How do apprenticeships and traineeships work?
Choosing an apprenticeship or traineeship means that you:
- gain valuable work experience
- earn while you learn
- learn the latest knowledge and skills
- gain a nationally recognised qualification.
An apprenticeship or traineeship is a great start to your career and can help you go on to further study, or even start your own business.
There are different types of apprenticeships or traineeships available:
Full-time or part-time
Adult and mature age
School-based
Full-time or part-time
Apprenticeships and traineeships combine work with structured training. Traineeships vary in length from 12 months to three years, while apprenticeships can take up to four years to complete.
With the introduction of expected durations that set a target for early completions, it is likely that some apprenticeships could be completed faster than this.
For further information on expected durations, view the Length of apprenticeships and traineeships information sheet or visit the Apprenticeships and traineeships section of the Training website.
Adult and mature age
Apprenticeships aren't just for young people. There are many opportunities for older workers especially in skills shortage industries.
Your existing skills and experience may provide you with credit and may reduce your training time. Even if you have never formally studied or trained in a particular area, you may have gained knowledge and skills through your education, training, work and life experience.
Recognition of prior learning (also referred to as RPL or recognition of current competencies), is the formal recognition of a person's current skills and knowledge, no matter how, when or where the learning occurred.
Discuss the RPL process with your training organisation. For further information visit Recognition of prior learning.
Wages and conditions
In some industries, minimum wages apply for adult apprentices and trainees. The age when an apprentice or trainee is considered to be an adult may differ from industry to industry. For more information, visit the Wages and entitlements section of the Wageline website.
The following websites can provide more information about adult apprenticeships:
Training - Who is eligible for an apprenticeship or traineeship? Just about anyone who is interested can do an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Jobwise - Information for mature-aged people who are looking for work.
Skilling Solutions Queensland - Skilling Solutions Queensland can help you get information about where to start looking for a new career, training or getting recognition for the skills you have.
Mature Aged Worker Incentive - Employers of disadvantaged workers (aged 45 years or older) may attract commencement and completion incentives.
Experience Pays Awareness Campaign - Age proofing our workplaces through the new Experience Pays Awareness campaign.
School-based
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships allow high school students - typically in Years 11 and 12 - to work with an employer as paid employees whilst studying for their Queensland Certificate of Education.
A school-based apprentice or trainee's employment and/or training arrangements must impact on their school timetable for the program to be considered school-based.
Unlike other apprentices and trainees, school-based apprentices and trainees:
- are not paid for the time spent in training delivered by the supervising registered training organisation
- do not accrue entitlements to sick leave or recreation leave.
However, students are paid for the time spent working, including a loading to compensate for not receiving recreation and sick leave.
Facts about school-based apprenticeships and traineeships:
- The employment and/or training arrangements must impact on your school timetable for the program to be considered school-based.
- Vocational education and training qualifications and competencies can be recorded on your Senior Certificate and are nationally recognised.
- It is possible for you to gain an Overall Position (OP) score while doing a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship.
If you do not complete your apprenticeship or traineeship while at school, you will have to convert to full-time or part-time.
Visit School-based apprenticeships and traineeships for more information.