Second Career
Second Career Strategy is a funding program offered at RAC's Toronto campus and is available for Ontario residents who meet the program criteria. The key is to determine whether you qualify for both Second Career and RAC. Since all RAC programs of study are approved by the Second Career program, we recommend that you apply to both RAC & Second Career simultaneously.
Please visit the following link to find your nearest Second Career assessment centre to speak with a Second Career counsellor and they will provide you with the appropriate application forms. RAC currently has numerous Second Career clients. RAC programs are all approved by the Second Career program as we provide accelerated learning & retraining programs for high growth markets in the communication and entertainment industries. RAC develops employment ready graduates for new economy jobs, and that's what Second Career is all about!
You can start your RAC application following this link or call us at 416-977-5074 to meet with an RAC counsellor.
For more information on Second Career Strategy and RAC please read the information below.
Toronto
Second Career is an Ontario government program that was created to help people who :
- Have been laid off at any point after January 1, 2005 and are currently unemployed or working less than 20 hours a week.
- Have taken an interim job to make ends meet after their initial layoff whether you are now unemployed or still working in such a job.
- In addition, non-EI-eligible clients are now also eligible for Second Career support to take training less than 6 months in length.
The program will help unemployed workers who commit to a long-term training plan make the transition to new careers in growing areas of the economy.
Second Career can help an applicant with the costs of tuition, books, living expenses and other costs associated with the training for up to $28,000 to build skills for a new career. In some cases, Second Career can provide additional funding for disability accommodation, dependent care, relocation expenses, and academic upgrading.
Other Employment Ontario programs like Ontario Skills Development also provide support for training.
Where do I begin?
Start by calling RAC Toronto at 416-977-5074 and ask to speak with a counsellor about how the program works and whether you may be eligible. Our admissions counsellors will be able to assist you throughout the entire process.
Second Career
RAC can assist you with educational options that will help you make an educated choice that will suit your life and financial requirements.
Who issues Second Career program funding?
Funding may be available through MTCU Skills Development or MTCU Second Career Strategy for those who qualify. RAC counsellors can assist you through the process of collecting information needed for your application, however MTCU grants the funding not RAC itself.
What is Second Career Strategy?
Second Career is a new Ontario government program to help people who have been laid off any time after January 01, 2005 and those who have been laid off within the last 12 months and are currently unemployed or working less than 20 hours a week. The program will help unemployed workers who commit to a training plan make the transition to new careers in growing areas of the economy. Second Career can help an applicant with the cost of tuition, books, living expenses, and other costs associated with the training to build skills for a new career. Other Employment Ontario programs like Skills Development also provide support for training.
The Second Career Strategy will support recently laid-off unemployed workers who require long-term skills training for employment in high-skill, demand occupations in the local labour market.
This includes:
- recently laid off (Application must be received within 1 year of date of lay off from most recent employer)
- EI claimants
- received EI benefits since Jan. 1, 2005 (reachback)
- individuals who are not EI eligible (recently laid-off but not eligible)
- Laid-off workers who have taken an interim job to make ends meet
- Short term training options (less than six months) for laid-off workers who are not eligible for Employment Insurance
- Laid-off workers who have taken an interim job to make ends meet
- Potential additional financial assistance to cover expenses for the cost of living away from home while participating in training, and dependent care.
- Training can be up to two years in duration. Up to three years if a preparatory period of training is needed.
- People on Salary Continuance (serving their notice period) or having received a severance package are eligible.
- Training must lead to a career that is ranked NOC “C” or higher. All of our programs meet this criteria.
What does the funding cover?
Second Career Strategy can help an applicant with the costs of tuition, books, living expenses and other costs associated with the training to build skills for a new career. Other Employment Ontario programs like Ontario Skills Development also provide support for training.
How to Apply
Please select the program of interest by visiting the programs noted at the bottom of this page.
How Does Second Career Work?
Second Career starts with a visit to an Employment Ontario Assessment Centre. A counsellor will talk to you about your goals, and the kind of help you need. If Second Career is the right choice for you, the counsellor will help you prepare a training plan and apply for Second Career.
Who Do I Contact To Find Out More About Second Career?
If you're interested in exploring a second career, you first need to complete a Return to Work Action Plan through an Employment Assessment Centre nearest you. If your Return to Work Action Plan identifies that you need training, you will be provided with the appropriate application package. The application requires you to research training providers in your chosen occupation. In addition to RAC one of the training providers you need to research must be a public college.