Financing Your Skilled Trades Training Is Now Easier
Imperial Skills Academy is proud to partner with Windmill Microlending to help eligible newcomers and internationally trained professionals explore financing for career-focused training in Canada.
Imperial Skills Academy Partners With Windmill Microlending
Windmill Microlending offers low-interest career loans of up to $15,000 to skilled immigrants and refugees in Canada. Loans can help cover education and training program costs, licensing and qualifying exams, credentials assessment, and other career-related expenses.
To be eligible, you must be a Permanent Resident, Convention Refugee, Protected Person, Provincial Nominee, or Canadian Citizen. Applicants must be internationally trained individuals seeking to work in their trained profession or apply transferable skills to a new career.
Access Career Financing
Explore financing connected to an approved Canadian career plan.
Start Training Sooner
Move forward without waiting to save the full training cost first.
Cover More Than Tuition
Eligible expenses may include materials, exams and career costs.
Use Imperial’s Referral
Begin through our official Windmill Microlending referral pathway.
Windmill Microlending Video Answers
Get quick answers to the most common questions about Windmill Microlending, eligibility, funding, covered costs, approval timelines and repayment.
What Is Windmill Microlending?
Learn how Windmill can support skilled immigrants and refugees building or restarting a career in Canada.
Watch on YouTube →Who Qualifies for Windmill Support?
Understand the key newcomer and immigration-status eligibility requirements discussed in the Q&A.
Watch on YouTube →How Much Funding Can You Get?
See the funding range discussed for eligible applicants, from $2,000 up to $15,000.
Watch on YouTube →What Costs Can Funding Cover?
Learn about tuition, exams, course materials, work equipment, travel and other eligible career-related costs.
Watch on YouTube →How Long Does Approval Take?
Review the typical application timeline and what can affect how quickly an application is completed.
Watch on YouTube →When Does Repayment Start?
Understand repayment timing, the grace-period example and the interest-rate information discussed in the interview.
Watch on YouTube →Can the Interest Rate Change?
Learn how the fixed rate discussed in the Q&A applies to an approved borrower and how future rates may differ.
Watch on YouTube →Is Windmill Career Financing Right for You?
Windmill Microlending mainly supports newcomers and internationally trained professionals who live in Canada and are working toward a Canadian career.
- You currently live in Canada.
- You have education, skills or work experience from outside Canada.
- You want to begin, rebuild or advance a career in Canada.
- You need approved training, certification or career development.
- You hold an immigration status accepted by Windmill.
- You have a clear training and employment plan.
What Could Windmill Financing Help You Pay For?
Every application is different. Approved financing may support tuition and other career-related costs connected to an approved career plan.
Training Fees
Approved tuition connected with your Canadian career plan.
Books & Materials
Required learning materials, supplies or training equipment.
Certification & Exams
Eligible licensing, assessment, certification or examination costs.
Career Development
Approved costs that support your transition into employment.
Eligible Living Costs
Some applicants may receive support for approved living expenses.
Windmill Microlending determines which expenses are eligible after reviewing the application and career plan.
Build Practical Skills for Your Career in Canada
Explore hands-on training designed for beginners, newcomers and career changers.
Electrical Training Programs
Develop practical skills in tools, safety, wiring, installation methods and job-site work.
Explore Electrical Training
Plumbing Training Programs
Learn about tools, materials, installations, repairs and workplace safety through practical instruction.
Explore Plumbing Training
Other Skilled Trades Training
Explore additional practical programs for construction, carpentry and career readiness.
View All ProgramsFinancing is not automatically available for every program. Windmill must confirm course and expense eligibility.
How to Apply Through Imperial Skills Academy
A simple pathway from choosing your training to receiving Windmill’s decision.
Explore Your Training
Choose the Imperial program that best supports your career goal.
Speak With Our Team
Get course, tuition, schedule and program information from an advisor.
Check Your Eligibility
Use Imperial’s official referral link to complete Windmill’s assessment.
