Enhanced Learning Credits
ELCAS approved cyber security training for Service leavers
Use your Enhanced Learning Credits on training that leads somewhere specific. Work out exactly what a claim covers on each course below, in pounds, before you speak to anyone.
Course2Career is an approved ELCAS provider, number 14012. Enhanced Learning Credits pay 80 per cent of an eligible course fee up to your tier cap: £1,000 per claim on lower tier, £2,000 per claim on higher tier. You pay a minimum of 20 per cent yourself, and you get three claims in total, one per financial year.
Two things most pages get wrong. Lower tier now needs six years of eligible service, not four, unless you had already completed four years before 1 April 2017. And you no longer need to register for the scheme before you leave, because the 2016 Order made enrolment automatic once you have completed Phase 1 training. If another provider's website tells you otherwise, it has not been updated.
Which tier are you on
Your tier depends on eligible service accumulated since 1 April 2000, and it decides the maximum any single claim can pay.
£1,000
Lower tier, per claim
Six or more years of eligible service, or four years completed before 1 April 2017.
- Pays 80% of the fee, capped at £1,000
- Three claims maximum, one per financial year
- Covers 80% outright on any course up to £1,250
£2,000
Higher tier, per claim
Eight or more years of eligible service since 1 April 2000.
- Pays 80% of the fee, capped at £2,000
- Three claims maximum, one per financial year
- Covers 80% outright on any course up to £2,500
Wounded, injured or sick personnel medically discharged before reaching the service threshold may still be eligible. Speak to your Education Staff or Single Service Representative, or ask us and we will point you to the right person.
Work out what you would actually pay
Enter your service and a course price. This gives you the arithmetic, not a decision: your Education Staff or Single Service Representative confirm your actual entitlement.
ELCAS entitlement calculator
80% of the fee, capped at your tier limit
Only service accumulated from 1 April 2000 counts towards ELC.
Aggregated lower-tier claims and exceptional circumstances require advice from your Education Staff.
Pick one of ours, or enter your own figure to check any provider.
Your tier
Not currently eligible
A standard award uses one of your three claims. You cannot use ELC to cover your own contribution.
This calculator applies the standard single-claim calculation from the published scheme rules and does not check your record. Your entitlement, remaining claims and claim window are confirmed by your Education Staff if you are serving, or your Single Service Representative if you have left. Read the ELCAS rules (checked 8 September 2026).
The ELCAS Cyber Security Career Programme
Download the ELCAS programme brochure (PDF)
Nine courses: CompTIA Tech+, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, UNIX Administration, Python Programming, Microsoft AZ-900, Microsoft SC-900, CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA CySA+.
Three official exams included: Network+, Security+ and CySA+. This ELCAS package costs £1,857 and has different exam inclusions from the commercial Cyber Security programme. Higher-tier contribution: £371.40; lower-tier contribution: £857, subject to eligibility and claim approval.
See the full ELCAS programme. We help you with the claim paperwork. Serving personnel can discuss access arrangements for deployments or postings before enrolling.
What each course costs after ELC
Worked out on our published prices at both tiers. Click through for eligibility detail, the certifications included and where each one leads.
| Course | Full price | You pay, higher tier | You pay, lower tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyber Security Career Programme | £1,857 | £371.40 | £857 |
| CompTIA A+ | £529 | £105.80 | £105.80 |
| CompTIA Network+ | £449 | £89.80 | £89.80 |
| CompTIA Security+ | £469 | £93.80 | £93.80 |
| CompTIA CySA+ | £469 | £93.80 | £93.80 |
| CompTIA PenTest+ | £549 | £109.80 | £109.80 |
On lower tier, any course priced above £1,250 means the £1,000 cap bites before the 80 per cent does, so you cover the balance. On higher tier the cap only bites above £2,500. Every individual CompTIA course here sits well below both thresholds, so a claim covers the full 80 per cent whichever tier you are on. Only the Cyber Security Career Programme is affected, and only on lower tier.
Cyber Security Career Programme
Trainee Cyber Security Analyst, Security Technician, SOC Analyst
ELCAS costs and eligibilityCompTIA A+
IT Support Technician, Helpdesk Analyst, Junior Technician
ELCAS costs and eligibilityCompTIA Network+
Network Technician, Infrastructure Support, Network Engineer
ELCAS costs and eligibilityCompTIA Security+
Junior Cyber Security Analyst, SOC Analyst, Security Technician
ELCAS costs and eligibilityCompTIA CySA+
SOC Analyst, Threat Detection Analyst, Blue Team Analyst
ELCAS costs and eligibilityCompTIA PenTest+
Penetration Tester, Security Consultant, Vulnerability Analyst
ELCAS costs and eligibilityHow to claim, step by step
Get the order right. The most common and most expensive mistake is paying for a course first.
