Can you collect EI and go to school at the same time in Canada?

It depends on whether you are studying full-time or part-time, and whether your training was approved by Service Canada. Generally: full-time students are denied EI during school because they are deemed "unavailable for work" — a core EI eligibility requirement. Part-time students may keep EI if they can prove they are genuinely available for, and capable of, accepting full-time work immediately. The strongest exception is approved training: if Service Canada or a provincial employment authority refers you to a course and approves the training, you can collect EI for the duration of that school program. Enrolling in school on your own initiative without prior Service Canada approval almost always results in disqualification.

What is the "available for work" test for EI?

To receive regular EI benefits, you must be available for work at all times — meaning you are ready, willing, and capable of working every working day and are not placing unreasonable restrictions on the jobs you will accept. Service Canada evaluates availability through your biweekly reports. If you declare your school schedule on a report, Service Canada will assess whether school prevents you from being available. Full-time school hours (e.g., Monday-Friday 9am–3pm) create a pattern of non-availability. Restrictions you place on shifts (e.g., no morning classes) are considered "unreasonable restrictions" if they prevent accepting normal employment hours. The availability test is judged on a case-by-case basis; there is no automatic rule that part-time school = EI approval.

What is approved training and how do you get it?

Approved training (also called referred training) means a course, program, or skills upgrade that has been formally approved by Service Canada or a provincial/territorial employment authority BEFORE you enrol. The referral usually comes in one of these ways: (1) Your Employment Insurance case manager refers you to a specific training program as part of your return-to-work action plan. (2) A provincial Employment Service (e.g., Ontario Works, Alberta Supports) refers and funds your training through a Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA). (3) You are on a layoff with a collective agreement training clause, and the employer arranges approved training through the union/employer program. If you receive approved training referral, EI continues to be paid for the duration of the approved training program — including for full-time school. You cannot retroactively get your training approved; the approval must come before you start the program.

What happens if you go to school without telling EI?

Not reporting school attendance on your biweekly EI reports is considered fraud (providing false or misleading information). If discovered via CRA matching, employer records, or school enrolment databases: you will be required to repay all EI received during the school period; you may face a monetary penalty (up to three times the amount wrongly received); a violation on your record may make it harder to qualify for EI in the future. Always disclose school attendance on your biweekly EI claimant reports. If uncertain whether your school activity affects eligibility, call Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218 before enrolling.

What are Part II EI Employment Benefits?

Part II Employment Benefits are a separate stream of EI-funded programs designed to help unemployed Canadians gain skills and find employment. They are distinct from regular EI (which is Part I). Programs include: Skills Development (SD): funding for tuition, books, and living expenses while in school; Employment Assistance Services: resume help and job search; Targeted Wage Subsidies: employer incentives to hire you; Self-Employment: startup funding to launch a business. Part II benefits are delivered by provinces and territories under Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs). To access Part II programs, contact a local employment services office (e.g., Ontario Works, Alberta Supports to Employment, BC WorkBC). You do not need to be currently on regular EI to access all Part II programs — but having recent EI insurable hours (within the past 5 years) makes you eligible for assistance.

Can you take online courses while on EI?

Online courses are subject to the same EI availability rules as in-person courses. What matters is the total time commitment and your availability for immediate work — not whether the course is digital or on-campus. A few hours of online evening study (e.g., one evening certificate course while available for daytime full-time work) is unlikely to affect EI eligibility. A full-time online degree taking 30+ hours per week of study time will be treated the same as full-time in-person school and likely trigger disqualification. Report any courses you are taking on your biweekly EI reports. When in doubt, call Service Canada before enrolling.

How does school affect EI for international students in Canada?

International students with a study permit are generally not eligible for Employment Insurance in the same way as Canadian citizens and permanent residents. EI is based on employment in Canada with insurable earnings. International students can legally work (on-campus without a permit; off-campus up to 24 hours/week with open work permit authorization), and those hours create insurable hours for EI purposes. However: full-time student status will trigger the availability test just as for any claimant; study permit holders must also meet all other EI eligibility requirements; at the end of studies, applying for EI while transitioning to a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) is possible — but the availability-for-work requirement still applies from day one of claiming.

