EI and Going Back to School: Referred vs Non-Referred Training in 2026

You can sometimes keep Employment Insurance while you go back to school, but it depends on whether your training is referred or non-referred. Referred training is approved by Service Canada, your province or territory, or an Indigenous organization; while you attend an approved program, you may keep receiving benefits. Non-referred training is a course you choose yourself; you can keep benefits only if you stay available for work, keep job hunting and are ready to drop or change the course for a job. Either way, declare the training to Service Canada before it starts. EI will not add weeks to cover a long program, and in 2026 the most you can get is $729 a week.

Referred and non-referred training

ESDC says you may be able to receive benefits while taking non-referred training or referred training. Non-referred training is any course or program you choose without approval from Service Canada, your provincial or territorial government, or an Indigenous organization, including college or university courses, professional certifications and language training. If you receive regular or fishing benefits, you must remain capable of and available for work, keep looking for suitable work, and be ready to adjust or cancel the training if you get a job offer.

Referred training is approved by one of those designated authorities. Provinces, territories and Indigenous organizations can refer EI clients to training programs, including apprenticeship training, and to other activities that help them return to work. Service Canada can also make referrals in some cases, described below.

When Service Canada can refer you

ESDC says you may be eligible for a Service Canada referral if you receive or are eligible for regular or fishing benefits, are approved to attend a program at a designated educational institution or certified institution in Canada, are a full-time student as defined by the institution, pay for the training yourself, and are a long-tenured worker. A long-tenured worker has received fewer than 36 weeks of regular or fishing benefits in the three years before the claim started and paid at least 30% of the annual maximum EI premiums in seven of the last ten years. If you are not sure, ESDC suggests applying for EI first and then calling Service Canada.

What to declare and when

ESDC says to declare training before the course starts, so it can confirm whether you can receive benefits. If you start first, you must stay available and keep looking for work until it confirms, and if it later finds your availability was affected, or you were not approved for referred training, you may have to repay benefits. For non-referred training, it wants the course and school name, the length and weekly hours of study, the level of the course, how to reach you, and whether you will keep looking for work and leave the course for a job. For referred training, it wants the referring counsellor's details, the start and end dates and the school. You can declare when you apply, on your EI reports, by phone, or with the Training Course Information form.

How much EI pays in 2026

Service Canada says the basic rate for most people is 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum. As of 1 January 2026, maximum yearly insurable earnings are $68,900, so the most you can receive is $729 a week. You can receive regular benefits for 14 to 45 weeks, depending on your region's unemployment rate and your insurable hours. EI benefits are taxable. ESDC is clear that if your training lasts longer than your weeks of benefits, no extra weeks are added to cover it.

Apprentices

If your province or territory refers you to full-time technical training as part of an apprenticeship, Service Canada says you may receive regular benefits while you attend. You need a 16-digit reference code from your province, territory or training institution as proof of referral, and a new code for each block of training. You serve the one-week waiting period only once for the same apprenticeship. See apprenticeship costs and grants.

Example with made-up inputs

These numbers are an example with made-up inputs. Chris is laid off after 14 years at one employer and qualifies for 36 weeks of EI at $640 a week. Chris has never claimed EI before and has paid premiums for years, so Chris may fit the long-tenured worker test. Chris enrols full time in a 30-week college program, paying tuition personally, and declares it before classes start. If Service Canada approves the referral, Chris can keep collecting during the 30 weeks and has 6 weeks left afterward to job hunt. If not, Chris must stay available for work during the course or risk repaying benefits.

Steps

1. Apply for EI first, then ask Service Canada whether you could be referred.
2. If you are in Ontario, ask an Employment Ontario provider about Better Jobs Ontario.
3. Get written approval or a referral before classes start, if you can.
4. Declare the training to Service Canada before it starts, with the details it asks for.
5. Keep reporting on your EI reports that you are in training.
6. Tell Service Canada if your schedule changes or you leave the course.

For funding the course itself, see Better Jobs Ontario, the part-time Canada Student Grant and the Canada training credit.