Department for Education (DfE)
Responsible for schools, childcare, apprenticeships and higher education policy in England. School places are handled by your local council.
Home » Schools and childcare » Become an apprentice
Become an apprentice
An apprenticeship is a paid job with training, from GCSE level up to degree level. In England you need to be 16 or over and not in full time education. Wales and Northern Ireland have their own schemes.
Official links
Show links for:
| Official source | Applies to |
|---|---|
| GOV.UK: become an apprentice www.gov.uk/become-apprentice | England |
| GOV.UK: find an apprenticeship www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship | England |
| GOV.WALES: apprenticeships www.gov.wales/apprenticeships-genius-decision | Wales |
| nidirect: apprenticeships explained www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/apprenticeships-explained | Northern Ireland |
Who handles it
Step by step
- Check you can start: 16 or over (by the end of the summer holidays), living in England and not in full time education.
- Search for vacancies on the Find an apprenticeship service.
- Sign in or create an account, then complete and submit your application.
- Agree your training with the employer and provider. Relevant experience or qualifications can shorten it.
What you need
- An account to sign in to the Find an apprenticeship service.
- Details of your qualifications and any relevant work experience or training.
Common mistakes
- Accepting less than the apprentice minimum wage, or unpaid training time. Training (at least 20% of your hours) must be paid.
- Using the England service if you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.