Completion of the Apprenticeship and Progression
An Apprenticeship now only has to last a minimum of 8 months, as a result of changes in August 2026 allowing “accelerated apprenticeships”.
Because of the roll-on-roll-off nature of our programmes, we have always flexed the duration in order to match the requirements of the employer and abilities of the apprentice. This recent change provides us even more flexibility – however it is still important to agree on a duration that meets your needs. We do not want to rush the apprenticeship. It is not just about having sufficient time to pass the exams (and pass them well), it is about having sufficient time to acquire the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the Apprenticeship Standard and to apply this at work for the benefit of the employer.
The durations below show the typical durations we expect for each apprenticeship level.
Apprenticeship typical durations with Accountancy Learning
Level 2
Accounts/Finance Apprenticeship
8-13 months
Level 3
Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship
12-18 months
Level 4
Professional Accounting Technician Apprenticeship
12-18 months
Level 7
Accounting Professional Apprenticeship
36-42 months
The duration of the Level 3 Apprenticeship will be longer if we include the two bookkeeping units of the Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping, where this option is selected to avoid the time involved with first completing the Level 2 Apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship course durations can be flexed at the time of sign up but once signed up and processed on DAS, we cannot change the “Planned End Date” on the system. This establishes the funding plan. However, it is perfectly possible to complete the programme before this planned funding end date if an apprentice makes faster progress than planned, provided the duration is at least 8 months.
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.
End Point Assessments
Level 2
AAT BESY Exam
Structured Interview
Level 3
Knowledge Assessment
Professional Discussion
Level 4
Role Based Scenario
Professional Discussion
Level 7
ACA Case Study
ACA Project Report
The Apprenticeship has been “Completed” when the two elements of the EPA have been completed, not when the results are received.
The apprentice can then progress to the next level, if appropriate, albeit not until the following day, at the earliest.
When planning progression, one should consider the age of the apprentice and how this might affect eligibility for any employer incentives, or for progression to Level 7.
Please click below for more information about our ACA Level 7 Apprenticeship programme.