Hong Kong Training Funding Comparison: CEF vs ERB

Quick Comparison

Feature	CEF	ERB
Target Audience	All HK residents, professional courses	Lower-income, vocational training
Funding Amount	HK$25,000 lifetime subsidy	Free to HK$1,000 per course
Reimbursement	80% first HK$10K, 60% next HK$15K	Upfront subsidy (pay HK$0-1,000)
Education Level	Any level	Sub-degree or below (for placement courses)
Income Restriction	None	Yes (≤ HK$12,500 for full-time placement)
Age Range	18-70	15+
Course Type	Professional, academic, technical	Vocational, job-specific
Training Allowance	No	Yes (HK$223/day, max HK$5,800)
Job Placement	No	Yes (for placement courses)
Course Count	2,000+ courses	700+ courses

When to Use CEF

Best For:

✅ Professional development (AI, FinTech, data science) ✅ Career advancement (postgraduate certificates, diplomas) ✅ Mid-to-senior professionals with bachelor's degree ✅ Higher income earners (> HK$12,500/month) ✅ Industry certifications (technical, business, finance) ✅ Flexible part-time learning around full-time work

Typical Use Cases:

Finance Professional → FinTech Specialist

• Course: PolyU Postgraduate Certificate in FinTech
• Fee: HK$39,000
• CEF subsidy: HK$23,400
• Net cost: HK$15,600
• Outcome: Career transition, 30-40% salary increase

Business Analyst → Data Scientist

• Course: HKU Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science
• Fee: HK$48,000
• CEF subsidy: HK$25,000 (max)
• Net cost: HK$23,000
• Outcome: Senior role, 50%+ salary increase

Developer → AI Engineer

• Course: HKU Postgraduate Certificate in AI & ML
• Fee: HK$42,000
• CEF subsidy: HK$25,000 (max)
• Net cost: HK$17,000
• Outcome: Specialized AI role, higher demand

When to Use ERB

Best For:

✅ Job seekers needing employment-ready skills ✅ Career changers entering new vocational fields ✅ Lower-income workers (≤ HK$12,500/month) ✅ Sub-degree education level ✅ Practical, hands-on training (hospitality, logistics, IT support) ✅ Need job placement assistance

Typical Use Cases:

Unemployed → IT Support Technician

• Course: ERB IT Support & Help Desk Certificate
• Fee: HK$250
• Training allowance: HK$5,800
• Duration: 2 months full-time
• Outcome: Job placement, HK$15,000-18,000 starting salary

Office Worker → Digital Marketer

• Course: ERB Digital Marketing Certificate
• Fee: HK$675
• Duration: 3 months part-time
• Outcome: Career transition, HK$18,000-25,000 salary

Career Switcher → F&B Service

• Course: ERB Food & Beverage Service Certificate
• Fee: HK$0
• Training allowance: HK$5,800
• Outcome: Hotel/restaurant employment, HK$16,000-22,000 salary

Can You Use Both?

Yes! Sequential Strategy

Many Hong Kong workers use both programs throughout their careers:

Strategy 1: ERB First, Then CEF

1. Year 1: Use ERB for foundational vocational training

   • ERB IT Support Certificate (HK$250)
   • Gain employment as IT support officer
   • Salary: HK$16,000/month

2. Year 2-3: Work and save while gaining experience

3. Year 4: Use CEF for professional advancement

   • CEF Data Analytics Diploma (HK$11,200 net after subsidy)
   • Promoted to data analyst
   • Salary: HK$28,000/month (+75%)

Total investment: HK$11,450 for career transformation from unemployed to HK$28K/month

Strategy 2: CEF for Professionals, ERB for Skills Gaps

1. Professional uses CEF: AI/FinTech courses for career advancement
2. Later uses ERB: Specific vocational skills (e.g., elderly care for side income, warehouse management for business understanding)

Decision Framework

Ask Yourself:

Q1: What's your educational background?

• Bachelor's degree or higher → CEF likely better fit
• Secondary school or diploma → ERB or CEF (both options)
• Below secondary → ERB more suitable

Q2: What's your income?

• HK$12,500/month → CEF (ERB part-time courses also available)

• ≤ HK$12,500/month or unemployed → ERB full-time placement courses (free + allowance)

Q3: What type of skills do you need?

• Professional/technical (AI, FinTech, data science) → CEF
• Vocational/job-specific (F&B, logistics, IT support) → ERB
• Academic/theoretical → CEF
• Hands-on/practical → ERB

Q4: Do you need job placement help?

