How long does an apprenticeship or traineeship usually take?
Apprenticeships usually take 3 to 4 years depending on the trade. If an employee has completed a pre-apprenticeship course they are usually eligible to have time credited towards their apprenticeship. You should contact your local training authority for further information about pre-apprenticeship courses.
The length of a traineeship depends on whether it is undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis. It also depends on which training scheme is undertaken. For example, a Certificate II may take 12 months to be completed if undertaken full-time, and 24 months if undertaken part-time.
Important! An employee may complete an apprenticeship or traineeship earlier than the specified duration if all competencies and course requirements have been met. An employer and a trainee or apprentice employee may mutually agree to an extension to the maximum duration if all requirements haven't been met. You should contact your relevant training authority for more information.
What happens upon completion of an apprenticeship or traineeship?
When all the competencies and requirements of the specific apprenticeship or traineeship are achieved, an apprentice or trainee may complete their apprenticeship or traineeship. You should contact the relevant training authority in your state or territory for further information.
Ongoing employment after the completion of an apprenticeship or traineeship is not necessarily guaranteed, however it may be included as a term in the training contract.
When the apprenticeship or traineeship has been completed, wage entitlements will change to the appropriate classification based on the employee's age, duties and qualifications. You can access Finding the right pay to assist you with determining the appropriate minimum wage.