RETURN TO ALL MEDIA

September 11, 2026

2026-27 Future Skills Grant Courses Support Career Growth in B.C.’s Skilled Trades

  • Share this story:

Tradespeople in British Columbia who are looking to upgrade their skills can now apply for the 2026–2027 StrongerBC Future Skills Grant. The latest selection includes more than 250 training courses and programs at 24 public post-secondary institutes, some of which can be accessed through TradeUpBC, a provincially funded initiative showcasing courses that can help tradespeople upgrade their careers.

Eligible B.C. residents who are at least 19 years old may receive up to $3,500 toward qualifying short-term training. The grant is available regardless of income and can help cover costs associated with training at participating public post-secondary institutes.

Since the program launched in 2023, it has supported more than 16,500 learners and provided more than $40 million in savings to B.C. residents. The 2026–27 program focuses on training connected to sectors identified in the Province's Look West strategy, including construction, clean technology, marine and maritime industries, transportation and logistics, mining, health care, agri-tech, life sciences, and emerging technologies.

Grant-eligible training available through TradeUpBC

More than 40 of the courses and programs included in the latest Future Skills Grant intake can be found on the TradeUpBC website. These courses are available at 9 different post-secondary institutes across the province and give tradespeople opportunities to build specialized technical knowledge, prepare for additional certifications, and develop skills that may help them take on new responsibilities.

For example, construction workers interested in high-performance building practices can explore the Essentials of Net-Zero and Passive House Construction Micro-credential. This addresses the growing need for workers who understand energy-efficient construction methods, building systems, and evolving performance standards.

Other construction-related options include the Builder Licence, Inclusive Leadership in Construction and Trades, and Electrical Endorsement Preparation for Refrigeration Mechanics.

The new selection also contains substantial training for people working in B.C.'s marine sector. Courses listed on TradeUpBC include Marine Emergency Duties – Domestic Vessel Safety, Marine Advanced First Aid, Small Vessel Operator Proficiency, and Bridge Resource Management.

More advanced maritime courses cover nautical leadership, meteorology, chartwork and pilotage, navigation safety, electronic navigation, ship construction and stability, and electronic chart display systems. These courses can help marine professionals maintain essential competencies or prepare for more advanced operational and leadership roles.

Transportation and environmental training is represented as well. Examples include the Designated Inspection Facility Operator, Ozone Layer Protection Awareness, Pesticide Applicators Certificate – Agriculture, and Pesticide Applicators Certificate – Landscape.

Skills for leadership and career advancement

Technical ability is only one part of career development in the trades. As experienced workers become supervisors, instructors or business owners, they may also need stronger management, communication and administrative skills.

The TradeUpBC course catalogue includes Future Skills Grant options such as the Applied Project Management Certificate Program, Advanced Project Management, Management Skills for Supervisors, Trades Instructor: Short Certificate, and Train the Trainer.

Learners can also explore transferable skills through courses in AutoCAD, bookkeeping, business intelligence and data analytics, drone mapping, climate-action planning, and truth and reconciliation in the workplace.

This variety reflects an important part of TradeUpBC's purpose: helping certified and experienced tradespeople find training that supports continued professional development. The Future Skills Grant can make that training more affordable.

How to apply

Prospective students should begin by reviewing the course on TradeUpBC and following the registration link to the institute offering it. They should then confirm that the course and intake remain eligible for funding, as program availability, registration requirements and funding status can change.

Applicants will need an active BC Services Card account to access the grant portal. Depending on the institute, students may need to apply for the grant before registering for their course, so it is important to review the institute's instructions before proceeding.

Visit the WorkBC StrongerBC Future Skills Grant page to review the funding requirements or search the current list of eligible programs through EducationPlannerBC. To explore professional development opportunities for skilled tradespeople, browse the courses available through TradeUpBC. The full list of grant-eligible courses on the TradeUpBC website is below.

Institute Course name Link
British Columbia Institute of Technology Essentials of Net-Zero and Passive House Construction Microcredential View course
Camosun College Marine Emergency Duties: Domestic Vessel Safety (MED-DVS) View course
Camosun College Marine Advanced First Aid (MAFA) View course
Camosun College Marine Basic First Aid View course
Camosun College Nautical Leadership and Teamwork (LTW) View course
Camosun College Electrical Endorsement Preparation for Refrigeration Mechanics: FSR Refrigeration B-R View course
Camosun College Ozone Layer Protection Awareness (HRAI Certification) View course
Camosun College Bridge Resource Management (BRM) View course
Camosun College Nautical Leadership and Managerial Skills View course
Camosun College AutoCAD Graphics Certificate Program View course
Camosun College Applied Project Management Certificate Program View course
Camosun College Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP) View course
Camosun College Electronic Chart Display & Information Systems (ECDIS) View course
Camosun College Simulated Electronic Navigation – Limited (SEN-L) View course
Camosun College Meteorology Level 2 (MET2) View course
Camosun College Meteorology Level 1 (MET1) View course
Camosun College Navigation Safety Level 1 (NS1) View course
Camosun College Chartwork and Pilotage Level 1 (CP1) View course
Camosun College Simulated Electronic Navigation – Operational (SEN-O) View course
Camosun College Chartwork and Pilotage Level 2 (CP2) View course
Camosun College Designated Inspection Facility Operator View course
Camosun College Ship Construction and Stability Level 3 (SCS3) View course
Camosun College Ship Construction and Stability Level 4 (SCS4) View course
Camosun College Ship Construction and Stability Level 5 (SCS5) View course
Langara College Project Management View course
Langara College Builder Licence View course
Okanagan College Canada’s Ozone Layer Protection Awareness Program View course
Okanagan College Facility Operator Course View course
Royal Roads University Truth and Reconciliation at Work Micro-credential View course
Royal Roads University Marine Supply Chain and Logistics Micro-credential View course
University of the Fraser Valley Pesticide Applicators Certificate – Agriculture View course
University of the Fraser Valley Pesticide Applicators Certificate – Landscape View course
University of Victoria Business Intelligence and Data Analytics View course
University of Victoria Climate Action Planning View course
University of Victoria Equity, Diversity and Inclusion View course
University of Victoria Mapping with Drones View course
Vancouver Community College Inclusive Leadership in Construction and Trades Badge View course
Vancouver Community College Trades Instructor: Short Certificate View course
Vancouver Community College Train the Trainer View course
Vancouver Island University Management Skills for Supervisors View course
Vancouver Island University Basic Elements of Bookkeeping Certificate Program (Non-Credit) View course