The MOD’s Enhanced Learning Credits course scheme provides funding for members of the Armed Forces to support them with lifelong learning. For people leaving the service, during their resettlement period, this financial support can help them retrain to a new career as they prepare to transition to civilian life.
Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) can be used for nationally recognised qualifications at Level 3 and above, including degrees, across a variety of industries.
For courses to be covered, they must be delivered by an ELCAS-approved provider. ELCAS is the Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service.
To clarify the two terms:
- ELC is the credits – that’s the funding scheme itself.
- ELCAS administers the scheme – that’s the organisation that manages it all.
ELCAS courses are available in many different industries; the list updates as new courses are approved, so it’s always best to check the website. There are several core areas: Higher Education (Degrees); Private Security & Specialised Operations; Health, Safety & Environmental Management; Business Management & Leadership; Cyber Security, Computing & IT; and Trades & Building Services.
For trades and building services, this includes City & Guilds Level 3 electrical installations, renewables, including solar PV and heat pump training, plumbing, domestic heating and gas engineering, as well as building installation and property maintenance skills.
How ELCAS funding works
How to claim ELCAS / ELC
ELCs are available for serving personnel and for service leavers. Serving personnel need to apply through their Education Staff. For service leavers, there’s a claiming procedure to follow:
In brief, a service leaver claiming standard ELC will:
- Contact your Single Service Representative to get a link to the members’ area of the ELCAS website
- Search for an approved course
- Complete a claim form through ELCAS and provide proof of discharge and home address to your SSR at least 15 working days prior to course start or registration date
- Provide a Claim Authorisation Note (CAN) to your course provider
For full guidance notes for claimants no longer in service is available on the ELCAS or talk to your Single Service Representative.
Enhanced Learning Credits eligibility
To be eligible for ELC, in general you’ll need to have done at least six years of military service but there are some transitional rules for people who completed qualifying service before 1st April 2017. ELC is available for in-service personnel and ex-service personnel and veterans, provided that they have accumulated sufficient eligible years in service.
For the lower tier, individual scheme members must have 6 years or more of eligible service. However, there are some specific rules around dates and qualifying service, so please check the ELCAS guidance.
How much ELC funding is available
The ELC support is available over three separate financial years, and you can make up to three claims.
The amount you can claim depends on years of service: a maximum of £1,000 per claim year if you’ve completed six years of service (this is known as the Lower Tier), and £2,000 per claim year if you’ve completed eight years and above (this is known as the Higher Tier).
ELCs can cover up to 80% of a course fee, up to the maximum ELC entitlement. The remaining 20% is covered by the individual.
After leaving the military, you have a number of years when you are eligible to make a claim. Currently, eligible service leavers can generally claim within five years of discharge, subject to the scheme’s eligibility rules and exceptions. Some exceptions apply, including for certain personnel medically discharged on attributable grounds.
ELCAS approved learning providers
The training providers that accept ELCs will be recognised by the MOD ELCAS scheme. These ELCAS approved training providers are referred to as Approved Learning Providers and they’ll be able to use the ELCAS logo.
Not all courses from that provider might be eligible, so you need to check that the specific course is listed under the Approved Learning Provider in the search facility on the ELCAS website.
ELCAS and construction trade qualifications
There are a number of ELCAS courses available in building services and trades. These are delivered at Level 3 or above. Some of the subjects covered include electrical installations, solar, heat pumps, plumbing, gas, carpentry, and property maintenance.
For a construction course to be approved by ELCAS, it needs to be a Level 3 course through an Approved Provider and needs to be listed as a course on the ELCAS website. If eligible, up to 80% of the course fee can be funded through ELCAS.
Many skills from military training translate well to trades; an industry with strict regulations, safety standards and high standards.
“As time served in the Armed Forces, I was eligible for enhanced learning credits, which could be used on a course to help retrain into another career. I decided the best use for my ELCAS credits was to part fund my training with Able Skills, who are listed on the ELCAS website. “
FAQs about enhanced learning credits courses (ELC /ELCAS courses)
Can I use ELCAS to become an electrician?
You can train under the ELCAS scheme to become an electrician. ELCs can be used to fund Level 3 and above courses, so can help fund your training to become an electrician.
Able Skills provides the following ELCAS electrical courses
- City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures)
- Level 3 Award in Initial and Periodic Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations
- Level 3 Award in the In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment
- Level 4 Award In the Design and Verification of Electrical Installations
What’s the difference between ELCAS and ELC?
ELCAS (Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service) is the organisation that managers the funding scheme. ELC (Enhanced Learning Credits) is a funding scheme. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, so some people might say ELC courses or ELCAS training courses, when they mean ELCAS approved courses. These courses are also sometimes referred to as military resettlement courses, courses for service leavers, courses for Armed Forces veterans or Army resettlement courses.
Can I use ELCAS for a plumbing course?
ELCs can be used to fund an ELCAS plumbing course. As ELCAS courses are Level 3 and above, this could be an advanced technical diploma in plumbing or a Level 3 Certificate in Building Installation and Property Maintenance Skills that includes domestic plumbing.
What are the best careers after leaving the military?
The best career after leaving the Armed Forces will depend on your interests, your strengths, circumstances and any prior experience and training. Military training provides an individual with many skills and competencies that will transfer to civilian careers.
Getting started: Find an ELCAS course at Able Skills
“We see several personnel retraining after the military as electricians each year. It's a trade where safety is so critical, and one thing I've noticed is that they follow instructions to the letter and take feedback on board quickly. It's probably because they're already used to following strict procedures and understand that staying safe means following instructions.”
– Robert Burgess, Able Skills Electrical Instructor
Able Skills is an Approved Learning Provider under the ELCAS scheme. We provide military career change courses and construction courses for veterans to help them enhance their careers, whether they are currently serving or plan to leave and transition into resettlement. We offer military electrician training, trade courses for veterans, and ELCAS courses in carpentry, and building installation and property maintenance.
Search our list of courses on ELCAS. Phone or email to find how you can use ELCs to fund your training.
Electrician Training
Multiskills