- Check your eligibilityEligible service since 1 April 2000, which tier that puts you on, how many of your three claims remain, and whether you are still inside your claim window after discharge.
- Choose an approved courseIt must lead to a nationally recognised qualification at Level 3 or above and be delivered by a provider on the ELCAS list. We are provider 14012.
- Get a written quoteFull fee, the ELC contribution up to your cap, and your personal contribution. In writing, before anything else happens.
- Submit your claimThrough the ELCAS members area, or on a claim form signed by your Education Staff if serving or your Single Service Representative if you have left. MOD guidance says at least 25 clear working days before the course start date.
- Send us your Claim Authorisation NoteOnce approved you receive a CAN. Send it to us and we invoice the MOD for the funded portion.
- Pay your contribution and startYour course access is issued once your 20 per cent is settled.
The mistake that costs people their claim
Retrospective claims are not permitted. If you pay for a course and then apply, the claim will be refused and there is no appeal that fixes it. Do not pay a provider anything until your claim is approved and you are holding the Claim Authorisation Note. Any provider willing to take your money before that point is not doing you a favour.
Using ELC well, rather than just using it
You get three claims. Most people spend them without a plan and that is where the value leaks.
Spend the cheapest claim first
A claim is a claim regardless of course price. CompTIA Network+ at £449 uses one and costs you £89.80. The Cyber Security Career Programme at £1,857 uses the same single claim and costs you £371.40 on higher tier, or £857 on lower tier. Sequencing matters more than most people realise.
Mind the financial year boundary
One claim per financial year, running 1 April to 31 March. A course starting on 2 April rather than 30 March can be the difference between using this year's claim and next year's. Plan around the date deliberately.
Pick the destination, then the course
ELC used badly gets spent on training that never leads to a role. Work backwards from the job advert you want to be able to answer, then choose the certification that advert asks for.
Check the other funds too
ELC is not the only money available. Standard Learning Credits, the Publicly Funded FE and HE scheme, your resettlement grant and CTP support all sit alongside it. How they fit together.
Recruitment support from enrolment to placement
The ELCAS Cyber Security Career Programme includes CV reviews, interview preparation and help matching you to suitable roles once you complete your training and exams.
Your course and career advisor stays with you from enrolment to placement.
Guaranteed Route to Job Placement on completion. This applies to this programme as stated here and in the programme brochure you receive before enrolling. Full conditions are in our Terms of Learning.
We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant
Course Correct Ltd, trading as Course2Career, signed the Armed Forces Covenant on 3 September 2026 and holds a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze Award. The Covenant is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly and face no disadvantage from their service.
Signing it is a commitment we made, not a badge we were given. Here is exactly what we committed to, so you can hold us to it.
What we have committed to
- Supporting Service leavers, veterans, reservists and military spouses and partners into careers in IT, cyber security and project management — with recruitment support on completion, including a CV rewrite built for civilian screening, a LinkedIn rebuild and interview preparation.
- Handling your ELC claim paperwork on your behalf, and giving you the written quote ELCAS requires before you claim.
- A 10% Armed Forces discount on our self-funded programmes, for serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their spouses and partners. It applies to programmes you pay for yourself, and under ELCAS scheme rules it cannot be combined with an ELC claim. If you are eligible for ELCAS funding you will almost always be better off on the ELC route anyway — on the Cyber Security Career Programme, ELC can cover £1,485.60 of the £1,857 price, leaving £371.40 to pay.
- Flexible payment plans, so that no member of the Armed Forces Community is disadvantaged in getting access to our training.
- Extending your course access without penalty if you are deployed, posted or otherwise unable to study because of Service commitments. Tell us and we will sort it — you will not lose what you paid for.
- Welcoming applications from veterans and Service spouses and partners for roles in our own business, and granting leave to any employee who is a Reservist for annual training and mobilisation.
- Engaging with the Career Transition Partnership, resettlement centres and Armed Forces charities, so that Service leavers know what funded training is available to them.
Your point of contact
Nathaniel Richards is our Armed Forces Champion. He is the single point of contact for anyone in the Armed Forces Community — whether you are working out your ELC eligibility, mid-course and posted somewhere inconvenient, or just want to ask a question before you commit to anything.
Call 0800 294 6300 or email enquiries@course2career.com and ask for Nathaniel.
Tell us how we are doing
We review these commitments every year. If you are a member of the Armed Forces Community and we have fallen short of them, or there is something we could be doing better, we want to hear it. Email enquiries@course2career.com marked for the attention of our Armed Forces Champion.
