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Professional & Technical Training Program (formerly Tuition Reimbursement)

• Program Goals
• Program Adminstration
• Funding Criteria
• Application Process

The Professional and Technical Training Program (PTTP) is an expansion of the current Tuition Reimbursement Program. More resources have been allocated towards supporting professional or technical/skill development so that Yukon government employees’ skills and knowledge keep pace with industry standards.   Open to all Yukon government employees hired under the Public Service Act, the PTTP helps the government plan for its future and develop employees so that the Yukon public service has people who are ready to perform effectively as experienced employees leave the organization to pursue the next phases of their lives. (The PTTP does not apply to teachers who have training funds through their professional association.)   PTTP funding is available for registration fees at conferences or workshops both within and outside the Yukon, and for training programs offered by other organizations and associations. For workshops or conferences held here, funding is available for up to 50 percent of the registration fees, while funding for outside conferences and workshops can be up to 100 percent of fees. Funding for other types of educational programs is also available.   The PTTP also provides for a cost-sharing arrangement with departments and employees to pay professional membership fees – the program pays for one third, the employee pays for one third and the department pays for one third of fees where membership relates to the employee’s duties and responsibilities.

Program Goals

The Professional Technical Training Program will:

• support recruitment and workforce planning in the Yukon government;
• assist in maintaining the currency of professional/ technical knowledge and skills of Yukon government employees;
• provide funding to support professional / technical training and attendance at programs and services offered by other organizations and associations; and
• identify educational services required for the Yukon.

 Program Adminstration

The Professional Technical Training Program is managed by the Public Service Commission, Staff Development Branch. The program is funded through the Investing in Public Service – serving Yukon people (IPS) initiative succession planning component.  It supports recruitment and workforce planning through opportunities for employees to upgrade their education or to attend job-related conferences and workshops outside of Yukon.

The PTTP also provides for a cost-sharing arrangement with departments and employees to pay for professional membership fees where the program pays for one third of the cost, departments pay for one third and individuals cover one third of the cost of the membership. Payment of membership fees will be determined by whether or not the membership is of primary benefit to the Yukon government as employer (i.e. relates to the employee’s duties and responsibilities). Funding through reimbursement is subject to budget allocations in departments and the Public Service Commission. 

This program will be available to Yukon government employees hired under the Public Service Act as funds allow.

Working with departments, the Staff Development Branch will approve applications which are consistent with the program’s goals and which support current or future job requirements and government priorities. Departments may still opt to fully fund training and travel from their own budgets.

Funding Criteria

All Yukon government employees are eligible for funding but the dollar amount may vary by department. Employees should check with their human resource branch before applying. Reimbursement guidelines (below) apply.

Departments need to indicate, through supervisor approval on the Professional and Technical Training and Membership Fees Request Form, how the development or training will benefit the employer. Funding decisions will be based on how well the technical training or professional memberships are related to the current job and government / department priorities. Criteria for funding professional /association memberships include how well the membership supports the employee in the job with current information on the profession / industry. Memberships must support the employee’s duties and responsibilities.

Application Process

Applicants who are planning on attending a course, conference, or workshop in the near future, or those wishing to be reimbursed for membership in a professional organization, must submit a  Professional & Technical Training Program Reimbursement Form ( 114KB) to the Staff Development Branch.

For reimbursement of training costs, the PTTP form must be signed by the supervisor and HR branch and submitted to SDB prior to the training taking place. The application should indicate how training or membership will benefit the department or government.

Once a decision has been made, PSC’s Staff Development Branch will notify the employee. Travel and registration arrangements are the responsibility of the employee and the employee’s department according to the regular travel arrangement process and approvals.

After the training, proof of payment and “successful completion” documentation must be submitted to the Staff Development Branch for processing. In circumstances where departments have paid for tuition or membership up front, the department will be responsible for collecting the documentation and producing a Journal Voucher to send to the Staff Development Branch to recover the PTTP portion of the costs.

Any questions, regarding the PTTP process, please contact Marie Cairns @ 667-5991.