How long does an apprenticeship take?

An apprenticeship normally takes between three to four years, depending on the occupation you are training in. Some apprenticeships can be reduced where the apprentice is assessed as being competent in the area and the employer, registered training organisation and apprentice agree. Where it is agreed, this can then reduce the time of the apprenticeship. This is referred to as competency based training rather than the more traditional approach of time-based training.