There continues to be some confusion about the difference between ELCs, which are a grant made to individuals serving in the Armed Forces provided that they meet certain criteria, and the IRTC, which is another grant through which people leaving the Services can purchase resettlement training. Although under some circumstances individuals can claim both during the resettlement period, and both grants may be authorised by the same line manager and education/resettlement specialist, they are completely independent of each other and come from totally different parts of the defence budget.

Approved Providers are organisations that have met the MoD's criteria to be permitted to run courses that qualify for ELC funding. They are on a list maintained by the ELC Administration Service (ELCAS) and only such providers may be used if ELCs are to be claimed. Preferred Suppliers are organisations that have been assessed by the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) as being suitable training providers for people undertaking their resettlement programmes. Although the latter are encouraged to use Preferred Suppliers, they may use the IRTC for any resettlement programme approved by their line manager and resettlement specialist.

Individuals who have registered for ELCs can make use of them for up to 10 years after leaving the Services using Approved Providers. There is no similar facility with the IRTC.

Some Approved Providers will also be Preferred Suppliers, although some will not be. Individuals therefore need to ensure they are looking at the right list.

The basic guide is:

• In-Service = Education = ELC = Approved Provider = ELCAS
• Leaving = Resettlement = IRTC = Preferred Supplier = CTP