducted from EI payments.
EI regular benefits need 420 to 700 hours of insurable employment in your qualifying period, depending on the unemployment rate in your region: 700 hours where it is 6% or less, and 420 where it is above 13%. You need more if you have received a notice of violation. Look up your EI economic region by postal code to find the hours you need, starting from the Do you qualify page.
The qualifying period is the shorter of the 52 weeks before your claim starts and the time since the start of a previous benefit period approved in the last 52 weeks. In some cases it can be extended to 104 weeks.
The other supports in the same backgrounder are summarised on the Red Seal Completion Bonus page.
The Government of Canada’s apprentice page also points to the Canada Apprentice Loan and to tax deductions and credits for apprentices and tradespersons, and says provinces and territories may help with accommodation, childcare and transportation costs.
Free practice questions for 11 Red Seal trades, with a written explanation on every answer. Pick your trade to start a free quiz. Each trade’s bank is also sold as a printable PDF with revision notes, if you would rather study on paper.
Apprentices may be able to receive EI regular benefits while they attend full-time technical training, sometimes called block-release training, that their province or territory has referred them to as part of their apprenticeship. A referral is needed for each block, and you can apply online as early as 7 days before your last day of work.
It is the proof of your referral to full-time technical training. Your province, territory or training institution issues it once you are approved to attend, with a new code for each block. Give it when you apply to avoid delays; if you do not know it or have not received it, contact your province, territory or training institution. If you applied without it, or you are already on EI and about to start training, contact Service Canada with the code as soon as possible.
No. The 1-week waiting period is served only once for the same apprenticeship program, so it does not apply again at later blocks of that program.
For most people, 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $729 a week as of January 1, 2026, when the maximum yearly insurable earnings is $68,900. The average uses your best 14 to 22 weeks, depending on your region's unemployment rate, and taxes are deducted from EI payments.
If you are on leave from work to attend full-time technical training, EI benefits end on the last day of the course. If you lose your job through no fault of your own before the end date of your claim, you may be able to continue receiving regular benefits while you look for work.
An announced weekly top-up of $400 while apprentices attend mandatory in-class technical training, paid in addition to EI benefits, for eligible weeks of technical training beginning on or after January 3, 2027. It was not in effect on November 5, 2026, and ESDC's October 23, 2026 backgrounder does not say how to apply or give a total amount.
The three Government of Canada EI pages were read on November 5, 2026. The backgrounder was checked on November 2, 2026 for the Red Seal Completion Bonus page. The official pages are the authority; if they change, they win.
Independent guide. Not affiliated with the Government of Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada or Service Canada, and not financial advice. The calculator gives an estimate only.
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