Retraining
Apprenticeships for adults: age, pay and how to start
There is no upper age limit. GOV.UK says you can start an apprenticeship if you are 16 or over, live in England and are not in full-time education, and you can do one even if you already have a degree. The catch is pay: the legal minimum for an apprentice in the first year is £8.00 an hour at any age (from April 2026), then the minimum wage for your age, which is £12.71 an hour at 21 and over.
Updated
Who can do an apprenticeship as an adult
- Age. You must be 16 or over. There is no maximum. GOV.UK: become an apprentice
- Existing qualifications. You can have a previous qualification, like a degree, and still start one. GOV.UK: find an apprenticeship
- Your current job. Existing staff can become apprentices in their own role, but the training provider has to show that you need significant new knowledge and skills to be fully competent in it. Apprenticeship funding rules 2026 to 2027
- Experience you already have. Relevant qualifications, work experience or training can shorten the apprenticeship. You agree this with the employer and training provider at the start.
- English and maths. If you are 19 or over, studying English and maths is agreed with your employer rather than required, and you do not have to pass them to complete the apprenticeship. Funding rules 2026 to 2027, rules 50 and 55
This guide covers England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own schemes: Apprenticeships.scot, Careers Wales and nidirect.
What adult apprentices are paid
You are an employee, so you get a wage, holiday pay (at least 20 days a year plus bank holidays) and normal employee rights. You must be paid for your working hours and your training time, which is at least 20% of your normal hours. Employers can pay more than the minimum, but plan around the legal floor.
| When | Minimum an hour | A year at 30 hours a week | A year at 37.5 hours a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year of the apprenticeship, any age | £8.00 | £12,480 | £15,600 |
| After the first year, aged 21 or over | £12.71 | £19,828 | £24,785 |
| After the first year, aged 19 or 20 | £10.85 | £16,926 | £21,158 |
Source: GOV.UK, National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates. Rates from 1 April 2026. The apprentice rate applies to apprentices under 19, or 19 and over in the first year of the apprenticeship.
For comparison, the median for all full-time employees in the UK is £39,039 a year (ONS, ASHE 2025). If you earn around that now, a first year on the apprentice minimum would more than halve your pay, so it is worth asking employers what they actually pay before you apply. Our guide to a career change with no money covers ways to bridge the gap.
Sources: GOV.UK: apprentice pay and conditions; ONS, Employee earnings in the UK: 2025.
Apprenticeship levels
| Name | Level | Equivalent education level |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation and intermediate | 2 | GCSE |
| Advanced | 3 | A level |
| Higher | 4, 5, 6 and 7 | Foundation degree and above |
| Degree | 6 and 7 | Bachelor's or master's degree |
Source: GOV.UK, Become an apprentice: how apprenticeships work. Checked 28 September 2026.
GOV.UK says apprenticeships take from 8 months to 6 years, depending on the type and level. The 2026 to 2027 funding rules set the minimum at 8 months, based on working at least 30 hours a week. You can do one part-time: the training provider must then set a length that is realistic for your hours.
Real apprenticeships adults use to change career
These are Skills England standards approved for delivery, each linked to the job it leads to. Length is the typical duration Skills England publishes; yours may be shorter if you have relevant experience. Pay is the ONS median for the job once qualified, not what you earn as an apprentice.
| Apprenticeship | Level | Typical length | Leads to | Median pay for the job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large goods vehicle (LGV) driver C + E | 2 | 13 months | HGV driver | £39,905 |
| Train driver | 3 | 12 months | Train driver | £76,327 |
| HR support | 3 | 18 months | HR officer | £35,194 |
| Paralegal | 3 | 24 months | Paralegal | £35,507 |
| Plumbing and domestic heating technician | 3 | 48 months | Plumber or heating engineer | £37,881 |
| Installation and maintenance electrician | 3 | 54 months | Electrician | £39,647 |
| Associate project manager | 4 | 18 months | Project manager | £59,834 |
| Business analyst | 4 | 18 months | Business analyst | £53,295 |
| Professional accounting technician | 4 | 18 months | Accountant | £50,062 |
| Data analyst | 4 | 24 months | Data analyst | £38,572 |
| Software developer | 4 | 24 months | Software developer | £56,914 |
| Cyber security technologist (2021) | 4 | 24 months | Cyber security analyst | £54,647 |
| Nursing associate (NMC 2018) | 5 | 24 months | Nursing associate | £29,931 |
| Teacher - Postgraduate | 6 | 9 months | Secondary school teacher | £47,632 |
| Social worker (integrated degree) | 6 | 36 months | Social worker | £44,550 |
| Police constable (integrated degree) | 6 | 36 months | Police officer | Not published |
| Solicitor | 7 | 72 months | Solicitor | £56,977 |
Source: Skills England, apprenticeship standards. Checked 28 September 2026. All standards shown were approved for delivery.
