Cooperative Education Incentive

💡What Is This Program?

🎁What Benefits Are Offered?

Wage subsidy for Nova Scotia employers to hire post-secondary co-operative education students for work placements. Employers receive $8 per hour, up to 640 hours ($9.50 per hour if the student is a member of a designated diversity group). Minimum student work term of 390 hours.

📋What Are the Application Steps & Timeline?

📝Steps to ApplySource

• Develop a position and confirm it meets the requirements of at least one Nova Scotia Co-operative Education Program.
• Apply online (apply for LaMPSS access if necessary).
• If approved, hire your student(s). Ensure they are enrolled in a Co-op Work term for the semester.
• Send your agreement manager a completed Student Information Form and proof of your selected student’s enrollment in a Co-op program.
• Your Agreement Manager will send you a link to sign your funding agreement in LaMPSS.
• Provide work experience to the student(s).
• Download and complete the Pay Declaration. Both employer and student must sign.
• Log in to LaMPSS and upload your Pay Declaration (and ROE if required).
• Complete the employer survey, and have the student complete the employee survey. Your Agreement Manager will send you the survey links.
• You will receive reimbursement by direct deposit.

🌐Application PortalSource

https://novascotia.ca/programs/co-op-education-incentive/

📤Submission MethodSource

online

📅Key DatesSource

1 April to 31 AugustApplication period for summer term

1 September to 31 DecemberApplication period for fall term

1 January to 30 AprilApplication period for winter term

🔄Intake TypeSource

periodic

📄What Documents Are Required?

✅Required DocumentsSource

• A description of your organization and its mandate
• A contact person at your organization
• A job description for the position
• Endorsement from a Co-op coordinator

📐Format RequirementsSource

PDF only, max 10MB

📥Templates AvailableSource

• Student Information Form
• Pay Declaration

✉️Supporting LettersSource

Endorsement from a Co-op coordinator

💰What Expenses Are Eligible?

🧾Eligible ExpensesSource

• wages paid to co-op students
• diversity bonus for eligible students

🚫Ineligible ExpensesSource

• other government wage subsidies
• project funding for student salary

📏Expense CapsSource

maximum subsidy of $10 an hour for certain funding recipients

💳Payment ModelSource

reimbursement

⏪Retroactive Expenses EligibleSource

No

🤝Is Matching Funding Required?

🔀Matching RequiredSource

Yes

📊Matching RatioSource

50%

🏦Eligible Matching SourcesSource

• cash
• in-kind

📚Stacking RulesSource

Employers may not use any other government wage subsidies to pay the student they hire.

🛡️Proof of Matching RequiredSource

Proof of wages paid to the student is required.

📊What Are the Reporting Requirements?

🗓️Reporting FrequencySource

final only

📑Reporting RequirementsSource

• Pay Declaration
• Student Information Form
• Employee's Record of Employment (ROE) if required
• Employer survey
• Employee survey

🔍Audit RequirementsSource

Amounts reported on the pay declaration or ROE may be subject to audit by the program.

📢Branding RequirementsSource

Acknowledgment of funding and completion of surveys is required for payment.

🗄️Record Retention PeriodSource

7 years