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What are Pre-apprenticeships?

Find information and listings of pre-apprenticeships and pre-traineeships that may provide a pathway to the occupation or industry of choice.

What is a pre-apprenticeship?

A pre-apprenticeship is entry level training which can provide a pathway into the industry of your choice. Generally, they are offered in the traditional trades industries, such as Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing and Automotive.

The term pre-vocational or pre-traineeship may also be used when talking about entry level training in non-traditional trade industries, such as Hospitality, and Animal Care and Management.

Pre-apprenticeships can assist in improving literacy and numeracy skills as well as focusing on developing some essential work related skills. These skills can help you be better prepared for work and be a stand-out job candidate.

These programs can vary between states and territories, and industries. Some may involve a work experience component and some may attract a credit transfer to an apprenticeship level qualification.

How do I find a pre-apprenticeship?

Pre-apprenticeships are offered by Registered Training Organisations such as TAFE and Group Training Organisations. Often it can be challenging to find the pre-apprenticeship information you are interested in when searching through their websites.

Our Pre-apprenticeship Finder resource has a list of pre-apprenticeships being offered by providers which can be searched by industry and location.

Once in the finder, select your persona, location and click on the 'Pre-Apprenticeships' button. You can view specific start dates, contact details, potential costs and any eligibility requirements.

PLEASE NOTE: Not all pre-apprenticeships are listed on our website. If you do not find any search results that fit your criteria we suggest you contact your local TAFE directly.

Why did I do one? Click buttons below to watch their stories!

Kosta

Motorsport Pre apprenticeship

“I really think it’s always great to have a piece of paper, but as well, it’s always great to have something where you actually get to learn and put that into practice”

Bailey

Bricklaying Pre apprenticeship

"Me and another mate decided to do this course because we liked it and now we’re into it and enjoying it"

Jack

Electrical Pre apprenticeship

“I was always pretty good at Maths and Physics at school, so I thought, I’d love to get hands on and do that same sort of stuff so that’s why I chose to do this”

Dylan

On The Road to Work Program - Building and Construction Pre apprenticeship

“Getting into class and just learning as much as you can and getting hands-on on how to do it yourself”

Ben

Furnishing and Furniture Making Pre apprenticeship

"At high school, I just loved doing woodwork, furniture making, and it just led me to this really"

Ashlee

Furniture Making Pre apprenticeship

"I thought it’s a good way to start with the basics, come in, learn some skills"

5 advantages in doing a pre-apprenticeship

By doing a pre-apprenticeship you can see whether a particular industry is for you without committing to a full apprenticeship;
Some initiatives involve work experience which will look great on your resume and provide you with the basic on-the-job skills;
Once the program is complete, some providers may provide support pathways into employment;
Some employers, particularly in the trade industries, have a preference for people who have completed a pre-apprenticeship. They see the initiative as providing a good grounding in basic skills and workplace awareness;
Participants may receive credit for the study completed, which could shorten the time it takes to complete a full apprenticeship.

Do I need to do a pre-apprenticeship to get an apprenticeship?

The easy answer is NO! There is no requirement to have completed a pre-apprenticeship before starting an apprenticeship or traineeship. However, it is important that you are aware that some industries look more favourably upon people that have completed a pre-apprenticeship.

Industries such as Electrical and Plumbing which have strict licensing requirements will often look at potential apprentices who have completed a pre-apprenticeship. In some cases, employers who are advertising an apprenticeship opportunity will specify that candidates looking to apply must have completed a pre-apprenticeship. Check out job ads to see whether pre-apprenticeships are mentioned frequently to get an idea if they are in demand in your industry of choice.

On the other hand, there are some industries where completing a pre-apprenticeship is not as vital with employers preferring to employ people directly into an apprenticeship with no previous training. You can go to our ‘Industry Information’ pages to see if pre-apprenticeships are a common pathway into an apprenticeship opportunity. You could also speak to employers in the industry to find out if completing a pre-apprenticeship is something they look for in their apprentices.

Search the Pre-Apprenticeship Finder

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