We have received a number of enquiries regarding the level of the apprenticeship when applied to regulated health professions where the mandated qualification the apprentice undertakes can be at one of two levels.
The ‘level’ of the apprenticeship is the same, irrespective of the level of the mandated qualification undertaken as the level of the apprenticeship is determined by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education based on a level applied to the occupation. This is because there are a number of apprenticeship standards where there is no requirement for a qualification to be undertaken as part of the apprenticeship but the apprenticeship standard still has an assigned ‘occupation’ level.
In health there are a number of apprenticeship standards for statutorily regulated professions where the standard allows the apprentice to undertake either a Level 6 Degree or a Level 7 qualification approved by the regulator where the apprentice already holds a level 6 degree. For example if someone with a Psychology degree at Level 6 wished to undertake the Level 6 Registered Nurse apprenticeship they could do this by completing a level 7 qualification approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The apprenticeship is still Level 6.
Also, as there can only be one apprenticeship standard for an occupation there wouldn’t be an apprenticeship standard at Level 7 for Registered Nurse.
Standards where the mandated qualification the apprentice undertakes can be a level 6 degree or a level 7 (where the apprentice already holds a level 6 degree):