Complete an apprenticeship or traineeship
Pathways for your staff to complete an apprenticeship or traineeship. Learn about Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), Competency Based Completion, Full-Term Completion, processes and certificates.
Overview
Apprenticeships and traineeships combine:
- on-the-job practical training with an employer, and
- formal training with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
People learn new skills while working, leading to:
- a nationally recognised qualification for work in a specific job role and industry
- a Certificate of Proficiency.
On average apprenticeships last around 3 to 4 years and traineeships around 1-3 years. They can be part-time, full-time, or school-based. They’re regulated by government and established under a Training Contract.
It is a condition under the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act that an employer who employs a person as an apprentice or trainee must provide the work-based component in accordance with the relevant vocational training order for that vocation. This means that the apprentice or trainee must be considered as an apprentice or trainee by their employer, or coworkers, and be supervised at all times on the worksite.
Pathways to completing
There are two main pathways for apprentices or trainees to successfully complete an apprenticeship or traineeship. These are:
Processes involved
To complete an apprenticeship or traineeship:
- The apprentice or trainee must complete all the competencies in the Training Plan, and
- the employer must confirm with the registered training organisation (RTO) the apprentice or trainee is competent in the workplace.
- The RTO must report the completion of formal training to Training Services and issue the qualification to the apprentice or trainee.
- Training Services will confirm the Training Contract between the employer and the employee is complete and issue a Certificate of Proficiency to the apprentice or trainee. See our information on Certificates below.
Full-Term Completion
This usually means completing the qualification within the term of the Training Contract and depending on the pathway undertaken, may take from 1-4 years.
The apprentice or trainee must have:
- completed formal training to achieve required competencies
- met industry standards through workplace training.
The RTO needs to receive the employer's endorsement before issuing the qualification.
A Certificate of Proficiency may then be issued by Training Services. In some cases, an apprentice or trainee may require this certificate to apply for their tradesman's licence in NSW.
Early Completion - Competency Based Completion
Apprentices or trainees can complete their apprenticeships or traineeships early if they:
- are deemed competent off the job by their RTO and have been issued an appropriate qualification, and
- have demonstrated all the required competencies to meet industry standards as confirmed by their employer, and
- have applied for Competency Based Completion (CBC).
Both you and your apprentice or trainee must agree to an early completion.
How to apply for Competency Based Completion
You and your apprentice or trainee must complete a Request for Competency Based Completion and submit to your nearest Training Services office.
Also, see our policies and procedures page on Competency Based Completion.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) involves evaluating skills and knowledge gained through work experiences and applying them to meet the requirements of a qualification. RPL is conducted at the beginning of an apprenticeship or traineeship, following enrolment with an RTO, an RPL process is not considered to be the intent of an apprenticeship or traineeship as a training contract is about training and assessment.
It is a condition under the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act that an employer who employs a person as an apprentice or trainee in a recognised trade vocation, or recognised traineeship vocation, must provide work-based training in accordance with the relevant vocational training order for that vocation. This means an apprenticeship or traineeship is considered as appropriate if the learner is undertaking both on and off the job training and assessment throughout the term of a training contract.
In some cases, an apprentice or trainee may have worked with various employers or undertaken training with multiple RTOs without successfully completing a Unit of Competency (UoC). During their employment they may encounter changes in training packages that result in non-equivalent units of competency.
Where this occurs, an apprentice or trainee may be granted credit transfer, or the RTO may assess a small portion of the qualification via RPL. For units of competency that are not directly equivalent, the RTO must conduct a mapping process to determine if the learner meets the appropriate RPL, this may mean that the apprentice or trainee may still need to undergo training and assessment to achieve full competency. RTOs must always ensure they meet the ASQA RTO Standards when assessing an apprentice or trainee’s experience for the UoC within the Training Package.
If, due to the previous training and on the job history for the apprentice or trainee RPL is being considered, please contact the nominated RTO who will determine if the relevant knowledge and skills required for the UoC have been met. RTOs must ensure that they meet the RTO standards for the Training Package.
Employees who want their skills recognised may be eligible to undertake other subsidised training in NSW, or may be able to meet the eligibility criteria to apply for Trade Skill Recognition (TSR) – they are NOT considered to be an apprentice or trainee in NSW and it is against the NSW Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act for you to register your employee as an apprentice or trainee where the RTO is advising that they will be undertaking RPL assessment only.
Certificates for completing
Training Services issues Certificates to people who:
- complete an apprenticeship or traineeship , or
- successfully apply for Trade Skills Recognition (TSR).
Certificate of Proficiency
Your apprentice or trainee can receive a Certificate of Proficiency if they have:
- completed the on-the-job training in the workplace, and
- completed formal training with an RTO.
- Or, successfully applied for trade skills recognition. They must also complete relevant trade training through an Australian registered training organisation.
Employers often want their employees to have a Certificate of Proficiency to:
- meet licensing standards
- obtain an industry standard endorsement
- meet industry contract or tender requirements
- have a well-qualified workforce.
Employees who are not considered to be an apprentice or trainee must not be registered in NSW under the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act, the employee may be eligible to undertake other subsidised training or may be able to meet the eligibility criteria to apply for TSR.