What counts as leadership training under HRD Corp?
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Short answer: leadership and management training is a recognised HRD Corp claimable category. What actually determines eligibility isn't the topic, it's the structure: a registered training provider, a registered course code, and documented learning outcomes tied to job performance, submitted for grant approval before the training takes place. Under SBL-Khas, claimable leadership and soft skills training is typically capped at RM10,500 per training day per batch. Additional claimable amounts include travel, meal and materials allowances are calculated on a case-by-case basis.
The real test HRD Corp applies
Most employers assume the question is "is this leadership content," when the question HRD Corp actually asks is closer to "is this a properly structured, work-related training programme." Leadership sits alongside soft skills, communication, technical, compliance, and digital skills as an established claimable category. The category isn't the hard part, meeting the structural requirements is.
What you can actually claim
Under SBL-Khas, leadership and soft skills training is typically claimable up to RM10,500 per training day, per batch. That cap covers the training itself, it's a separate question from whether a specific programme qualifies in the first place, which comes down to the structural requirements below.
Additionally there are also additional allowances for travel, meal and printing materials, which is calculated on a case-by-case basis.
What has to be true regardless of format
The training provider must be registered with HRD Corp
The programme must have a registered HRD Corp course code
The employer must apply for grant approval before the training date, most commonly under the SBL-Khas scheme
The programme needs documented learning objectives connected to workplace performance, not just general enjoyment
Format doesn't have to mean a classroom
A lecture-style workshop and a structured experiential programme are treated the same way as long as both meet the requirements above. This is where a lot of employers underestimate what qualifies, an outdoor or activity-based leadership programme can be just as claimable as a seminar room session, provided it's run by a registered provider with a registered course code and a real debrief connecting the activity back to leadership behaviour at work.
What disqualifies an otherwise good programme
Using a provider that isn't HRD Corp registered
Submitting the grant application after the training has already happened
Treating the session as purely recreational, with no documented objectives tied to job performance
Skipping the facilitation and debrief that connects the activity back to actual leadership skills
This last point is often the difference between a fun day out and a claimable programme. A framework-based approach, like Argonautica's Scale Method, is built around structured modules and a facilitated debrief specifically so the learning outcomes are documented and defensible, not just implied by the activity itself.
Frequently asked questions
How much can be claimed per training day?
Under SBL-Khas, leadership and soft skills training is typically claimable up to RM10,500 per training day, per batch.
Is leadership training HRD Corp claimable?
Yes, as a recognised claimable category, provided the provider is registered and the training meets the standard structural requirements.
Does it have to be classroom-based?
No. Structured experiential programmes qualify the same way, as long as the provider, course code, and documentation requirements are met.
What disqualifies a programme?
An unregistered provider, no grant approval before the session, or content that's purely recreational with no documented, work-related learning outcomes.
This is a practical overview, not a definitive ruling. Course registration, scheme eligibility, and claimable amounts are set by HRD Corp and can change, always confirm current requirements against HRD Corp's official guidelines before submitting a claim.
See the framework behind Argonautica's leadership programmes.
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