Course2Career is ELCAS approved provider 14012. Signing the Armed Forces Covenant is a pledge made by us, and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze Award recognises that pledge and our commitment to being an Armed Forces-friendly employer. Neither is an endorsement, accreditation or approval of our training by the Ministry of Defence.
Get your ELCAS quote
Tell us your status and years of eligible service. An advisor checks your eligibility and sends your written quote. No payment taken.
Common questions
Does the ELCAS programme include job placement support?
Yes. The ELCAS Cyber Security Career Programme includes recruitment support, with CV reviews, interview preparation and help matching you to suitable roles after completing your training and exams. Your course and career advisor stays with you from enrolment to placement. Guaranteed Route to Job Placement on completion. This applies to this programme as stated here and in the programme brochure you receive before enrolling. Full conditions are in our Terms of Learning.
How much ELCAS funding can I get?
ELC pays 80 per cent of the course fee, up to your tier cap. Lower tier is capped at £1,000 per claim and higher tier at £2,000 per claim. You must pay a minimum of 20 per cent of the fee yourself, and you cannot use ELC to cover that 20 per cent.
How many years of service do I need?
Lower tier requires at least six years of eligible service. Higher tier requires at least eight years. The six year rule came in under the 2016 Order: if you had already completed four years of eligible service before 1 April 2017, you qualify for lower tier on the old four year threshold. Only service accumulated since 1 April 2000 counts.
Do I need to register for ELC before I leave?
No, not any more, and a lot of provider websites are still out of date on this. The Armed Forces (Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme and Further and Higher Education Commitment Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2016 removed the registration requirement. Members of the armed forces are automatically enrolled in the ELC Scheme once they have completed Phase 1 training.
How many claims do I get?
Three in total, and only one per financial year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March. Plan the order you use them in, because you cannot get a claim back once it is spent.
Can I still claim after I have left the forces?
Yes, within five years of your discharge date. If you left before 1 April 2016 you have ten years. Check your own date against this rather than assuming, because the window changed.
Can I claim for a course I have already paid for?
No. Retrospective claims are not permitted under any circumstances. The claim has to be approved before the course starts, so speak to us before you pay for anything.
How far in advance do I need to claim?
Submit the claim well before your course start date. MOD guidance for Service personnel states claims should be submitted at least 25 clear working days beforehand. Build in more time than you think you need, because an incomplete form goes back to you and the clock keeps running.
Which courses qualify for ELC funding?
ELC funding is only available for higher level learning, meaning courses leading to a nationally recognised qualification at Level 3 or above on the National Qualifications Framework in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Level 6 or above on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, or an approved international equivalent. The course must also be delivered by an approved provider listed on the ELCAS website.
Can I use my resettlement grant for the 20 per cent?
Many service leavers do use other resettlement funding towards their personal contribution. What you cannot do is use ELC itself to cover the 20 per cent, because the scheme requires a genuine personal contribution. Check the specific rules of any other fund with your Education Staff or Service Leaver representative before relying on it.
Is Course2Career an approved ELCAS provider?
Yes. Course2Career is a trading name of Course Correct Ltd and is an approved ELCAS provider, number 14012. You can verify this on the provider list at enhancedlearningcredits.com rather than taking our word for it.
What does ELCAS not cover?
ELC cannot be used for Service training or civilian accredited Service training, professional body and institute fees, course materials on their own, pure sport and adventurous training, battlefield tours, or the City and Guilds Professional Recognition Awards scheme. It also cannot cover your own 20 per cent contribution.
Is Course2Career ELCAS approved?
Yes. Course Correct Ltd trading as Course2Career is ELCAS approved learning provider 14012. Check the approved course and your entitlement before enrolling.
Do I need to be still serving?
Eligible serving personnel and eligible Service leavers within their claim window can apply. Your Education Staff or Single Service Representative can confirm the rules that apply to your service and discharge dates.
How long does an ELC claim take?
Submit your claim at least 25 clear working days before your proposed course start date. Approval times vary. Wait for your Claim Authorisation Note before paying or starting. Course2Career can help with the paperwork.
Can I use ELCAS for the IT Support programme?
Do not assume the commercial IT Support programme is covered. Ask us to confirm an approved course and quote against your entitlement; individual approved CompTIA courses may suit your IT support goals.
Not sure which tier you are on, or how many claims you have left?
Tell us your service dates and what you want to end up doing. We will tell you which tier you qualify for, what a claim would actually cover on each course, and whether ELC is even the right fund for your situation. No obligation, and if a different provider or route suits you better we will say so.
Course2Career is a trading name of Course Correct Ltd, ELCAS approved provider 14012. Full accreditations, registrations and terms are on our credentials and evidence page. Official scheme guidance is published at enhancedlearningcredits.com, and where anything on this page differs from theirs, theirs is correct.