Personal Learning Accounts (PLA)

A Personal Learning Account (PLA) is a programme funded by the Welsh Government which allows those who meet the criteria to access free courses and professional qualifications that develop skills and help them progress or change their career.

PLA courses provide the skills and qualifications that local employers are looking for. They focus on sectors that are growing in the region and where there is a need for people with these skills. Designed to be flexible and work around you and your commitments, the goal at the end of the course you study is that there will be well-paid job vacancies available for you to apply for.

Eligibility criteria for PLA courses

Individual Eligibility

• Eligibility is tested at the point of application (apart from the age criterion, which is validated at point of course commencement).

To be eligible for the programme, individuals must:

• Reside in Wales be aged 19 years old or over

In addition, individuals must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Employed (including self-employed) and earning a basic salary below the median income (£30,596), or
• Workers on zero hours contracts, or
• Agency staff, or
• At risk of being made redundant, or
• Offenders on day release, or
• Full-time carers (paid or non-paid), where there is capacity on existing courses (i.e. infill)

Individuals are deemed ineligible if, at point of application, they are:

• under the age of 19 (caveat above), or
• attending school or college full-time as a pupil or student, or in full-time higher education, or
• in Welsh Government funded Work Based Learning*, or
• an ineligible overseas national, or
• in receipt of an Assembly Learning Grant or Education Maintenance Allowance, or
• unemployed (i.e. do not have a contract of employment)

*certain exceptions may apply for Net Zero, where prior approval has been granted in writing by Welsh Government

Even though you may be eligible for funding for more than one PLA course, we can only accept one application per person at a time. If an application is successful for a course, you must complete this course before beginning another course.

If you are unsure which course may be best suited to you, or if you would like advice and guidance on your career development, you can arrange to speak to one of our expert Career Coaches. Simply complete our enquiry form and one of our Career Coaches will be back in touch.