Expand+To begin a craft apprenticeship, you must be employed in your chosen craft by an approved employer.

To be accepted, you must be at least 16 years of age and have a minimum of grade D in any five subjects in the Junior Certificate or equivalent. In...

Hide-To begin a craft apprenticeship, you must be employed in your chosen craft by an approved employer.

To be accepted, you must be at least 16 years of age and have a minimum of grade D in any five subjects in the Junior Certificate or equivalent. In practice, most Craft Apprentices have a Leaving Certificate and may be required by some employers.

Neither DIT nor the other Institutes of Technology recruit Apprentices directly. The Apprentice starts his or her journey by identifying an area in which they would like to work, and by securing employment with an appropriate employer.

Expand+Apprenticeship is a traditional formal education where the student does a portion of their learning in the workplace and a portion in an educational institute or training centre. Apprenticeship is an essential part of a learner’s qualification in sev...

Hide-Apprenticeship is a traditional formal education where the student does a portion of their learning in the workplace and a portion in an educational institute or training centre. Apprenticeship is an essential part of a learner’s qualification in several areas including medical, legal, financial and technical careers.

There are 27 Traditional Craft Apprenticeships in Ireland. Each of these leads to the learner becoming a fully qualified craftsperson. Training for craft apprenticeships generally takes a minimum of four years. With some exceptions, craft apprentices in Ireland complete a seven-phases of training programme.

Phases 1, 3, 5 & 7 involve on-the-job training and phases 2,4 & 6 involve off-the-job training. The exceptions to this are Aircraft Mechanic Apprentices and Print Media Apprentices, each of which have a slightly different structure.

On successful completion of their training, apprentices become recognised craftspeople in Ireland. The apprentices are registered as qualified craftsperson by SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority.

During all phases of their training, Apprentices are paid a wage which is defined at the discretion of SOLAS.

The agreed wage rates depend on the craft and the stage to which the Apprentice has progressed. Rates are typically between about €180 per week for a 1st year Apprentice to over €670 per week for a 4th year Electrical Apprentice.