Get it right first time!

A practical ELC checklist covering eligibility, course approval, claim deadlines, costs and authorisation, to help prevent avoidable queries.

Last reviewed: 17 October 2026. Checked against current ELCAS guidance and JSP 822, Volume 9 (November 2025).

A complete, accurate Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) application helps prevent avoidable queries. Before committing to training, check the following points with your education staff if serving, or your Single Service Representative (SSR) if you have left.

Check your eligibility first

Confirm membership, online account access, remaining awards and qualifying service. Lower-tier funding normally requires six qualifying years; the historical exception concerns those who completed four qualifying years before 1 April 2017. Higher-tier funding requires eight years. Special cases, including medical discharge, need an individual assessment. Our eligibility guide explains the main rules.

Check the provider and the course

Both must be approved. A provider's approved status does not make every course it offers eligible. Check the exact course title and qualification on the current ELCAS listing. Eligible learning normally leads to Level 3 or above, or the appropriate national equivalent, including SCQF Level 6 or above in Scotland.

Allow enough time

Submit your claim at least 15 clear working days before the course starts and allow extra time for queries or local processing. This is not a guarantee of approval within that period. If time is short, contact your authorising staff immediately. Check any earlier provider registration deadline too.

Get the details and figures right

• Use the online claim process and check your personal details, provider, exact course title, qualification level, modules, dates and fees.
• Include the evidence requested by your education staff or SSR. Veterans should provide the required proof of discharge date and home address.
• Check the course start date against the financial year being claimed and your entitlement expiry date.
• Ensure the funding request is within your available award. Ordinary ELC normally funds up to 80% of eligible fees, subject to your award limit (£1,000 or £2,000 for the usual tiers, or up to £3,000 for an eligible aggregated lower-tier claim); you pay the balance. Include any course discounts when calculating the claim.
• For subsequent claims, complete the required earlier course evaluation and supply evidence of study. Ask your education staff about the correct procedure if courses overlap.

Wait for authorisation before starting

Education staff or your SSR approve your claim; ELCAS administers the scheme. Obtain your Claim Authorisation Note (CAN) and present it to the named provider before the course starts.

Retrospective claims are not permitted. Do not pay the full fee expecting reimbursement later. Any payment before approval is at your own risk. If your course details change, request the appropriate amendment rather than using the CAN for a different course or provider.

Read the official claim checklist, veterans' instructions and JSP 822, Volume 9 before applying.