What point am I at in my Apprenticeship Training?

Apprenticeship training and assessment overview 

Each apprenticeship programme has a set length of time for training, which is a minimum of 12 months.

Training is an essential part of apprenticeships. As an apprentice you will receive regular training to learn the knowledge, skills, and behaviours you need to pass your apprenticeship and succeed in your career.

Training should make up at least 20% of your apprenticeship and it must happen during your normal working hours. Some apprenticeship standards might require more training time.

As an apprentice you are assessed at the end of your training to ensure you are competent in your occupation and can perform all the aspects of your role.

This assessment checks the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSB’s) you have learned throughout your apprenticeship and is called the End Point Assessment (EPA).

You can only pass and fully complete your apprenticeship if you pass the end-point assessment.

Summary of a typical apprenticeship and stages

This summary provides a typical overview of the structure of an apprenticeship standard. The structure of your specific apprenticeship standard could be different.

You should review your apprenticeship standard assessment plan on The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) website for full details:

1. Apprenticeship On-programme Training

Apprenticeship Stage is Continuing

Whilst on programme you will be working towards completing your:

• Apprenticeship portfolio
• On-the-job training
• Off-the-job training
• Diploma / NVQ element of your apprenticeship 
• Functional Skills qualifications (if required)

2. End Point Assessment (EPA) Gateway

Apprenticeship Stage is Completed (all your apprenticeship training is complete)

To trigger EPA gateway, you must have:

• spent a minimum of 12 months on programme
• fully completed all required apprenticeship training
• fully completed your apprenticeship portfolio
• fully completed your NVQ and/or Diploma and Functional Skills qualifications (where applicable)
• confirmation from your employer that you are consistently working at or above the full competence level required of the apprenticeship standard
• formal agreement from you, your employer, and your training provider that you are ready to progress to EPA

Your training provider should have provided confirmation of all of the above to your End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO).

3. End Point Assessment (EPA)

Apprenticeship Stage is Completed (and achieved if you have already completed your EPA)

• You must complete your EPA within three months of triggering EPA Gateway
• The organisation chosen by your employer is responsible for carrying out the EPA
• EPA involves assessment methods such as a knowledge test or exam, a professional discussion or portfolio-based interview, work-based project and presentation (but each apprenticeship standard assessment requirement are different)
• Your performance will be graded as fail, pass, or distinction. If you fail the first time, you might get another chance to re-sit or re-take
• After you complete all parts of the EPA, your grade will usually be checked by another organisation to make sure it is fair (referred to as independent quality assurance)
• Once your grade is quality assured your EPAO can apply for your EPA certificate from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

As an apprentice, you might also take what is called a Break in Learning. This means you have decided to stop your apprenticeship for a while but plan to start it again later. If you are intending on restarting your apprenticeship, you should contact your employer.