Financial Aid for your program may be available if you qualify. Please take a look at some of the options below. If you are currently working in a school or daycare in Ontario, your employer can apply for the Ontario Job Grant for you. The paperwork is simple, and the government pays nearly all the costs associated with your program.

Canada-Ontario Job Grant (i.e. Work-Study Program)
http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/eopg/programs/cojg.html

The Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) is an Ontario government funding program that offers training grants to employers for their staff. Through the program, Daycares or Montessori Schools may receive funding from the government to send their staff to Montessori Teachers College to further their staffs training and/or education, including Montessori training.

1. Approach your Current Employer to see if the school has applied for Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) previously, and if they can apply for you.
2. If your employer has NOT applied for this program, kindly advise them that Montessori Teachers College would be happy to connect/contact them (virtually) to explain the process and walk them through the application.
3. If your employer has already applied previously, have your employer submit an online application form which will be reviewed and approved by the Canada-Ontario Job Grant Agency.

   Below is the link to the Employer Application Form to apply:

https://www.eoss.tcu.gov.on.ca/COJG_Online/?locale=en#/COJG_Online/introduction

Second Career
https://www.ontario.ca/page/second-career

Second career is a program designed by the government of Ontario to retrain laid off workers to a career in demand. Depending on your situation, Second Career may provide you up to $28,000.00 for;

-tuition
-books
-other instruction costs such as manuals or workbooks
-transportation
-basic living costs

You may qualify for the Second Career Funding program if you;

• Have been laid off from a full-time job in the past 4 years in Ontario.
• If you are currently unemployed, working fewer than 20hrs per week or simply underemployed.
• If you are interested in training for a new career in Ontario.

1. Click on the below link to answer a few questions and find out if you qualify: https://www.ontario.ca/page/second-career
2. Visit your nearest Employment Ontario Assessment Centre for your full evaluation of this opportunity. Alternatively, to prevent the spread of COVID19, Employment Ontario Assessment Centres are offering services remotely. Choose an option below and a staff member will connect with you as soon as possible;

• Request a Service Provider Appointment: https://www.eoss.tcu.gov.on.ca/CitizenPortal/infoAboutYou.do?programCode=ESSC&lang=en
• Call 519.971.9698 and leave a message with your name, phone number and reason for your call
• Email eac@publicboard.ca

Scotiabank Professional Plan
https://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/small-business/business-banking/industries/student-professionals.html

When entering a professional program like Teaching, you might qualify for a low-interest bank line of credit through the Scotia Professional Plan for Students.

1. If you are not a Scotiabank account holder you will need to call and/or make an appointment to visit a financial officer in person. S/He will help you through the process.
2. If you already have a Scotiabank account, click on the link above and sign into your online Scotiabank account.
3. Once you sign in, follow the steps to fill out an online application to see if you can be approved for the Professional Plan. Alternatively, you may also qualify for other lines of credit – information will be available to you online under your account.

Alberta Student Aid
https://studentaid.alberta.ca/

Loans and grants are available for apprentices registered in Alberta that are attending full-time technical training.

1. Alberta Student Aid asks students to use the online services to apply for and to manage their Alberta student loan.
2. To create an account and register: https://account.alberta.ca/signup
3. If you are having difficulty creating or assessing your Alberta Student Aid account, call the Service Centre and choose Option 2 for assistance (Mon through Fri 7:30am to 8:30pm) Alberta time (MST): 1.855.606.2096.

 https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans

When entering a professional program like Teaching, you might qualify for a low-interest bank line of credit through the Scotia Professional Plan for Students or other Bank Loans. If you’re a US Citizen, the US Direct Loan Program could provide you the support you need.

TYPES OF FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS AVAILABLE:

The U.S. Department of Education’s federal student loan program is the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Under this program, the U.S. Department of Education is your lender. There are four types of Direct Loans available:

• Direct Subsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school.
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but eligibility is not based on financial need.
• Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify.
• Direct Consolidation Loans allow you to combine all of your eligible federal student loans into a single loan with a single loan servicer.

1. Visit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) homepage to apply online: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

Student Lines of Credit
Don’t forget that your (or any!) bank will be more than willing to sit with you and explore any Student or Regular lines of credit. When entering a professional program like Teaching, you might qualify for a student line of credit which allows you to borrow money from a financial institution to help you cover your expenses before you start receiving employment insurance cheques. Monthly interest payments are generally required on any balance carried forward.

Check with the bank of your choice to see if you qualify.

1. Visit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) homepage to apply online: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.