Who Qualifies For Apprenticeship

To be eligible for an apprenticeship:

You must be 16 or older at the start of the apprenticeship.

You must not be enrolled in another sponsored apprenticeship, further education, or higher education programme when you start your new apprenticeship.

Be working full-time (at least 30 hours per week) or have a signed contract to start a full-time employment job relevant to the apprenticeship you’re applying for.

Meet the qualification entry requirements for the apprenticeship standard and show qualification credentials upon enrolling.

Only apply for apprenticeships unrelated to any qualifications you hold at the same or higher level than the apprenticeship you wish to apply for. The apprenticeship being pursued must be subject and content-wise unrelated to the prior qualification.

Expect to get no compensation for retaking a certification; the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) will not compensate apprentices who retake the same certificate.

You will not be asked to pay for the direct cost of your apprenticeship tuition, nor will you be required to take out a student loan to finance your apprenticeship.

During the apprenticeship, the apprentice must: be able to work and study in England; and be one of the following:

  1. You must be a European Economic Area (EEA) citizen or have the right to reside in the UK on the first day of your apprenticeship and have lived in the EEA for at least the previous three years on the first day of your apprenticeship.
  2. A non-EEA citizen who has lived in the UK for at least three years previous to the commencement of study and has been granted permission to live in the UK by the UK government (not for educational purposes).
  3. Work in England for at least half of the year.
  4. Employers may sponsor apprentices who do not meet the ESFA financing criteria under specific conditions but will not be able to use levy funds. If this is the case, our Apprenticeship Team will be able to discuss your options with you.
Updated on August 27, 2022

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