Source: ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 (provisional), Table 14.7a, published . Median gross annual pay for full-time employee jobs in the UK, tax year ending 5 April 2025. Figures are for whole SOC 2020 occupation groups and exclude the self-employed.
- Paralegal: ONS codes paralegals with legal professionals not elsewhere classified, a group that also includes legal executives and conveyancers.
- Nursing associate: ONS publishes pay for medical and dental technicians as a whole; nursing associates are one part of that group.
- Police officer: ONS suppressed 2025 annual pay for police officers (sergeant and below) after an error in the returns it received (correction notice, 19 December 2025). ONS says the figures will be reviewed in the revised 2025 dataset.
Some of these have extra entry rules. Skills England says the teacher apprenticeship requires a UK first degree or equivalent and grade 4 GCSEs in English and maths (or an equivalency test). Nursing associates must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and social workers in England with Social Work England.
Who pays for the training
You do not. The 2026 to 2027 funding rules say neither the training provider nor the employer can ask an apprentice to contribute to the cost of training or assessment, including if you leave early. Apprenticeship funding rules 2026 to 2027 (rule 220)
Employers pay more towards the training for older apprentices, which is worth knowing when you apply. At an employer that does not pay the apprenticeship levy, the government pays the full training cost for apprentices aged 16 to 24, but 95% for everyone else, so the employer pays 5%. A levy-paying employer that has used up its levy funds pays 25% for apprentices aged 25 and over. From 1 October 2026 employers may also get a hiring payment of up to £2,000 for new apprentices aged 16 to 24. GOV.UK: apprenticeship funding for employers
So when you apply as an adult, show what you already bring: experience of work, reliability and any skills that make you useful from the first week.
How to find and apply
- Search the government's Find an apprenticeship service. You can filter by job, place and level.
- Sign in or create an account.
- Complete and submit your application. You can ask for feedback if you are not picked.
You can also ask your current employer whether they would take you on as an apprentice in a new role. The apprenticeship helpline is 0800 015 0400, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (GOV.UK).
Common questions
Is there an age limit for apprenticeships?
There is a minimum age of 16 but no maximum. GOV.UK says you need to be 16 or over, living in England and not in full-time education.
Can I do an apprenticeship if I already have a degree?
Yes. GOV.UK says you can have a previous qualification, like a degree, and still start an apprenticeship. Some need one: Skills England says the postgraduate teacher apprenticeship requires a UK first degree or equivalent.
How much are adult apprentices paid?
At least £8.00 an hour in the first year, whatever your age (from April 2026). After the first year, apprentices aged 21 or over must get the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour. At 37.5 hours a week, £8.00 an hour works out at £15,600 a year before tax. Employers can pay more than the minimum.
Do I have to pay for an apprenticeship?
No. Under the apprenticeship funding rules for 2026 to 2027, the training provider and the employer must not ask you to contribute to the cost of training or assessment, even if you leave early.
Can I do an apprenticeship part-time?
Yes. The funding rules say working fewer than 30 hours a week must not be a barrier. The training provider has to agree a realistic length with your employer, so a part-time apprenticeship usually takes longer.
Do I need GCSE English and maths?
Not to finish, if you are 19 or over when you start. Under the 2026 to 2027 funding rules, English and maths for adult apprentices is agreed with the employer, and you do not have to achieve the qualifications to complete the apprenticeship. Some employers and some jobs still ask for them.