Levels and qualifications

How long is an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships take from 8 months to 6 years in England. What decides the length, real examples from big employers at every level, and whether you can finish faster with relevant experience.

  • Applies to England
  • Reviewed
  • Reading time 1 min

The short answer

Between 8 months and 6 years in England, depending on the type and level. Entry-level apprenticeships often take 12 to 18 months, engineering apprenticeships commonly take 2 to 4 years, and degree apprenticeships usually take 4 to 5 years. Relevant experience or qualifications can sometimes shorten it.

Key figures

How long apprenticeships take, depending on the type and level
8 months to 6 years
Source: GOV.UK
Legal minimum length for apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2025
8 months
Source: Department for Education
Length of Aldi's Career Starter, warehouse and driver apprenticeships
12–15 months
Source: Aldi UK
Length of Kier's degree apprenticeships
4–5 years
Source: Kier

There’s no single answer, because “apprenticeship” covers everything from a one-year shop-floor programme to a five-year degree.

The official range

GOV.UK says apprenticeships take from 8 months to 6 years, depending on the type and level. For apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2025, the legal minimum is 8 months (it used to be 12).

Real examples

Employer Apprenticeship Length
Aldi Career Starter store, warehouse or driver 12–15 months
Tesco Stronger Starts Retail At least 12 months
Specsavers Optical Assistant (Level 3) 15–18 months
easyJet Aeronautical Engineering 2 years
Aldi Store Management (Levels 2 and 3) Up to 36 months
Jet2 Aircraft Engineering (Level 3) 4 years
Kier Degree apprenticeships 4–5 years

What decides the length

  • The level. Higher levels usually take longer. Our levels guide explains each one.
  • The job. Jobs that end in a licence or professional status, like aircraft engineering, tend to be longer.
  • How training is delivered. Day release, block release and front-loaded training spread the learning differently. See our off-the-job training guide.

Can you finish faster?

GOV.UK says you could spend less time training, or qualify earlier, if you have relevant experience. That includes:

  • a relevant qualification, like an NVQ
  • industry or sector experience
  • completed training, like an IT course

You agree this with your employer and training provider when you start.

Summary

  • Apprenticeships in England take between 8 months and 6 years.
  • The legal minimum is 8 months for starts from 1 August 2025.
  • Entry-level ones often take about a year; engineering and degree apprenticeships can take 4 years or more.
  • Relevant qualifications or experience can sometimes shorten your training.

Questions you might have

How long does an apprenticeship take?

From 8 months to 6 years, depending on the type and level. For example, Aldi's Career Starter takes 12 to 15 months, easyJet's engineering apprenticeship takes 2 years and Kier's degree apprenticeships take 4 to 5 years.

What is the shortest apprenticeship?

The legal minimum is 8 months for apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2025. Before that it was 12 months.

How long is a degree apprenticeship?

It varies. Kier's take 4 to 5 years, and the national Environmental Practitioner degree apprenticeship has a typical length of 53 months. Our degree apprenticeships guide has more.

Can you finish an apprenticeship early?

GOV.UK says you could spend less time training or qualify earlier if you have relevant experience, like a relevant NVQ, industry experience or completed training. You agree this with your employer and training provider when you start.

Is a longer apprenticeship better?

Not necessarily. Length mostly reflects the level and the job. A long engineering apprenticeship like Jet2's four-year programme leads to a licence, while a shorter one can get you qualified and earning sooner.

Sources and review

Last reviewed . Details can change after this date, so check the official source before you rely on them.

  1. Become an apprentice GOV.UK · accessed
  2. Apprenticeship off-the-job training guidance (version 6) Department for Education · accessed
  3. Warehouse Operations Apprenticeships Aldi UK · accessed
  4. Apprenticeships Kier · accessed
  5. easyJet Apprenticeships easyJet · accessed
  6. Engineering Apprenticeships Jet2 · accessed
  7. Environmental practitioner (degree) Skills England · accessed

Read about how we research and review content.

  • Aldi apprenticeships

    The supermarket chain. It runs store, warehouse and HGV driver apprenticeships from Level 2 to Level 3, paying from £343 to £415 a week for 30 hours. The Career Starter store and warehouse routes need no qualifications.

    Retail and logistics
    • L2 Intermediate
    • L3 Advanced

  • easyJet apprenticeships

    The airline. Its two-year Aeronautical Engineering Apprenticeship trains you as a licensed Category A1 mechanic: nine months at its Luton training academy with free meals and accommodation support, then night shifts at Luton or Gatwick. Bonus up to 20%.

    Transport and aviation
    Levels not confirmed

  • Jet2 apprenticeships

    The airline and package holiday company. It runs a four-year Level 3 aircraft engineering apprenticeship at Manchester Airport leading to a Part 66 A licence, plus apprenticeships in IT, marketing, finance, customer service and operations in Leeds and Manchester.

    Transport and aviation
    • L3 Advanced

  • Kier apprenticeships

    The UK construction and infrastructure company. It offers apprenticeships from Level 2 to degree level, in roles from highways maintenance to quantity surveying, all on permanent contracts. Its degree apprenticeships take 4 to 5 years with fees covered.

    Construction and infrastructure
    • L2 Intermediate
    • L3 Advanced
    • L6–7 Degree