Learners often ask us whether a course is WSQ because they assume that decides the grant. It doesn’t. Funding and WSQ status are separate questions, and since May 2026 more funded courses in Singapore run as non-WSQ. This page explains the difference, so you know what you’ll pay and what certificate you’ll receive.
What is WSQ?
WSQ is a national system that trains, develops, assesses and certifies skills for the workforce. Courses are built on the Skills Frameworks, which are created with employers, unions, education institutions and government.
When you pass a WSQ course, SWDA issues a Statement of Attainment (SOA). Each SOA certifies that you have attained the competencies in a single WSQ module. From 1 July 2026, the SOA also shows the course title.
Is WSQ the same as SkillsFuture?
No. Funding, SkillsFuture Credit and WSQ status are separate. A course can be SWDA-funded without being WSQ, which is the case for our CASL courses. So check two things: how much of the fee is funded, and which certificate you’ll receive.
WSQ and non-WSQ CASL courses compared
| WSQ course | Non-WSQ CASL course | |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | WSQ Statement of Attainment from SWDA | Certificate from the training provider. At Intellisoft: Intellisoft Certificate of Completion |
| OpenCert from SWDA | Yes | No |
| Course fee grant | 50% to 70% if eligible | The same 50% to 70% if eligible |
| Quality assurance of the certificate | National WSQ system | The provider’s own quality assurance |
| Assessment | Yes | Yes, on our CASL courses |
| Choose it if | An employer or scheme asks for a WSQ credential | You want the skill and the funding, and don’t need a national credential |
CASL is the Course Approval Skills List. To qualify for this tier of funding, at least half of the skills a course delivers must be on the list.
What changed with WSQ 2.0?
From 1 May 2026, WSQ credentials focus on two priorities: high skills standardisation, and a common credential recognised within and across sectors. Courses outside that scope are offered as non-WSQ. A course’s WSQ accreditation ends when its funding validity ends. That is why several of our courses moved from WSQ to CASL when they were renewed, with the same grant rates.
Certificates and how employers verify them
WSQ courses
Log in to MySkillsFuture with Singpass and open your Skills Passport to find your certificates. Employers can check an OpenCert file at opencerts.io, which confirms the file hasn’t been altered and that the issuer is recognised. The official certificate FAQs don’t set an expiry date for an SOA.
CASL courses at Intellisoft
You receive an Intellisoft Certificate of Completion when you attend at least 75% of the class and pass the assessment. It isn’t listed in the national WSQ records, so keep your copy and share it directly with your employer.
Grants and credits
Both types of course use the same rates at Intellisoft. Prices include 9% GST, which applies to the full fee.
- 70% grant: Singapore Citizens aged 40 and above, and SME-sponsored Citizens and PRs.
- 50% grant: Citizens aged 21 to 39, MNC-sponsored PRs and individual PRs.
- SkillsFuture Credit, UTAP and SFEC: may offset part of the balance. Current SFEC support ends on 30 November 2026, and a redesigned SFEC starts on 1 December 2026.
Each course page shows the full fee and the nett fee after the grant.
How do I know which type a course is?
Check the course page. The registration card shows the certificate you’ll receive and the funding label. A course’s status can change when it is renewed, so the course page is always the place to check.
How to choose
- Ask whether your employer, a tender or a scheme specifically needs a WSQ credential. If so, choose a WSQ course.
- If you mainly want the skill, compare the course content and dates. The grant rates are the same.
- Check your nett fee on the course page, or ask us to confirm your eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
Do non-WSQ courses get government funding?
Some do. Our CASL courses are SWDA-funded at the same 50% to 70% rates as our WSQ courses, subject to eligibility.
Will I get a WSQ Statement of Attainment from a CASL course?
No. SWDA doesn’t issue an SOA or OpenCert for non-WSQ courses. You receive an Intellisoft Certificate of Completion.
Can I use SkillsFuture Credit on a CASL course?
Yes, if the course is SFC-eligible. Ask us if you’re not sure about a particular course.
What happened to SSG?
SkillsFuture Singapore and Workforce Singapore merged into the Skills and Workforce Development Agency on 1 July 2026.
Sources: SWDA Training Partners Gateway (course accreditation, funding, WSQ SOA memo INTD 2026-1), Ministry of Manpower press release of 24 June 2026, opencerts.io. Checked 4 November 2026.