HRD Corp Claimable Courses 2026: what qualifies (and what doesn't)

If you employ people in Malaysia and contribute the levy, "HRD Corp claimable courses 2026" really comes down to one question: does this specific training meet HRD Corp's eligibility rules so the cost can be funded from your levy account? Plenty of programmes are advertised as "claimable," but the claim only succeeds when the provider, the employer and the course itself all satisfy the criteria below. This page explains what qualifies and what does not. For the step-by-step submission process, see our separate HRD Corp claim guide.

Carriera Academy Sdn Bhd is an HRD Corp Approved Training Provider, so our corporate training programmes are claimable under the scheme for registered employers — but our aim here is to give you the neutral rules first, straight from the source.

What makes a course HRD Corp claimable in 2026?

A course is HRD Corp claimable in 2026 when four conditions are met together: an HRD Corp registered provider delivers it, your company is registered and paying the levy, the training is relevant to the employee's job, and the grant is approved before training begins.

• The employer is registered and pays the levy. Under the Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (PSMB) Act 2001, employers with 10 or more Malaysian employees must register and pay a levy of 1% of monthly wages plus fixed allowances; those with 5–9 employees may register at 0.5% (hrdcorp.gov.my/registered-employers).
• The provider is HRD Corp registered. The SBL-Khas scheme applies only to "training by the registered training provider" (supportcentre.hrdcorp.gov.my).
• The training is job-relevant. Grants cover training "required by the industry" and used for career development, succession planning or performance — not personal interests (hrdcorp.gov.my/faq).
• The grant is approved first. The SBL-Khas application should be submitted and approved before the course starts, so the cost can be debited from your levy account rather than paid upfront.

Which course categories and formats qualify?

HRD Corp claimable courses span many delivery formats, not just classroom seminars. The SBL-Khas scheme lists multiple training types, each with its own participant rules, and accepts online and hybrid delivery — which is how Carriera runs its programmes via Zoom.

According to the HRD Corp support centre (supportcentre.hrdcorp.gov.my), recognised formats include in-house training, public training, certification and mandatory industrial training, job coaching, coaching and mentoring, mobile learning, e-learning and remote online learning. Participant limits differ by type:

Source: HRD Corp Claimable Courses (SBL-Khas) Scheme, supportcentre.hrdcorp.gov.my (checked 17 June 2026).

By theme, almost any job-relevant subject can qualify if the provider is registered — leadership, compliance, digital and technical skills, finance and tax. Carriera's catalogue, for example, covers tax (SST, e-Invoice, LHDN audits, Capital Statements), Employment Act and payroll, financial analysis and budgeting, Excel/OLAP, and AI for productivity. Live programmes are listed on the training page rather than fixed here, because the schedule rotates.

What is NOT HRD Corp claimable?

Training is not HRD Corp claimable when it falls outside the employee's job function or the provider is not registered. HRD Corp covers training that is "required by the industry" and job-relevant — so training unrelated to the role does not qualify, and a claim also fails if the grant was never approved before the course ran. The table below summarises the common qualify / does-not-qualify split.

Sources: hrdcorp.gov.my/faq and supportcentre.hrdcorp.gov.my (checked 17 June 2026). Always confirm your specific case with HRD Corp.

How much of the cost can be claimed?

Under the SBL-Khas scheme, the claimable amount covers approved course-related costs rather than just the headline fee. The HRD Corp support centre lists eligible cost items: course fee, meal allowance, trainee allowance, consumable training materials, airfare or transportation, and internet data of up to RM100 per group for remote online learning only.

One practical detail employers ask about: a training provider may request a maximum upfront payment of 30% of the total approved course fee, per supportcentre.hrdcorp.gov.my. The remainder is settled through the grant against your levy. The actual claimable ceiling depends on the training type and HRD Corp's allowable cost matrix, so verify the current matrix on hrdcorp.gov.my before budgeting.

Who has to register and pay the levy?

Registration is mandatory for employers with 10 or more Malaysian employees and optional for those with 5 to 9. The levy rate determines the pool you can later claim against, so it is the starting point for any claimable course.

Source: hrdcorp.gov.my/faq and hrdcorp.gov.my/registered-employers (checked 17 June 2026).

Once you are registered and contributing, the levy you have already paid is what funds approved training — so a claimable course is effectively spending money you have set aside, not new budget. For the full mechanics of submitting and getting paid, read our HRD Corp claim guide; to plan a programme for your team, see corporate training or our FAQ.

How does Carriera fit in?

Carriera Academy Sdn Bhd is an HRD Corp Approved Training Provider, which satisfies the "registered provider" condition for a claimable course. Programmes run live via Zoom, typically 9am–5pm, and the team confirms registration by email before issuing the invoice.

We keep things small and direct — Carriera has served 50+ companies across recruitment and training — so you deal with a consultant who understands both the compliance and the people side. Because HRD Corp rules and rates do change, we always point clients to hrdcorp.gov.my for the current figures and confirm eligibility before you commit. If you are unsure whether a programme qualifies, talk to us first.