Personal Learning Accounts

Part-time, fully funded study to enhance your job or kick-start a new career.

 
The PLA Programme provides support across Wales for employed people to upskill and reskill in priority sectors, improving your career and earnings potential.

The scheme focuses on those currently earning below £35,796 per annum (the median gross annual figure for full-time adults working in Wales) and on qualifications that have a proven track record of improving earnings.

For 2026/2027, national priorities include:
  • Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (incl. Compound Semiconductors)
  • Digital (incl. Creative Technology and FinTech)
  • Health and Social Care (incl. Childcare and Emergency Services)
  • Net Zero (within Construction, Energy, Engineering and Manufacturing)
  • Transport and Logistics (incl. HGV/LGV Licences)
  • Am I eligible for a Personal Learning Account
    To be eligible for a Personal Learning Account, individuals must:
    • ADDRESS: Reside legally in Wales
    • AGE: 19 years old or over
    • BE EMPLOYED (including self-employed) and earning a basic salary below the median income (£35,796)*, OR work on a zero hours contracts OR Agency staff OR Offenders on day release OR Full-time carers (paid or non-paid)

    * For the Personal Learning Account confirmed interventions (Digital, Net-Zero and Tata) the salary cap does not apply.

    In addition, individuals are ineligible if they:
    • Attend school or college full-time as a pupil or student, or higher education
    • Are in Medr funded Work Based Learning, or
    • An ineligible overseas national, or
    • In receipt of an Assembly Learning Grant or Education Maintenance Allowance,
    • If they have exceeded the PLA maximum funding value of £6,533.81 for this 2026/2027 PLA year

     

  • Which documents will I be asked to provide to evidence my eligibility?

    Full Name and Age

    One of the following:

    • Birth certificate (bearing the applicant’s full name)
    • Valid passport (UK and non-UK)
    • Identity cards from an EU or European Economic Area (EEA) country
    • UK photocard driving licences (full or provisional)
    • EU or EEA driving licences
    Legal Residency in Wales

    One of the following for all applicants:

    • Any UK documents not already used above.
    • Council tax bill / demand letter / exemption certificate issued within 12 months
    • Bank/building society or credit union statement issued within the last 3 months
    • Benefits entitlement letter issued within the last 12 months
    • HMRC tax notifications and correspondence issued within the last 3 months
    • Utility bill (gas, electricity, water, telephone landline) issued within the last 3 months
    • Tenancy agreement from local council or housing association issued within 12 months

     
    AND, for anyone not British or Irish citizens, one other document that will show:

    • Pre-settled or settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme
    • Indefinite leave to enter (ILE) or remain in the UK (ILR)
    • Exemption from immigration control
    • Approved visa
    • Current family permit
    • Asylum seeker or refugee status

     

    Employment Characteristics

    Employed Individuals (including ‘at risk of redundancy’ and ‘prisoners on day release’), working full-time or part-time for an employer or as agency staff need to provide:

    • payslips for the previous 3 months before application (end of each month if paid weekly)
    • OR last payslip if issued within the month prior to the application being submitted and showing the year-to-date value

     
    Prisoners on day release must also provide:

    • Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) – Resettlement Day Release (RDR) documentation

     
    Individuals on zero hours contracts AND not self-employed need to provide:

    • Current employment contract issued within the last 3 months AND still valid

     
    Self-Employed individuals need to provide the following:

    • Proof they are self-employed, for ex. the Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)
    • Most current self-assessment Tax Return to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
    • Self-declaration confirming that their predicted personal income for the current financial year will not go over the relevant median income figure; must include at least: full name, date of birth, address, company name, signature

     
    Full-time Carers (paid or non-paid) must provide at least one of the following documents (dated within the last 12 months and still valid):

    • Attendance Allowance Letter (AA)
    • Carers’ Allowance Letter of Award
    • Disability Living Allowance Letter (DLA)
    • Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
    • Armed Forces Independence Payments (AFIP)

     

  • Courses Available
    Last Updated: 21/09/2026

    Core

    Course Name
    18th Edition (Mid Wales)
    18th Edition (South Wales)
    ACS Gas Safe Training
    ACS LPG Training
    Central Heating/Water Heaters (CENWAT)
    Closed Flue Gas Fires (HTRLP2)
    Domestic Gas Meters (MET1)
    Central Heating/Water Heaters (CENWAT) NICEIC PLA
    Gas Cookers (CKR1)
    Gas Fires/Heaters (HTR1)
    Inspection & Testing Combined C&G 2391-52
    Inspection & Testing Combined EVENING C&G 2391-52
    Lean Six Sigma – Green Belt
    Lean Six Sigma – Yellow Belt
    LGV Category C Licence (Rigid Vehicle)
    LGV Category C+E Licence (Articulated Vehicle)
    Managed Learning Programme – Gateway to Gas
    PCV Category D Licence (Passenger Carrying Vehicle)
    PRINCE2 Agile Foundation
    PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner
    PRINCE2 Foundation
    PRINCE2 Practitioner
    RTITB Counterbalance Lift Truck
    RTITB Crane Slinger and Signaller
    RTITB Industrial Telescopic Material Handler
    RTITB Large Counterbalance Lift Truck
    RTITB Reach Truck
    RTITB Rough Terrain Masted Truck
    RTITB Rough Terrain Telescopic Handler
    RTITB Vehicle Mounted Hydraulic Lorry Loader (HIAB)

     

    Digital

    Course Name
    CompTIA A+
    CompTIA Cloud+
    CompTIA CySA+
    CompTIA Data+
    CompTIA Network+
    CompTIA Project+
    CompTIA Security+
    Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate

     

    Green

    Course Name
    Advanced Welding Skills (Level 3)
    CAA Approved A2 Certificate of Competence (A2 CofC)
    CAA Approved General Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) Certificate (GVC)
    Cold Water Regulations
    Domestic, Commercial & Industrial Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment
    Electrical Energy Storage Systems (EESS) – Battery Storage BPEC
    Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings
    Installation and Maintenance of Heat Pumps BPEC
    Installation of Small Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems (EAL Level 3 Award)
    ISEP Certificate in Environmental Management
    ISEP Environmental Sustainability Skills for Managers
    ISEP Environmental Sustainability Skills for the Workforce
    ISEP Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management
    ISEP Internal Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Auditor
    Lean Six Sigma – Black Belt
    NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate
    NEBOSH National Diploma in Environmental Management
    Solar Thermal Hot Water Systems
    Unvented Hot Water Initial

     

  • Click Here to Apply for PLA Funding

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