Apprenticeship Levels and what you can expect:
Intermediate Apprenticeship
Intermediate apprenticeships are the equivalent or same level to five GCSE pass grades and offer a step on the career ladder for those wanting to leave full-time education at the age of 16. As an apprentice doing an intermediate apprenticeship you will be work based learning towards a level 2 certificate within your chosen field. This will allow you to receive the necessary on the job training to develop your career and wok towards an Advanced Apprenticeship if required.
Entry level for an Intermediate Apprenticeship is commonly a minimum of two GSCE’s ideally in Maths and English however if you do not have these they will be a subject of your apprenticeship.
Advanced Apprenticeships or commonly none as Level 3 Apprenticeships is the equivalent to doing 2 A-Levels and you have the opportunity to work towards a work based learning cert or BTEC qualification.. To start an advanced apprenticeship the entry requirement is normally five GCSE’s grade C or above, which is why on completion of your Intermediate apprenticeship you would receive the equivalent of this for entry level to the advanced.
You may already have the A level qualifications that the Advanced Apprenticeship offers however, a lot of people decide to take up the Level 3 apprenticeship to learn the valuable work based skills required to advanced to the next stage in the career.
Higher Apprenticeship
Higher apprenticeships give an opportunity for apprentices to work towards level four qualifications or above and earn an NVQ, HND or foundation degrees. Once these qualifications have been achieved apprentices could have the option to work towards a postgraduate degree level or commonly a Level 7 Apprenticeship.
To gain your qualification if can take anywhere between one to five years to complete and you will be required to study at either a college, university or along side an approved apprenticeship training provider. The entry requirements for this level of apprenticeship vary, but can include a minimum of five GCSE’s grade 9-4 or A-C which would need to include English and Maths. Employers would also like to see apprentices who apply to have studied subjects relevant to the apprenticeship or have completed their advanced apprenticeship in this subject.
Degree apprenticeships are the highest level of apprenticeship you can achieved and are commonly referred to as level 6 or 7 apprenticeships. As with all the other levels you will be working in a paid job whilst studying part-time at a university. To start a degree apprenticeship the entry requirement would to of completed an advanced apprenticeship or have the required A levels.
The Degree apprenticeship is unique and the programmes are offered by universities, not all, and are being developed in conjunction with the employer and other professional bodies to give you the ability to study towards successfully achieving a Bachelors or Masters degree.
You can only study towards a degree apprenticeship in England and Wales at present and they can take anywhere between three to six years to complete depending on the course. As this level of apprenticeship is quite new there are only limited numbers of availability, however we envisage this will change in time.