Apply With Windmill
Submit your documents and receive a decision directly from Windmill.
What Students Value About Imperial Skills Academy
Students consistently highlight hands-on practice, supportive instruction and greater confidence for real job-site work.
Hands-on practice helped make the transition from classroom learning to real job-site tasks feel much more natural.
Students value instructors who explain real-world situations clearly and support them through technical training.
Practical shop time helps students build confidence before stepping onto a professional job site.
Clear Answers Before You Apply
Open a question for a concise answer, then watch the matching video from our Windmill Microlending Q&A.
What is Windmill Microlending and how can it support newcomers entering skilled trades in Canada?
Windmill Microlending is a government-funded Canadian charity that provides affordable career loans to eligible skilled immigrants and refugees. Funding can support career-related education, exams and certification, work equipment and, in some cases, approved living costs connected to returning to work in Canada.
Who qualifies for Windmill Microlending in Canada?
Applicants generally need to be living in Canada and meet Windmill’s immigration-status and career-background requirements. Examples discussed in the Q&A include permanent residents, eligible provincial nominees, protected persons or convention refugees with an approved decision, and Canadian citizens who immigrated to Canada. Windmill also discussed at least one year of post-secondary education outside Canada, or relevant professional work experience outside Canada, as part of the eligibility review.
Eligibility can depend on your exact status and career plan. Windmill makes the final eligibility decision.
How much funding can an eligible skilled-trades applicant receive?
Windmill’s Q&A explains that eligible applicants may borrow from $2,000 up to $15,000, depending on the approved application and career plan.
What costs can Windmill funding cover?
Approved funding may cover career-related tuition, certification or licensing exams, exam-preparation courses, work equipment and PPE, course materials, travel required for exams and, where approved, certain living expenses while studying.
How long does the Windmill application and approval process usually take?
The Q&A indicates that the process is generally expected to take up to about 15 business days. Timing can vary depending on how quickly the pre-application, documents and any required meetings are completed.
When does repayment start, and how do the interest rate and grace period work?
In the recorded Q&A, the trades-loan rate was described as a fixed 5.95% rate at that time. Repayment begins after funds are received, with an interest-only grace-period option while studying and for a short period after school before principal-plus-interest payments begin.
Rates and repayment examples can change. Confirm the current rate and exact repayment schedule directly with Windmill before applying.
Can Windmill Microlending interest rates change?
Rates offered to future applicants can change. The Q&A explains that when a borrower receives a fixed rate for their approved loan, that borrower’s fixed rate does not change simply because Windmill later changes rates for new applications.
Always confirm the current rate and terms shown in your own Windmill application and loan agreement.
Take the Next Step Toward Your Skilled Trades Career
Explore whether Imperial Skills Academy’s practical training and Windmill Microlending’s career financing can support your next move in Canada.
Financing is provided and administered by Windmill Microlending. Eligibility, approval, financing amounts, rates, eligible expenses and repayment terms are determined solely by Windmill Microlending. Imperial Skills Academy does not guarantee approval.
Make Your Education Affordable
0% interest financing for 12 months. Apply online in 5 minutes – no bank visits required.
Ready to Get Started?
Apply for financing now through our secure portal. The application takes just 5 minutes to complete.
- Apply for Financing Quick 5-minute application
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0% Financing
Eligible students can finance their course fees with 0% interest for 12 months (on approved credit).
The online application is quick and simple and takes about 5 minutes to complete.
0% interest for 12 months
No interest charges for the first 12 months on approved credit applications.
Fast online approval process
Get a decision quickly through our streamlined online application system.
No long forms or bank visits
Complete everything online in minutes - no need to visit a bank or fill out lengthy paperwork.
Perfect for students who want to pay monthly
Spread your course fees into manageable monthly payments without any interest charges.
How It Works
Complete Application
Apply online through our secure portal in just 5 minutes.
Get Fast Approval
Receive a decision quickly from our streamlined system.
Pay Monthly
Start your training and pay with 0% interest for 12 months.