Level 3 apprenticeships, also known as advanced apprenticeships, are the equivalent of two A-Level passes, and they follow directly after intermediate (level 2) apprenticeships. If you have outstanding GCSE scores, you would have excellent chances to get your foot in the door after school or maybe after work. Advanced apprenticeships are still a great choice if you get a degree and higher-level credentials but don’t want to go to university. Many businesses streamline their apprenticeship programmes starting at the advanced level.
As an advanced apprentice, you can work full-time with a business while still pursuing a qualification from a training company or college. You can train for certificates equal to two A-Level passes, such as NVQ Level 3, and knowledge-based credentials relevant to the business and job function, such as a BTEC Diploma and Certificate.
Some of these are also accredited by institutes, so you may be chartered in engineering or marketing, among other items, depending on where you study!
As you advance toward your certification and become more acquainted with your organisation, your apprenticeship will eventually be designed to assign you more responsibilities. For example, you might be in charge of some departments on your team as an accomplished apprentice! If you don’t like taking on many duties, your manager will help you get there later in your career. While learning essential employability skills, you may also obtain specialised training from the company.
Specific academic qualifications will almost certainly be required to be accepted for an advanced apprenticeship. For example, you could have done an advanced apprenticeship, more than 5 GCSEs, or other A-Level passes. However, if you have vast business experience, you can only take a few basic English and math tests.
What do you do?
As an advanced apprentice, you would have the same duties and responsibilities as someone else in your position; the main difference is that you will be given more guidance and spend more time training for a job. This can happen at work or when you go to college to study. The other 80% of your time will be spent at college, with the help of a job mentor. This may be a supervisor, a coworker, or someone who has already finished the apprenticeship.
What kind of credentials would I receive?
Since completing an advanced apprenticeship, you will be awarded level 3 qualifications equivalent to two A-level passes. In addition, you can earn BTECs or NVQs depending on the apprenticeship you want. If you do not have prior English or mathematics experience, you will be offered level 2 or 3 Functional Skills in Maths and English to fulfil the apprenticeship course.
Depending on your employer, you will be asked to concentrate on additional qualifications directly related to your profession. That may be a qualification for using particular systems or machinery at work. It all depends on where you end up working!
How do they work?
As an experienced apprentice, you will devote 20% of your time to pursuing your apprenticeship. Depending on the employer, this time can be expended differently; you can receive in-house training or attend an external training organisation or college.
Your boss can also decide if everything is organised; for example, you can spend one day a week practising, or you can spend block release working for weeks on end at the organisation and only spending a week at college training.
Is it feasible for me to do a level 3 or intermediate apprenticeship?
You would almost certainly need three or more GCSEs to do an advanced apprenticeship, but certain employers will only need one or two A-levels. Such employers do not require stringent qualifications, although they may need prior experience in the industry in which the apprenticeship is based.
What sorts of apprenticeships are available?
At the advanced level, there are over 145 different apprenticeships open, including:
- Advertising and media executive
- Animal technologist
- Assistant accountant
- Broadcast production assistant
- Business administrator
- Cabin crew
- Dental nurse
- Digital marketer
- Event assistant
- Fashion studio assistant
- Infrastructure technician
- Junior content producer
- Junior journalist
- Laboratory technician
- Leisure duty manager
- Mortgage adviser
- Paralegal
- Retail team leader
- Teaching assistant
- Train driver
- Veterinary nurse
What characteristics does an individual seek in a candidate’s application?
An employer would solicit your passion for the organisation, the apprenticeship, and the ability to serve in the profession. Since this is an advanced apprenticeship, certain companies do not need long work experience, although a part-time job may support the requirement. Employers could also look for ways to show time management, prioritisation, and workplace skills.