Completion of the Apprenticeship and Progression

An Apprenticeship has to last a minimum of 1 year and 1 week – i.e. 372 days. This is to ensure that there is the opportunity for substantial learning and skills development to have taken place.

However, we will discuss with you at the outset, the length of time that will be most appropriate for your apprentice. On average, programme durations will be:

15 months

Just completing the AAT Level 3 units

18 months

Level 3 + the two Certificate in Bookkeeping units

24 months

Level 3 and the full Level 2

Course duration can be flexed at the time of sign up. However, once signed up and processed on the ESFA system, we cannot change the “Planned End Date”, although it is perfectly possible to complete the programme before the PED, if an apprentice makes faster progress than planned, provided the duration is at least 372 days.

When an Apprentice is ready to sit their End Point Assessment, they are deemed to have reached “The Gateway”, at which point they require no further training and the requirement for off the job training (and complying with the 20% rule) ceases. The EPA comprises two elements:

The Professional Discussions / Written Statements are supported by submission of a portfolio of evidence and reflective journals and are cross referenced to a comprehensive series of Learning Outcomes.

Although the AAT unit exams can be sat on demand throughout the year, the synoptic exams for Level 3 are only held in set “Windows” roughly every 2 months.

The “Windows” last a week.

The Professional Discussions and submission of Written Statements are not so time bound. We therefore try to get these completed between the Gateway and sitting the Synoptic exam.

The Apprenticeship has been “Completed” when the two elements of the EPA has been completed, not when the results are received.

Progression: Although it will take about 6 weeks for the results of the EPA to be published, where an apprentice has completed their Level 3 EPA, it is possible to commence their Level 4 Apprenticeship straightaway. We will be happy to advise on whether this is appropriate for your particular apprentice. We hate the thought of an apprentice having 6 weeks with nothing to study!?!