Faq

A regular apprenticeship generally takes 4 years (48 months) to complete. However, because a school-based apprentice is only able to work a limited number of hours per week, a school-based apprenticeship will take approximately twice as long. This means you cannot complete the apprenticeship while still at school. But you can start one, and the training you have completed at school means you can convert to a full-time or part-time apprenticeship with your employer and complete the final 2-3 years of the apprenticeship, putting you up to two years ahead of apprentices who only commence after school.

A school-based traineeship will take approximately 2-4 years to complete. If you do not complete your traineeship while at school, you may elect to transition to a part-time or full-time traineeship with your employer.

As a school-based apprentice or trainee, you must work a minimum 7.5 hours per week, averaged over every 3 months.

This means if you have to take time off if you become unwell, are studying for exams, or go on holiday, you can catch up by working more hours in other weeks.

You can also request to work more than the minimum required number of hours per week by negotiating with your employer, school, and training organisation, but remember, working hours do not include the time spent undertaking training with your training organisation.

The minimum hourly rate for a school-based apprentice can be found in the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020 (the Industrial Award for most employers in the automotive industry) can be found HERE.

The hourly rate for a school-based trainee, according to the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020 can be found HERE.

Once you have signed-up for your school-based apprenticeship or traineeship and been assigned a trainer, you will develop a training plan which covers what, when, and how you will do your training and assessment.

Depending on your individual circumstances, you may elect to complete your training with your training organisation:

• Online during scheduled school time
• In the workplace with your trainer

Online out of school and work time