School-based Apprentices QLD
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships in Queensland (SATs) allow high school students, generally in Years 10, 11 or 12, to combine their studies with paid work for an employer and train towards a recognised vocational qualification. You can undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship whilst completing secondary schooling and studying for your Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and/or Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).
A School-based traineeship or apprenticeship can take between 12 – 60 months to complete. It just depends on the qualification you have chosen.
You will need to be signed into a training contract with the assistance of an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider (ACAP) between the student, parent/carer (if the student is under 18 years), employer, supervising registered training organisation (SRTO) and school. Find an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider (ACAP) representative who supports employers, apprentices and trainees during the term of an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Training and Assessment delivery limits for school-based apprenticeships
The Department has established limits on the amount of training and assessment of which a supervising registered training organisation may deliver to school-based apprentices, based on the nominal term of a full-time training contract.
Whilst an individual is undertaking a school-based apprenticeship, the SRTO is permitted to deliver training and assessment within the limits set out in the table below.
School-based apprenticeship nominal term |
Full time Apprenticeship nominal term |
Maximum percentage of units of competency/points that can be completed by a school-based apprentice* |
| 8 years | 4 years | 33.3% |
| 6 years | 3 years | 40% |
| 4 years | 2 years | 50% |
*The percentage is based on the maximum number of units of competency/points specified for the apprenticeship or traineeship in QTIS.
Apprentices and trainees, including school-based, can receive only a maximum of two government qualifications; a second qualification will be funded only if it is a Priority One qualification, has a higher priority ranking than the first qualification that has been completed, or was undertaken subsequent to a student having completed a qualification under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
For further information regarding School-based apprentices and traineeships, visit the Queensland Government, Department of Trade, Employment and Training’s website.
