Training arrangements for school based apprenticeships and traineeships - A Vocational Training Guideline

Issued: 16 November 2007

Background

A school based apprenticeship or traineeship provides a student with the opportunity to attain a nationally recognised vocational education and training qualification as well as the Higher School Certificate through paid employment in a recognised trade or traineeship vocation and formal training provided by a registered training organisation.

Vocational Training Guideline

Pursuant to Section 4 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 (the Act), the following Guideline is issued in relation to the establishment of school based apprenticeships and school based traineeships.

This Guideline specifies the conditions under which an application to establish a school based apprenticeship or school based traineeship can be approved.

School based apprentices and school based trainees undertake part-time training for the duration of school based attendance in years 11 and 12. Where appropriate, training may be approved to commence in year 10.

Each application to establish a school based apprenticeship or traineeship must include a full Training Plan, in accordance with the requirements of the NSW Department of Education and Training, that sets out the proposed mix of work and training to be undertaken while attending school.

Where the relevant Vocational Training Order for a trade vocation specifies a nominal term of four years, the duration of a school based apprenticeship in that trade would be five years. This is completed by two years while at school and up to three years post school. Where the nominal term of training in the relevant Vocational Training Order for a recognised trade vocation is more or less than four years, the post-school training term would be adjusted accordingly.

The duration of a school based traineeship is usually two years and is completed while at school.

Training Term

School based apprentices and trainees must undertake a minimum of 100 days on-the-job training (or as specified in the relevant VTO) over a two year period, concluding by 31 December of the year they complete the Higher School Certificate.

Where the requirements of the Higher School Certificate are being accumulated over more than two years, the part-time school based training may be extended to 60 months. A Vocational Training Direction issued by the Commissioner for Vocational Training (the Commissioner) under Section 10 of the Act, will approve such modified portions of part-time and full-time training arrangements

School based apprenticeships

School based apprenticeships will only be considered for full apprenticeships (as defined by the Act) under which the employer undertakes to employ the apprentice for the whole of the nominal term of the apprenticeship and the training contract.

School based apprentices will undertake trade training at a minimum Certificate III AQF qualification level.

To ensure that all the requirements of the school based component of the apprenticeship will be achieved, a school based apprenticeship must commence before the end of the first term of year 11.

However, an application to commence a school based apprenticeship after that period will be considered by the Commissioner where it is clearly demonstrated by all parties that all the requirements of the school based component of the apprenticeship as specified in the relevant Vocational Training Order and the Training Plan will be achieved within the duration of the Higher School Certificate.

Where the nominal term of training in the relevant Vocational Training Order for a recognised trade vocation is four years, school based apprentices shall undertake the equivalent of the first year over two years, on a part-time basis.

School based apprentices will be required to demonstrate competencies relevant to stage one, year one of the relevant Vocational Training Order (as defined by TAFE NSW/Registered Training Organisation/NSW Board of Studies) in the part-time component, while at school.

They may work during school vacation and/or weekends. However, they are not required to attend on and/or off-the-job training for more than one day per week while at school during examination periods or exam preparation periods.

School based apprentices who successfully complete their Higher School Certificate will receive a Statement of Attainment of the competencies achieved and their Higher School Certificate.

The part-time training arrangement for a school based apprenticeship ceases at the end of the Higher School Certificate year and the apprenticeship is continued on a full time basis under the same training contract with the same employer and registered training organisation.

School based traineeships

School based trainees must enter into a training contract for a term of sufficient duration to allow them to complete their formal training requirements for the Higher School Certificate as well as the minimum requirement of 100 days, ( or as specified in the relevant Vocational Training Order) of paid employment by 31 December of the Higher School Certificate year.

The minimum training term to be nominated on the training contract for a school based traineeship must be 18 months.

However, an application where a term of less than 18 months is nominated will be considered by the Commissioner where it is clearly demonstrated by all parties that all the requirements of the traineeship as specified in the relevant Vocational Training Order and the Training Plan will be achieved within the nominated term.

School based traineeships are usually restricted at the Certificate II AQF level. However, an application to establish a school based traineeship with a qualification higher than Certificate II level may be considered by the Commissioner where:

• it is specified as being suitable for delivery as a school based traineeship in the relevant Vocational Training Order,
• it is listed on the approved school based traineeship list at http://www.sbatinnsw.info/, and
• the Commissioner is satisfied that the course of study at the higher AQF level and the required level of practical experience can be completed within a two year Higher School Certificate.

School based trainees who undertake and successfully complete training at Certificate II AQF qualification level or higher and their Higher School Certificate will receive a Certificate of Proficiency and their Higher School Certificate.

School based trainees who successfully complete their initial traineeship and who commence training in a higher level traineeship, prior to completing the Higher School Certificate, will receive credit for this additional training. The Commissioner will issue a Vocational Training Direction to reflect the amount of on and off-the job training undertaken towards this higher level traineeship and vary the nominal term of training appropriately.

Post school, a school based trainee may:

i) progress to stage two of a full-time apprenticeship, where the traineeship articulates into an apprenticeship and/or

ii) progress to a related higher AQF level traineeship with relevant competency recognition and advanced standing.

Competency Based Completion

The Commissioner may, under the Act, approve the completion of an apprenticeship or traineeship based on demonstration of competency, prior to the nominal completion date of the contract term when:

• The apprentice or trainee has completed the appropriate qualification through the approved registered training organisation, and
• The employer has verified that the apprentice or trainee has achieved a level of competence at the required industry standard.

Michael Coutts-Trotter
Director-General of Education and Training
Managing Director of TAFE NSW