EI While in School Canada: Can You Collect EI and Go to School at the Same Time?

Collecting EI while in school is rarely permitted — but there are specific, well-defined exceptions that let you study and keep your benefits.

Quick-reference: school and EI scenarios

Situation	EI continues?	Notes
Full-time school, self-initiated	No	Deemed unavailable for work
Part-time school, genuinely available for work	Maybe	Case-by-case availability assessment
Approved/referred training (full-time)	Yes	Must be approved BEFORE starting
Evening or weekend course only	Usually yes	Must not restrict daytime availability
Online part-time course (low hours)	Usually yes	Declare on biweekly report
Employer-sponsored training during layoff	Yes	Coordinated with Service Canada
School not declared on biweekly reports	No — fraud	Repayment + potential penalty

The availability-for-work requirement

EI is only payable when you are “capable of and available for work and unable to obtain suitable employment.” School creates an availability problem because:

Fixed class schedules make you unavailable for normal work shifts
Academic deadlines and exams may restrict when you can start a new job
Full-time study implies your primary commitment is not seeking employment

What Service Canada looks for:

How many hours per week do your classes take?
Can you accept day-shift, evening-shift, or overnight work?
Have you been actively applying for jobs during the claim period?
Is school your primary focus, or employment?

Part-time study with genuinely flexible availability is often permissible — but you must be able to honestly report that you are available for and actively seeking full-time work.

Approved training: the full-time school exception

Approved (referred) training is the only scenario where full-time school and EI are fully compatible.

How to get an approved training referral

Contact Service Canada or a provincial Employment Service before enrolling
Explain your employment barriers and how the training will address them
Service Canada or the provincial office assesses whether the training is appropriate
If approved, they issue a referral letter confirming EI continues during training
You enrol in the program; EI payments continue for the approved duration

Important: You cannot retroactively get a referral. If you enrol first and apply for approval after, the training is almost never approved. The decision must precede enrolment.

Training programs typically approved

Program type	Example
Trades certification	Electrical apprenticeship
Healthcare credentials	PSW certificate
Technology skills	Coding bootcamp (6–12 weeks)
Language training	English/French for employment
Professional recertification	Accounting designation courses

Part II EI Employment Benefits

If you are not currently on regular EI but have insurable employment hours in the past 5 years, you may access Part II benefits — essentially career and skills funding.

Province/Territory	Program name	Contact
Ontario	Employment Ontario	ontario.ca/page/employment-ontario
British Columbia	WorkBC	workbc.ca
Alberta	Alberta Supports to Employment	alberta.ca/employment-training-financial-support
Quebec	Services Québec	emploiquebec.gouv.qc.ca
All others	Service Canada locations	servicecanada.gc.ca

Part II programs can fund:

Tuition and books
Child care during training
Tools and equipment
Transportation to training

What to do before enrolling in school while on EI

Step 1: Call Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218 before you register for any course.

Step 2: Ask explicitly: “Will this course affect my EI eligibility? Can I get a training referral?”

Step 3: Get any approval in writing (a reference number, letter, or decision via My Service Canada Account).

Step 4: Report your school attendance on every biweekly EI claimant report. Describe course hours, schedule, and confirm you are still available for work.

Never:

Enrol in school without informing Service Canada
Omit course attendance from biweekly reports
Assume online = automatically fine

Returning to school vs. upgrading skills: a practical distinction

Returning to school full-time for a new career (e.g., going back for a nursing degree after a layoff) → Apply for Part II Skills Development funding first; this is what the program is designed for.

Taking one evening upgrading course (e.g., Excel certification, first-aid recertification) → Declare it on reports; it is unlikely to affect EI as long as you are available for full-time work.

Attending a union-arranged training period during a temporary layoff → Generally approved; ensure your employer and union have notified Service Canada as part of the layoff arrangement.