Apprenticeships · 5 min read
What is an apprenticeship and how does it work?
How apprenticeships work in England: a paid job with training, the levels from 2 to 7, the 8-month minimum, off-the-job hours, who can apply and what you earn.
The short answer
An apprenticeship is a real job with a contract and a wage, where at least part of your paid time is spent training towards a recognised qualification. In England they run from Level 2 (GCSE standard) to Level 7 (master's), last at least 8 months, and end with an assessment. Anyone 16 or over who isn't in full-time education can apply. You're paid at least the apprentice minimum wage, £8.00 an hour from April 2026, and most pay more.
Key takeaways
- You're an employee first: a contract, holiday pay, sick pay and a wage from day one.
- Levels run from 2 (GCSE equivalent) through 3 (A level), 4 and 5 (foundation degree), 6 (degree) to 7 (master's).
- Minimum length is 8 months for starts from August 2025; most Level 3 apprenticeships take 18 months to two years.
- Training time is built into paid hours, with a set minimum per standard and a baseline of 187 hours.
On this pageThe shape of an apprenticeship
The shape of an apprenticeship
You're employed by a company and trained by a provider, which may be a college, a university or a specialist trainer. The job is the main thing: you do real work for a real wage four days a week or so, and the rest of your paid time is training, at the provider or at your desk. At the end you take an end-point assessment, which might be a practical test, a project, an interview or a mix.
| Level | Equivalent to | Typical examples |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation and Level 2 | GCSEs | Hospitality, retail, construction trades, care, hairdressing |
| Level 3 | A levels | Business admin, engineering technician, dental nurse, IT support |
| Level 4 and 5 | Foundation degree or HND | Nursing associate, software developer, accounting technician |
| Level 6 | Bachelor's degree | Registered nurse, civil engineer, digital and technology solutions |
| Level 7 | Master's degree | Senior leader, solicitor, accountant (funded only for under-22s from 2026) |
Who can apply
You need to be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays, living in England and not in full-time education. There's no upper age limit. Foundation apprenticeships are for 16 to 21 year olds (up to 24 with an education, health and care plan or as a care leaver) and launched in August 2025 in construction, digital, engineering and health and social care.
Pay, hours and the training time
- Pay: at least £8.00 an hour under 19 or in year one, then your age rate. Employers set the real figure and it's on the advert.
- Hours: a normal working week, usually 30 to 40 hours, with your training inside it. Under-18s are capped at 40.
- Training: each standard has a minimum number of off-the-job hours, with a baseline of 187 across the apprenticeship. It's paid time.
- Holidays: at least 28 days a year including bank holidays, like any full-time employee.
Apprenticeship or college or university?
The real difference is where you spend Tuesday. An apprentice is at work, learning the job by doing it with a wage coming in and no tuition fee. A student is in a classroom with more choice about what to study and more time to change their mind. Neither is the safe option. Large employers told the Institute of Student Employers they increased apprentice hiring by 8% in 2025 while cutting graduate hiring by 8%.
Illustrative example: Level 3 at 17
A 17 year old leaves sixth form after one year of A levels and starts a Level 3 engineering technician apprenticeship at £14,000 a year. He's in the workshop four days and at college one. Eighteen months in, his employer puts him forward for the Level 4 standard. He has no debt, two years of experience and the same question as everyone else: what does he want to do next?
Questions people ask
- Do you get paid during an apprenticeship?
- Yes, for every hour including training. The legal floor is the apprentice rate of £8.00 an hour if you're under 19 or in your first year, then your age rate: £10.85 at 18 to 20 and £12.71 at 21 and over from April 2026. Many employers pay well above this, and degree apprenticeships often start at £20,000 or more.
- How long does an apprenticeship take?
- At least 8 months for anyone starting from August 2025, down from 12. In practice a Level 2 takes about a year, a Level 3 around 18 months to two years, and a degree apprenticeship three to five years. Each standard sets its own typical duration, which is shown on the advert.
- Can you do an apprenticeship with no qualifications?
- Yes. Level 2 and the new foundation apprenticeships are designed for people starting out, and around a quarter of adverts don't require grade 4 in English and maths. If you don't have them you'll usually study English and maths alongside the job. Level 3 and above generally expect grade 4 or Functional Skills Level 2.
- Is an apprenticeship a real qualification?
- Yes. You finish with the apprenticeship certificate for that standard, and many standards include a separate qualification such as a diploma, a foundation degree or a full degree. Higher and degree apprenticeships carry the same award as the university route, with the university's name on it.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- Become an apprentice · GOV.UK
- Minimum duration of an apprenticeship · Department for Education, apprenticeship service help
- National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates · GOV.UK
- Investigating the barriers to young people accessing apprenticeships · National Foundation for Educational Research
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.