There are numerous funding options to help make your professional studies more affordable, including financing available through Knowledge Bureau, funding through each student’s own tax-assisted savings plans, and tax assistance through various CRA tax incentives. However, what can be deducted depends on who you are and what programs you will be involved in.

Knowledge Bureau is certified by the Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) as an educational institution providing courses ( other than courses designed for university credit) that furnish a person with skills for or improve a person’s skills in, an occupation. An occupation, for this purpose, is considered to be employment as well as a profession, vocation, or trade.

Program Pre-requisites

Successful candidates for the program will have a minimum of high school education, be employed and mentored with a firm that provides services the services being studied and/or at least three years of industry experience. Students

in the programs offered complete a series of 30-hour online certificate courses in their chosen field of specialization and may supplement online learning with peer-to-peer sessions in regional workshops or conferencing offered by Knowledge Bureau.

Continuing Education/Continuing Professional Development

Knowledge Bureau also welcomes professionals who seek an academic path to CE/CPD. Choose CE Summits (10 hours), Distinguished Advisor Conference (up to 15 hours), or online certificate courses (30 hours for full credit courses).

Tuition Fee Deductibility

Tuition fees paid to Knowledge Bureau qualify for the tuition fee credit.

RRSP Lifelong Learning Plan

Knowledge Bureau will consider the student to be in full-time attendance for purposes of funding under the RRSP Lifelong Learning Plan if that student enrolls in a Designation Program. To qualify, the Designation Program must be completed within a six-month enrolment period. Otherwise, the student is considered to be enrolled in part-time attendance with Knowledge Bureau.

Expense Deductibility

In some cases, self-employed students may claim the cost of training as a business deduction. Students are referred to IT 357R2 for CRA’s interpretation of the rules. Of specific note in the bulletin: training costs are not deductible as current expenses if they are capital expenditures (that is, they result in a lasting benefit to the taxpayer i.e., where a new skill or qualification is acquired (ie. training as a specialist). In this case, students should consider using the tuition fee credit instead. However, if training is to maintain, update or upgrade an existing skill or qualification, the related costs are deductible as a current expense. Examples of fully deductible programs: A professional development course is taken as required or recommended by a professional body to maintain professional standards, a tax course is taken by a lawyer or accountant who is qualified to do tax work, whether or not he or she has previously been actively involved in such work. Any portion of costs that are personal or unreasonable is not deductible.

Free Trial Period

Students may withdraw from the program at no charge within the first seven (7) days of registration or after completing one chapter of the course (whichever comes first). This is the free trial period.

Extensions

Students of online certificate courses have three months to complete each course plus one month grace period for a total of 4 months. Extensions may be purchased at a cost of $99.00 for each extension of one month, $297 for a three-month extension.

Resumed Studies

Re-enrolment after Course Expiry: After an absence of six months or more, students may re-register with a re-enrolment fee of $295. New course materials, study periods and Virtual Campus access will be granted.

Rewrites: Our rewrite policy is discussed in greater detail in our course material. One rewrite attempt will be allowed within a month of unsuccessful testing. Rewrite fees are $295 per exam.

Business Builder Programs for Employee Training

Knowledge Bureau customized training options for your practices. You can mix and match courses from our designation programs and enroll multiple employees or associations using our Business Program:

Single Courses, Multiple Students

When two or more students in the same office want to start the same course at the same time, The Business Builder Program provides discounted tuition when more than one employee takes a designation program. See registration and tuition or call 1-866-953-4769 for details.

Corporate Partner Supports

Knowledge Bureau will provide co-op funding for attendance at live events (Ce Summits and DAC) for corporate partners who bring groups of advisors (10 or more) to live events.

Full Payment Discounts

Tuition fee deductions may be received when students provide full payment on designation programs. Preferred tuition rates are also available for Graduates and Designate holders.

EZ-Y Instalment Payment Plan

Knowledge Bureau offers inexpensive financing options for single certificate courses, Diploma and Designation Programs. See Virtual Registrar or call 1-866-953-4769 for details.

Online Courses Seasonal Deadlines

March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. For details subscribe to Knowledge Bureau Report. CE Summits: (A Peer-to-Peer Instructor Lead Opportunity) January 10, May 15 and October 31.

Returning Students and Designates

Qualify for Returning Client and VIP Designate rates. Please enroll through your Virtual Campus registration page.

​There are several Government programs and grants that may be available to assist employers and employees. The following links present the programs available at a Federal level as well as for each Province:

Federal

Employment and Social Development Canada

Provinces and Territories

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Newfoundland and Labrador

Northwest Territories

Nova Scotia

Nunavut

Ontario

Prince Edward Island

Quebec

Saskatchewan

Yukon

Tuition Fee Amount

Knowledge Bureau is a private, certified post-secondary educational institution that provides courses that furnish its students with skills for or improve a person’s skills in, an occupation. Its tuition fees qualify for tax credit. Established in 2003 by Founder and President Evelyn Jacks, it focuses specifically on providing world-class financial education required for professionals in the tax, accounting and financial services.

Tuition Fees Paid in Excess of $100 Qualify for the Tuition Fee Amount

This includes the fees for all self-study courses, the CE Summits and the Distinguished Advisor Conference™ (DAC). It is an important option for the partial recovery of costs paid by employees who fund their own conference fees. To claim the deduction on your tax return, you’ll need a completed Form T2202, Tuition and Enrolment Certificate which is available through Knowledge Bureau. Simply log in to Your Virtual Campus and go to the Administration section for access to your T2202 Form.

Tax Deductibility by the Self-Employed

Tuition fees for self-study courses, workshops and educational conferencing may also be tax deductible by self employed professionals as a business expense. Your normal receipt for your payment to Knowledge Bureau is your documentation for the expense claim.

The Distinguished Advisor Conference™ (DAC) is held in locales where Canadians go to retire to determine the economic, retirement, investment, currency, health risk management and tax environment for which tax and wealth planning is required. This makes the educational programming unique and specific to the wealth management needs of clients and unavailable elsewhere in North America. Expenditures may be deductible; however, delegates should seek professional advice for their personal circumstances. A maximum of two conventions per year only are claimable and the business must have a reasonable expectation of profit. Several other criteria may exist for out of country conventions. See IT-357 for more information or call 1-866-953-4769 if you need assistance.

Student Loan Interest Write-Offs

Students who accumulate interest on student loans may claim a non-refundable credit for the interest paid in the current year plus any interest paid in the prior five years that has not yet been claimed. The credit is 15% of the interest paid by the student or a person related to the student. However, where the loan comes from is important—it must be received under the following sources and cannot be combined with any other loans:

• the Canada Student Loans Act
  
• the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act
  
• the Apprentice Loans Act or
• a similar provincial or territorial government laws

Employer-Paid Tuition

Employers may deduct the cost of tuition as a business expense if the programs are of benefit to the employer’s business. In that case, tuition paid for employees will not be a taxable benefit and the student will not be eligible to claim the tuition tax credit.