Starting work as an apprentice or trainee

On this page ...

What are apprenticeships?

An apprentice is paid to learn trade skills. The structured training mixes theory and skills development at college with practical application on the job. The flexibility of apprenticeship schemes means wage rates and employment conditions vary depending on the type of apprenticeship.

An apprenticeship is an employment based training scheme approved under the Vocational Education, Training and Employment Act 2000 (PDF, 1.04 mB). The apprenticeship involves a period of technical off-the-job and on-the-job training for each particular trade or occupation where the apprentice is normally registered with one employer.

What are traineeships?

A trainee undertakes a combination of structured training and work. The flexibility of traineeships means wage rates and employment conditions vary depending on the type of traineeship.

A traineeship is an employment based training scheme approved under the Vocational Education, Training and Employment Act 2000 (PDF, 1.04 mB). A traineeship can be full-time or part-time. Students can also start a traineeship while they are at school. The length of a traineeship depends on the industry, the occupation or trade, any previous training the trainee may have had and how quickly s/he learns the skill of the traineeship. Many traineeships nominally take one year to complete the qualification requirements.

Entering into a training contract

An apprenticeship or traineeship starts on the day agreed by the employer and the person who is to become the employer's apprentice or trainee. The employment contract may be in writing, but this is not mandatory. However, it is mandatory to have:

a signed training contract,
a written training plan, and
established the training plan content during the probationary period of the apprenticeship or traineeship.

Employers, apprentices and trainees, new apprenticeship centres, supervising registered training organisations and the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts all have roles and obligations in the registration of training contracts for apprenticeships or traineeships. For further information contact a new apprenticeship centre or visit the Department of Education, Training and the Arts website.

Type of apprenticeship and traineeship engagements

There are a number of different employment types by which an apprentice or a trainee may be engaged:

Full-time apprentices and trainees work and train full-time, usually for 38 hours a week.
Part-time apprentices and trainees work and train no less than 15 hours each week (including the time spent training at work and with the supervised registered training organisation), averaged over a four week cycle. Part-time apprentices and trainees must be rostered to work on a regular and continuous basis.
School-based apprentices and trainees undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship as part of their high school studies. A school-based apprenticeship or traineeship is a contract of training and paid employment for secondary students (mainly students in Years 11 and 12). Students enter into a training agreement with an employer that also involves an arrangement with the school and/or institution. An employer must provide a minimum of 48 days full-time paid employment for each year of the apprenticeship or traineeship.
Apprentices and trainees employed by a group training organisation are placed with host employers to get on-the-job experience.
Existing workers employed as apprentices and trainees commence an apprenticeship or traineeship after working with an employer for longer than three months full-time, or longer than 12 months on a part-time or casual basis.

What is probation?

Each apprenticeship and traineeship has a set probationary period. This gives you and your employer time to work together and decide whether to continue with the apprenticeship or traineeship.

Probation begins on the day you and your employer agree to start the apprenticeship or traineeship. As a general rule, the probationary period is:

90 days for full-time apprenticeships
30 days for full time traineeships.

There are a number of exceptions to this rule including part-time and school-based apprenticeships or traineeships. The probationary period is included as part of the total nominal term of the training contract. Find out what the probationary period is for your apprenticeship or traineeship by visiting the Queensland Training Information Service (QTIS) and search on your particular apprenticeship or traineeship.

The probationary period also applies to new training contract where an apprentice/trainee recommences in the same apprenticeship or traineeship with a different employer.

An apprentice or trainee may be terminated during the probationary period by 1 week's notice (five working days) given by either the employer or apprentice or trainee.

Last updated:

Rights & obligations