Apprenticeships are available to applicants from age 16 upwards with no maximum age, although they are mostly intended to support the employment, training and development of people moving forwards with their chosen career.
There are some conditions that are set nationally by the government (e.g. citizenship and residency requirements, minimum contracted hours).
The apprenticeship must provide you with opportunities to gain significant new skills, so you would not be eligible if you already hold a qualification at a higher level in the same field or extensive knowledge in the subject, although you can take an apprenticeship to help you retrain into a new professional area.
Apprenticeship courses may require a particular level of prior education or knowledge, please see the job description for the role you are interested in for specific requirements.
- All apprenticeship courses require basic proficiency in Maths and English, which you can demonstrate either through GCSE qualifications at level 4 or above, or by taking separate short courses in Functional Skills. The Training Provider may ask you to complete brief Maths and English assessments as part of the application process.
- Some apprenticeship courses at level 3 and above may require completion of a related apprenticeship at a lower level. It may be possible to gain an exemption from this requirement if you can demonstrate equivalent prior learning or experience. The Training Provider would discuss which level would be most appropriate for you based on your previous experience and current skills.
- If you are already taking another training course or qualification, you should complete this first before starting an apprenticeship. The commitment required to complete an apprenticeship may be compromised if you try to do this alongside other studies.