• No, already employed/can find jobs independently → CEF
• Yes, need assistance finding employment → ERB

Q5: Can you afford upfront costs?

• Yes, can pay HK$20,000-50,000 upfront and wait for reimbursement → CEF
• No, need free/low-cost training → ERB

Cost Comparison Examples

Example 1: AI Training

CEF Option:

• Course: HKU Postgraduate Certificate in AI
• Fee: HK$42,000
• CEF reimburses: HK$25,000
• Your net cost: HK$17,000
• Level: Postgraduate
• Depth: Comprehensive, 180 hours
• Job-ready: Yes, but no placement assistance

ERB Option:

• No direct AI postgraduate equivalent
• Closest: ERB IT courses + self-study AI
• Not comparable in depth/credentials

Verdict: CEF wins for professional AI training

Example 2: Digital Marketing

CEF Option:

• Course: HKU Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing
• Fee: HK$38,000
• CEF reimburses: HK$22,800
• Your net cost: HK$15,200
• Level: Postgraduate
• Duration: 9 months part-time

ERB Option:

• Course: ERB Digital Marketing Certificate
• Fee: HK$675
• Your net cost: HK$675
• Level: Certificate
• Duration: 3 months part-time
• Job placement: Included

Verdict: ERB for budget/job-seeking, CEF for credentials/depth

Example 3: Career Change to Tech

CEF Path:

• Course: Cyberport Full-Stack Development Certificate
• Fee: HK$18,000
• CEF reimburses: HK$10,800
• Your net cost: HK$7,200
• Portfolio: 3-5 projects
• Job-ready: Yes

ERB Path:

• Course: ERB Web Design Foundation
• Fee: HK$875
• Your net cost: HK$875
• Portfolio: Basic websites
• Job placement: Included

Verdict: CEF for full-stack skills, ERB for entry-level + job help

Combining Both Programs

Maximizing Government Support

You can use both CEF and ERB (not simultaneously for same course):

Phase 1: ERB Foundation (Year 1)

• ERB IT Support Certificate (HK$250)
• ERB Digital Marketing (HK$675)
• Total cost: HK$925
• Training allowance: HK$0 (if employed)
• Skills: Entry-level IT + marketing

Phase 2: CEF Advancement (Year 2-3)

• CEF Data Analytics Diploma (HK$11,200 net)
• CEF AI Certificate (HK$15,000 net)
• Total cost: HK$26,200
• Total CEF used: HK$23,800
• Skills: Professional-level data science + AI

Total investment: HK$27,125 for comprehensive tech career Career trajectory: Unemployed → IT Support (HK$16K) → Data Analyst (HK$30K) → AI Engineer (HK$50K+)

Common Misconceptions

Myth 1: "I can only use one program"

Reality: You can use both CEF and ERB throughout your career. They serve different purposes and don't conflict.

Myth 2: "CEF is only for university graduates"

Reality: CEF is open to all HK residents age 18-70, regardless of education level. Some CEF courses have entry requirements, but many don't.

Myth 3: "ERB is only for unemployed people"

Reality: ERB part-time courses are open to employed workers. Only full-time placement courses target unemployed/low-income workers.

Myth 4: "I'm too old for government training subsidies"

Reality: CEF covers ages 18-70, ERB has no upper age limit. Many retirees use these programs for career transitions or lifelong learning.

Myth 5: "These programs are mutually exclusive"

Reality: You cannot use both for the SAME course, but you can use ERB for some skills and CEF for others.

Next Steps

If You Qualify for Both:

Step 1: Assess Your Situation

• Current education level
• Current income
• Career goals (vocational vs professional)
• Budget availability

Step 2: Choose Primary Program

• Higher education + employed → Start with CEF
• Lower income + need job → Start with ERB
• Both applicable → Use decision framework above

Step 3: Plan Long-Term

• Map career progression
• Identify skill gaps
• Allocate ERB for practical skills
• Allocate CEF for professional credentials

Step 4: Execute

• Create accounts (CEF and/or ERB)
• Enroll in first course
• Complete with high attendance
• Claim subsidies/allowances
• Apply new skills to advance career

Resources

CEF:

• Website: www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/cef
• Hotline: 2150 6223
• Course catalog: 2,000+ CEF-approved courses

ERB:

• Website: www.erb.org
• Hotline: 182 182
• Course catalog: 700+ ERB courses

Both:

• No conflict in using both programs
• Strategic sequencing maximizes benefits
• Lifelong learning pathway from vocational to professional