RESP eligible schools and programs simplified

Plain-language summary

• An RESP education withdrawal is not approved just because the student is taking any course. The beneficiary must be enrolled at a post-secondary educational institution and must meet either the full-time qualifying-program test or the part-time specified-program test.
• For full-time EAP eligibility, CRA describes a qualifying educational program as post-secondary, at least 3 consecutive weeks long, and requiring at least 10 hours per week of courses or program work.
• For part-time EAP eligibility, CRA describes a specified educational program as post-secondary, at least 3 consecutive weeks long, and requiring at least 12 hours per month on courses in the program. The beneficiary must be at least 16 years old.
• Canadian institutions can include universities, colleges, other designated institutions, and ESDC-certified schools that offer non-credit occupational-skill courses.
• Foreign schools can qualify, but the timing test is different. CRA lists a 13-consecutive-week course rule for foreign post-secondary institutions, with a separate 3-week full-time rule for foreign universities.

Action steps

1. Before requesting an EAP, ask the school for proof of enrolment that shows the student's name, program, start date, study load, and whether the program is post-secondary.
2. For a Canadian school, check whether the institution is designated or ESDC-certified for the type of program the student is taking.
3. Do not rely only on the school name. Confirm that the specific program also meets the RESP rule for length and weekly or monthly course load.
4. If the student is part time, confirm they are at least 16 and that the program meets the 12-hours-per-month specified-program test.
5. If the student is studying outside Canada, ask the promoter which foreign-school rule it will use and whether the proof must show 13 consecutive weeks or full-time university enrolment for at least 3 consecutive weeks.
6. Send the proof to the RESP promoter before counting on the money, because the promoter must decide whether the EAP conditions are met before releasing education payments.

Caveats to watch

• The master list of designated educational institutions is mainly a student-aid list. It is useful for checking designation, but ESDC warns that a listed school does not mean every program at that school qualifies.
• Distance education can still work, but CRA says the beneficiary must meet both parts of the test: enrolment in a qualifying or specified program and enrolment as a student at a post-secondary educational institution.
• A short bootcamp, single workshop, or hobby course may fail the RESP test even if it is useful, because the official rule looks at post-secondary status, length, course load, and institution status.
• Eligible school and program status is separate from reasonable-expense review. A program can qualify for EAP access while the promoter still asks whether a specific cost helps the student further their studies.
• If the student stops attending, EAPs may still be possible for up to 6 months only if the payment would have qualified immediately before enrolment ended and the RESP terms allow it.

Examples

Example: Canadian trade program

A 20-year-old starts a 10-week electrician pre-apprenticeship program at an eligible Canadian institution. If the program is post-secondary or occupational-skills training through an ESDC-certified institution and meets the required course-load test, the promoter may treat the student as EAP-eligible after reviewing proof of enrolment.

Example: part-time adult college course

A 28-year-old takes a part-time college certificate program that runs for 4 months and requires 15 hours of class time per month. Because the beneficiary is over 16 and the program is post-secondary, the program may fit the specified-program rule if the institution and documents support it.

Example: foreign short course

A student enrols in a 6-week non-university course outside Canada and asks for RESP grant money. The family should not assume it qualifies. CRA's foreign-school wording generally points to a 13-consecutive-week course rule for foreign post-secondary institutions, except for the separate full-time foreign university rule.

What this means in real life

• The practical test has two parts: the school has to fit, and the program has to fit.
• Families often check only whether the student was accepted, but the RESP promoter needs enough proof to classify the withdrawal correctly.
• The highest-risk cases are private career colleges, short courses, part-time studies, online programs, foreign schools, and programs that do not clearly issue a degree, diploma, certificate, or occupational credential.

What to ask the school

• Are you a designated post-secondary institution or an ESDC-certified institution for this program?
• Is this specific program considered post-secondary or occupational-skills training?
• How many consecutive weeks does the program run?
• How many hours per week or per month does the program require for courses, labs, practical training, or program work?
• Can your proof-of-enrolment letter show the details the RESP promoter needs?

What to ask your RESP promoter

• Will this school and program support an Educational Assistance Payment?
• Will you classify the student as full-time under the qualifying-program rule or part-time under the specified-program rule?
• For online or distance studies, what proof do you need to show both enrolment and post-secondary institution status?
• For a foreign school, which rule are you applying and what minimum course length must the documents show?
• If the student recently stopped attending, does your RESP contract allow the 6-month post-enrolment EAP window?

Official sources