HRD Corp publishes an Allowable Cost Matrix (ACM) in its Training Providers Circular, setting the maximum training fee it will fund per day, per training type. These caps exist so levy funds stretch across more employers and courses — but they also mean you can't assume any price is automatically 100% claimable. Here's what actually matters for budgeting.
What the Allowable Cost Matrix caps
The ACM sets a maximum claimable fee per day, categorised by training type (e.g. soft-skills / management courses vs e-learning) and sometimes by delivery mode. If your training provider's quoted fee is within the cap, the full amount is generally claimable; if it's above the cap, only the capped amount is claimable and your company covers the difference.
Two caps every employer should know
- Soft-skills / classroom-style courses: historically capped around RM10,500 per day under the SBL-Khas scheme for eligible course categories.
- E-learning: capped much lower, historically around RM875 per day, reflecting the lower delivery cost of self-paced digital training.
Always verify current figures against the latest HRD Corp Training Providers Circular — the ACM is reviewed periodically and caps can change. Your training provider should be able to confirm the applicable cap for your specific course category at the time of application.
Why this shapes how Megabyte prices its programs
This is exactly why our HRD Corp claimable programs are priced in three delivery tiers — onsite/in-house (highest, closest to the classroom-style cap), live online, and e-learning (lowest, within the e-learning cap) — so each tier sits comfortably inside its relevant allowable-cost band rather than requiring the employer to absorb an excess.
| Delivery mode | Typical cap category | Example: Design of Experiments | Example: AI Loyalty CRM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onsite / in-house | Classroom-style (per group/day) | RM1,900 / group | RM3,900 / group |
| Live online | Live virtual (per pax) | RM850 / pax | RM1,250 / pax |
| E-learning | E-learning (per pax) | RM490 / pax | RM790 / pax |
All three tiers on every Megabyte program page are HRD Corp claimable for eligible employers — the tier you choose depends on your team's format preference and budget, not on claimability.
Budgeting tip: work backwards from your levy balance
If you're planning training for a whole team, estimate your monthly and annual HRD Corp levy first — Corporate HR accounts on MegaLearn have a built-in Levy Calculator under Portal > Levy Calculator, or see our HRD Corp Claim Guide for the general workflow — then choose the training format and headcount that fits inside it.
Explore our HRD Corp claimable programs
- Design of Experiments (DOE) — half-day, from RM490/pax e-learning.
- AI Loyalty CRM — full-day, from RM790/pax e-learning.
- Smart Farming with IoT — full-day, from RM790/pax e-learning.
- ESG Adoption for SMEs — in-house, packages from RM16,800.
- Anti-Corruption & Governance — in-house, quote-based.
Frequently asked questions
If a course costs more than the cap, is nothing claimable?
No — typically the amount up to the cap is claimable, and your company covers the difference above it. Confirm the exact treatment with HRD Corp or your training provider for your specific course category.
Does the cap apply per participant or per session?
It depends on the training type — classroom-style caps are often per group/day, while live-online and e-learning caps are typically per participant. Check the category your course falls under.
Where can I find the current official cost limits?
The authoritative source is HRD Corp's Training Providers Circular and Allowable Cost Matrix (ACM), published on the official HRD Corp portal. Always confirm current figures there before finalising a training budget.