What is an apprenticeship standard?
An Apprenticeship Standard outlines the knowledge, skills and capabilities that an apprentice needs to succeed in their chosen role.
In the UK, there are over 650 apprenticeship standards, all designed to offer relevant opportunities to apprentices and to represent the skills needs of businesses across the country.
Apprenticeship standards comparison
Level
Route
Typical length
QA courses for this standard
Level
Route
Typical length
QA courses for this standard
What is an Apprenticeship Standard?
The first apprenticeship standards were created in the UK in 2017. Their introduction marked a significant change in the way that apprenticeships were created, with an increased focus on training designed by and for businesses.
Apprenticeship standards set a clear framework for each individual apprenticeship programme, including the length of the programme, the funding available, and the skills and competences that an apprentice should learn by the end of their course.
All standards are fully aligned to the needs of a particular role o occupation and provide high impact skills that businesses and individuals need the most.
This also simplified the system for apprenticeship providers and provided all programmes with clear frameworks and requirements.
What industries and roles do Apprenticeship Standards cover?
There are over 650 Apprenticeship standards in the UK, covering a broad variety of sectors and specialisms. Here are the key industries with an approved standard:
- Agriculture, environmental and animal care
- Business and administration
- Care services
- Catering and hospitality
- Construction and the built environment
- Creative and design
- Digital
- Education and early years
- Engineering and manufacturing
- Hair and beauty
- Health and science
- Legal, finance and accounting
- Protective services
- Sales, marketing and procurement
- Transport and logistics
A full list of all apprenticeship standards can be found on the UK government website.
What does an apprenticeship standard define?
Apprenticeship standards define the level, length and funding that is required for each apprenticeship programme.
The apprenticeship level defines the difficulty and experience of the standard, while the length of programme depends on what needs to be covered as part of the standard's framework.
Each standard is also allocated a funding part, which defines how much funding is available for businesses who choose to use their growth and skills levy.
Why are apprenticeship standards important?
Apprenticeship standards are designed alongside industry experts and employers to ensure that they align with real world roles and workforce requirements.
This helps to give employers confidence that an apprentice will be focused on the most impactful skills, as well as learning capabilities that are future-proofed against evolving technologies and challenges.
For learners, standards outline a clear framework of what will be covered in their apprenticeship an what success looks like. It sets clear benchmarks in terms of performance and timeframes, as well as future learning paths and training routes.
What is an apprenticeship unit?
Apprenticeship units are a new standard, designed to allow learners to complete a segment of an apprenticeship programme, rather than the full curriculum.
Every apprenticeship unit is fully accredited and taken directly from approved national apprenticeship standards. They offer a shorter and more flexible alternative to full apprenticeship programmes.
Which apprenticeship standards do QA cover?
QA Apprenticeships are aligned to a wide range of apprenticeship standards across digital and technology. These programmes have been built to match the roles that businesses need most. This includes areas where skills are highly in demand, such as AI, data, cloud computing and cyber security.
Browse our apprenticeship programmes
How apprenticeship standards work
One of our specialist Digital Learning Consultants, Thomas Eaves (TJ), shares what apprentices can expect from their training journey.
In this video, TJ breaks down how apprentices balance on‑the‑job experience with structured learning, and highlights the personalised support they’ll receive from their dedicated learning consultant every step of the way.
Hear from tech apprentices
Keren chose a Digital Technology Solutions degree apprenticeship because her hands-on approach didn’t align with the traditional university route.
Working as a Business Analyst at NatWest, she’s able to apply her learning directly to her role, gaining real-world experience and financial freedom while continuously growing her skills.