Apprenticeships

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee learns and gains valuable experiences.

Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider which leads to a nationally recognised qualification.

Apprenticeship levels

There are four different levels of apprenticeship:

• Intermediate - equivalent to five good GCSE passes.
• Advanced - equivalent to two A-level passes.
• Higher - equivalent to the first stages of higher education, such as a foundation degree.
• Degree - comparable to a Bachelors or Master's degree. Find out more at degree apprenticeships.

Length of apprenticeships
The length of your apprenticeship will depend on a number of factors, such as the level of the apprenticeship, your chosen sector, employer requirements and your individual ability.

That being said, apprenticeships will usually last between one and six years. Their length follows a basic framework:

• intermediate apprenticeships typically last between one year and 18 months
• advanced apprenticeships are usually studied over two years
• higher and degree apprenticeships take three-to-six years to complete.

Who can apply for an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a great paid work opportunity for people over the age of 16 in England who are:

• early in their career
• looking to upskill in their current job
• looking for a career-change
• not in full-time education

Where to find an apprenticeship.

To search and apply for an apprenticeship in England,

Find an apprenticeship 
Amazing Apprenticeships
Degree apprenticeships 
Apprenticeships