Department of Trade, Employment and Training
Apprenticeship and traineeship differences
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Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship leads to a trade qualification.
As a qualified tradesperson an apprentice can go on to work in industries such as electrical, plumbing, cabinet making, automative industry.
Full-time traineeships take 3-4 years to complete, part-time takes 8 years and for school-based apprentices it can take 2 years at school plus 2-3 years full-time after school.
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Traineeships
A traineeship leads to a certificate level qualification.
These vocational skills enable trainees to work in roles such as business, administration, information technology, tourism.
Full-time traineeships take 1-3 years to complete, part-time is between 2-4 years and school-based traineeships are 2 years.
Getting started as an Apprentice or Trainee
Trades and skilled careers are for everyone. These careers offer hands-on experiences and rewarding opportunities, ensuring job security and a steady income.
Apprenticeships also combine work with study, so you can earn while you learn. So, whoever you are, whatever your goals, there’s an apprenticeship that can work for you.
Start building your future career today!
What's involved?
Learn more about getting started in an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Choosing a career
Help deciding the direction to take based on interests and skills.
Get started
Choose an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider.
Government funding
The government contributes towards the cost of training for apprentices and trainees.
Useful forms
A list of forms required as an apprentice or trainee.
Apprenticeships and traineeships work for Employers
Apprentices and trainees can be rewarding, helping to bring fresh perspective and innovative ideas to your business, and providing an opportunity for your business to grow.
An employer needs to provide an appropriate range of work, facilities and level of supervision and enable training obligations such as releasing them from work, paying them to attend off-the-job training and signing off achievements in their training record.
There are many ways to find an apprentice or trainee for your business, such as:
- upskill one of your existing workers
- contact local high schools and TAFEs
- post a vacancy on websites targeted at aspiring apprentices and trainees
Taking on an apprentice or trainee can be a cost-effective, rewarding way to build and retain your workforce.
The Queensland Government provides targeted investment through a number of different vocational education and training (VET) investment programs to assist industry and employers train and upskill their current and future workforce.
If you want to hire an apprentice, Apprentice Connect Australia Providers are the first point of contact to get started. They connect apprentices and trainees with employers, and provide support throughout the life of the apprenticeship/traineeship and assist with the signing of a training contract, checking eligibility for incentives and providing mentoring services where required.
Restricted callings
If you are under 18, to work in some jobs or 'restricted callings', you must be employed as an apprentice or trainee, or have completed an apprenticeship or traineeship (e.g. automotive mechanics or electricians).
Employers may not employ a person under the age of 18 to restricted calling jobs unless
- the prospective employee has completed an appropriate qualification or statement of attainment relevant to the calling, or
- he or she is employed as an apprentice or trainee in the calling, under a registered training contract.
The jobs, or callings, to which this restriction applies, are declared in accordance with Section 64(1) of the
Further Education and Training Act 2014.For further information, please call Apprenticeships Info on 1800 210 210.
Contact Apprenticeships InfoIndustrial relations
Apprentices and trainees are considered employees and may receive entitlements the same as other employees such as: annual leave, sick leave, public holidays, superannuation, workers compensation and allowances. Apprentices and trainees must also receive a pay slip to cover full details of the pay for each pay period. Pay slips have to be given to an employee (including apprentices and trainees) within 1 working day of pay day and be either in electronic form or paper hard copy.
Parties should make enquiries with the Fair Work Ombudsman on Ph: 13 13 94 or at http://www.fairwork.gov.au to determine the correct industrial instrument and entitlements.
Since 1 January 2010, all private sector employers and employees in Queensland, including apprentices and trainees, have their wages and conditions of employment covered by the Fair Work Act 2009 and modern awards. This legislation is administered by the Commonwealth Government Fair Work Ombudsmans office. https://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay/minimum-wages/apprentice-and-trainee-pay-rates
Public sector and local government workers in Queensland remain under the state industrial relations system. Additional information about wages and conditions of employment for employees (apprentices/trainees employed by state or local government) can be found at: https://www.forgov.qld.gov.au/working-in-the-public-service/directives-awards-and-legislation/pay-awards-and-agreements.
When employment is ceasing the employer or the employee (apprentice/trainee) must provide the appropriate notice periods as per the relevant award or registered workplace agreement. A notice period is the length of time that an employer or employee (apprentice/trainee) has to give to end employment. Additional information about notice periods can be found at: http://www.fairwork.gov.au/ending-employment/notice-and-final-pay.
Unfair dismissal is when an employee (apprentice/trainee) is dismissed from their job in a harsh, unjust or unreasonable manner. Additional information about unfair dismissal can be found at: http://www.fairwork.gov.au/ending-employment/unfair-dismissal.
Last Updated: March 2025