The Achievement Incentive (AI)

Overview of the The Achievement Incentive (AI) program:

The Achievement Incentive Program, administered by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD), offers milestone-based financial support to employer sponsors of apprentices in trades regulated under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 (BOSTA). It aims to address labour shortages, support equity in trades, and reduce barriers to apprenticeship progression and completion. Employers receive payments when apprentices reach significant milestones: registration, in-class training levels, and final certification. Additional payments are provided for sponsoring youth apprentices (under 25) and apprentices who self-identify as part of equity-deserving groups (e.g., Indigenous, racialized, newcomers, women, Francophones, people with disabilities, transgender individuals). The application process is triggered by a milestone notification sent by the Ministry, and employers complete a one-time application through a secure web portal. Payments are processed retroactively for milestones achieved in the previous 365 days. Group sponsors are eligible to apply on behalf of multiple employers and must distribute payments accordingly.

Benefits of the The Achievement Incentive (AI) program:

• Up to $17,000 in grants per apprentice
• Incentivizes full progression from registration to certification
• Special focus on supporting youth and equity-deserving apprentices
• Flexible, one-time application with retroactive eligibility
• Group sponsors can apply and distribute funds on behalf of employers
• Encourages higher completion rates and reduces training cost barriers
• Aligns with skilled trade workforce development priorities in Ontario

Eligibility criteria of the The Achievement Incentive (AI) program:

• Employers must:
• Be a corporation or unincorporated business subject to Ontario income tax
• Have a Federal/Ontario Business Number
• Have a permanent worksite in Ontario
• Be an approved sponsor under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021
• Have a Registered Training Agreement (RTA) in place with the apprentice
• Additional requirements:
• 45-day minimum registration period for registration milestone
• 30-day minimum sponsor-apprentice relationship for other milestones
• Apprentices must be registered for a minimum period per milestone level (e.g., 1230 months for training levels)
• Eligible group sponsors must:
• Be approved by the ministry
• Distribute milestone payments to the employers who provided training
• Report annually how funds were allocated