Every year more and more Leaving Cert students look beyond the traditional CAO route to pursue their career ambitions.
Factors such as the points-race, cost of living, scarcity of accommodation, high university drop-out rates, and shifting labour market demands are encouraging many school leavers to consider alternative pathways, such as Tertiary Degrees, as featured here recently; Post Leaving Cert Courses (PLCs) featured here ; Traineeships; and Apprenticeships.
These options offer equally valuable routes to career success, providing practical skills, financial support, and real-world experience.
This week we turn our attention to Apprenticeships, an alternative route to the CAO that’s gaining serious momentum in Ireland.
For many students and their parents, what comes to mind when apprenticeships are mentioned are trades such as electrician, mechanic, plumber or carpenter.
While these highly regarded craft trades continue to thrive, modern apprenticeships entail much more than that.
Nowadays options include careers in finance, ICT, engineering, hospitality, insurance, recruitment, logistics, biopharma, and more.
With growing government support, a strong job market, and increasing demand for skilled workers, apprenticeships are more and more becoming a respected and practical route into well-paid, stable employment.
Whether you prefer to learn on the job, or just want to earn while you learn, apprenticeships might offer you the perfect alternative to full-time college.
What Is an Apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a a structured training programme which offers an opportunity to earn a salary as an employee, under a formal contract of apprenticeship, while gaining valuable knowledge and skills.
You will ‘earn as you learn’ through a blended combination of on-the-job employer-based training and off-the-job training in a college setting, while being paid throughout.
Apprenticeships vary in length depending on the programme, lasting between two and four years with a minimum 50% on-the-job learning.
Apprenticeships in Ireland lead to an award starting at QQI level 5, all the way up to PhD level (QQI Level 10) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
In 2024 over 9,000 new apprentices registered across almost 80 apprenticeships, including new and emerging programmes such as Cyber Security, Civil Engineering, Farming, Digital Marketing, and more.
Why Choose an Apprenticeship?
There are many reasons why students find apprenticeships appealing, such as the fact that apprentices are paid from day one, with salary increases each year; they lead to Nationally Recognised Qualifications from Level 5 to Level 10; entry is not based on CAO points; hands-on experience leading to job readiness is gained; and some apprenticeships open doors to further qualifications, including degrees and postgraduate study.
Types of Apprenticeships Available
In Ireland, apprenticeships fall into two broad categories, pre-2016, often referred to as craft apprenticeships, and post-2016, newer apprenticeships which are ever expanding.
Pre 2016/Craft Apprenticeships
These are the traditional trade roles such as:
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- Carpentry and joinery
- Motor mechanics
- Welding
- Brick and stone-laying
- Painting and decorating
- Plastering
- Stonecutting and stonemasonry
Typically these apprenticeships last for 4 years and follow a standard pattern of alternating blocks of on-the-job work and off-the-job training at an ETB (Education and Training Board) centre or third level college.
- Phases 1, 3, 5 & 7 involve on-the-job training.
- Phases 2, 4 & 6 involve off-the-job training.
Post-2016/Newer Apprenticeships
These programmes have expanded into areas such as:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Insurance
- Recruitment
- Property Services
- Cybersecurity
- Software Development
- Engineering
- Biopharma
- Sales and Marketing
- Transport and Logistics
- Agriculture
- Horticulture
- Health and Social Care
These newer apprenticeships are typically 2 or 3 years long, and are delivered in partnership between employers and third level colleges.
While most lead to a Level 6 or 7 QQI qualification, some lead to a Level 8 honours degree after three years, such as Insurance, Recruitment, and Cybersecurity.
A master’s degree can be achieved by taking on an apprenticeship in Software Solutions Architect, Lean Sigma Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Social Work, Advanced Quantity Surveying, and Equipment System Engineering; while a level 10 is available on a Principal Engineer programme.
Most of these apprenticeships involve a weekly structure of four days on the job and one day in college.
To learn more about how the training and college elements work for apprentices take a look at the any of the ETB centres, Teagasc, FIT, and these third level colleges TUD, SETU, ATU, MTU,TUS, DKIT, UL, UCC, NCI and Griffith College.
Entry Requirements
To apply for an apprenticeship, you must be age 16 or more. Typically a minimum of a pass in the Leaving Certificate is required (some require specific subjects or higher grades, depending on the field), or relevant work experience.
A strong interest in the chosen apprenticeship role is also a must.
For popular areas like electrical or plumbing, you may need to pass a Colour Vision Test or aptitude assessment.
How to Get Started
- Visit apprenticeship.ie to browse the full list of options by sector and level of qualification.
- Find a SOLAS approved employer willing to take you on as an apprentice. You don’t apply through the CAO. Instead, most apprenticeship applications go directly through employers or through platforms like apprenticeship.ie. Don’t forget to network!
- Make sure to prepare well for interviews. In general, employers want to see enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and further develop skills on the job, a basic understanding of and flair for the chosen apprenticeship, positive attitude, good communication skills, and good problem solving skills. Practical, TY experience or relevant work-shadowing in the field can be a big plus too.
It’s important to note that apprenticeships aren’t just for school-leavers. Most are open to mature learners and people looking to change careers.
Final Thoughts
For Leaving Cert students unsure about college, or those seeking a more hands-on route, apprenticeships offer a real and rewarding alternative.
You can earn a wage, gain work experience, and achieve valuable qualifications, all while avoiding the costs associated with the traditional college route to a qualification and career.
With options growing every year, and more employers seeing apprentices as the future of their industries, there’s never been a better time to consider this alternative pathway.
Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers offers one-to-one or small group career advice, in-person or online, to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
Follow on Instagram for updates and reminders about all things careers, or head over to the website to book a personalised guidance session.
SEE ALSO – Check out all of the other Martina Mulhall pieces here
