What Is SBL-Khas? HRD Corp Claimable Courses Explained for Malaysian Employers
Written By
Neeta
SBL-Khas is the scheme most Malaysian employers mean when they say "HRDF claimable": the training provider is paid out of your levy account, so there is no upfront course fee. Here is what the term means, the conditions HRD Corp attaches to it, and the 2026 deadlines.
TL;DR Answer
SBL-Khas is the scheme most Malaysian employers mean when they say "HRDF claimable": the training provider is paid out of your levy account, so there is no upfront course fee. Here is what the term means, the conditions HRD Corp attaches to it, and the 2026 deadlines.
Key Takeaways
- ✓ SBL-Khas is the HRD Corp Claimable Courses (HCC) scheme — the course fee is debited from the employer's levy account, so the employer does not pay the provider upfront.
- ✓ It only applies to training delivered by an HRD Corp registered training provider, and the programme itself must be registered with HRD Corp.
- ✓ Employers with outstanding levy or interest are not eligible.
- ✓ From 15 June 2026, in-house grants must be submitted at least 14 calendar days before training; public courses get a 3-day window until 31 December 2026, then back to 14 days.
- ✓ Course fee is claimable up to RM10,500 per day per group in-house (RM1,750 per participant per day for public courses) under the Allowable Cost Matrix.
SBL-Khas is the name employers, HR managers and training providers in Malaysia use for the HRD Corp Claimable Courses (HCC) scheme. It is the scheme behind almost every "HRDF claimable" programme: the training provider's fee is paid from the employer's levy account rather than from the employer's bank account. If you have ever been quoted a course as "100% claimable" or "zero cash", SBL-Khas is the mechanism being described.
SBL-Khas in One Paragraph
Under HRD Corp Claimable Courses, an employer registered with HRD Corp applies for a grant for a specific programme before it runs. If the grant is approved, HRD Corp's own guidance states that employers "are not required to make an upfront payment for the course fee to the Registered Training Provider, as the course fee will be debited from the employer's account". The employer's levy balance is drawn down; the provider is paid; the employer's cash position is untouched apart from items outside the claim, typically venue and transport.
The Conditions HRD Corp Attaches
- Registered provider only. The scheme is "ONLY applicable for the training by the REGISTERED TRAINING PROVIDER". A programme run by an unregistered vendor cannot be claimed under SBL-Khas regardless of content.
- Registered course. Programmes conducted under HRD Corp Claimable Courses must be registered with HRD Corp (a requirement in force since 1 April 2021).
- Levy in good standing. "Employer with outstanding levy and interest are not eligible to apply for the financial assistance."
- Grant before training. The application is filed and approved before the programme date — see the timing rules below.
SBL-Khas vs the Other Scheme Codes
You will see several scheme codes in e-TRiS — HCC (SBL-Khas), SBL, SLB, FWT and others. HCC / SBL-Khas is the one where the course fee is debited from the levy account rather than paid by the employer first. The other codes are separate schemes with their own terms; if a provider quotes you "SBL-Khas", confirm that the programme is registered under HRD Corp Claimable Courses, because that is what makes the no-upfront-payment arrangement apply.
2026 Timing Rules (HRD Corp Grant Application Helper v2026)
| Programme type | Submit the grant | Must commence within |
|---|---|---|
| In-house training | At least 14 calendar days before | 90 calendar days after that period |
| Public training, 15 Jun – 31 Dec 2026 | At least 3 calendar days before | 90 calendar days after that period |
| Public training from 1 Jan 2027 | Back to 14 calendar days | 90 calendar days |
Required attachments for every application: invoice or quotation, trainer profile, and the schedule or course content. Since 15 June 2026 HRD Corp raises one query with five days to respond, and approved grants cannot be modified — the full detail is in our HRD Corp new rules 2026 guide.
How Much Is Claimable
Under Employer's Circular 3/2024, carried into the January 2026 Allowable Cost Matrix: in-house course fee up to RM10,500 per day per group (RM6,000 per half day; a full day is 7 training hours), public course fee up to RM1,750 per participant per day, meal allowance RM100 per participant per day, and trainee allowance RM250–RM500 per participant per day by distance. The full table is on our HRD Corp Allowable Cost Matrix 2026 page, and every programme we run under the scheme is listed under HRD Corp claimable courses.
What This Means in Practice
For a levy-paying employer, SBL-Khas changes the arithmetic of training. A RM9,000 one-day in-house programme for 25 people is within the RM10,500 cap, so the whole fee is drawn from levy you have already paid and cannot otherwise recover. The practical rules are simple: use a registered provider, make sure the programme is registered, keep your levy current, and file the grant 3 to 4 weeks ahead so approval is in hand before the date.
This article is part of our HRD Corp Training Courses resources. See the full programme range, formats, group sizes, and HRD Corp claim pathway there — or browse every named programme in our corporate training programmes catalogue.
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