Make your claim with care

Use our current ELC dos and don’ts to check course approval, deadlines, contributions and authorisation before committing to training.

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

Careful preparation helps your Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) claim progress smoothly. Use this checklist with your education staff if serving, or your Single Service Representative (SSR) if you have left.

Do

• Read the current rules. Use JSP 822, Volume 9, and the ELCAS claim checklist.
• Discuss your learning plan. Consider the qualification's relevance, your ability to complete it, study time and potential Service disruption. Serving personnel normally need to show direct benefit to Defence; exceptions include planned resettlement and qualifying learning within an approved recovery plan. Confirm the applicable rules with your adviser.
• Check both provider and course approval. Verify your exact course on the current ELCAS listing. Eligible study normally leads to a recognised qualification at Level 3 or above, or the appropriate national equivalent, including SCQF Level 6 or above in Scotland.
• Apply early. Submit at least 15 clear working days before the course starts, allowing extra time for queries and local processing. Follow any earlier deadline set by your authorising staff or provider.
• Check your entitlement and figures. Confirm remaining awards, expiry date, course dates, fees, discounts and contribution. Normally there are three claims in total, one per financial year; an eligible aggregated lower-tier award uses all three.
• Keep staff informed. Report changes to your course or discharge date promptly and obtain any necessary amendment to your authorisation.
• Complete your evaluation. Submit it through your member account and retain the evidence of study required for later claims.

Don't

• Start learning in expectation of retrospective funding. Obtain approval and your Claim Authorisation Note (CAN), then present it to the named provider before starting.
• Pay the full fee expecting reimbursement. Payments made before approval are at your own risk. Agree the approved booking and contribution arrangements first.
• Assume provider approval covers every course. Do not book an unlisted course or rely on a provider whose application for approval is still pending.
• Assume ELCAS approves personal entitlement or account access. Serving personnel should use authorised education staff; veterans should use their SSR.
• Accept prohibited provider incentives. Subsidies towards your contribution and offers such as free accommodation, travel or equipment can breach the rules.
• Assume every expense is covered. Ordinary ELC normally contributes up to 80% of eligible fees within the award cap. You cover the balance and excluded costs, such as travel, accommodation and additional course materials.

Combining ELC with resettlement funding

During eligible resettlement, an Individual Resettlement Training Costs (IRTC) grant may supplement ELC and cover some or all of the normal 20% contribution, subject to both schemes' rules. The learning must use the approved ELC provider and approved course. Standard Learning Credits cannot simultaneously fund elements of the same ELC-supported learning purpose. Ask your adviser to check the funding plan before you apply.

For current account and claim contacts, use the official contact guidance and SSR directory. Our ELC 101 guide explains the application sequence.