Nursing degree apprenticeship: factsheet
Published 8 December 2016
Applies to England
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The nursing degree apprenticeship will enable people to train to become a graduate registered nurse through an apprentice route.
Apprentices will be released by their employer to study part-time in a higher education institution and will train in a range of practice placement settings. They will learn at Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved education providers and will be expected to achieve the same standards as other student nurses.
1. Eligibility to become a nursing degree apprentice
Anyone can become an apprentice nurse, providing they meet the entry requirements for the degree programme as set out in the standards and their employer believes they are capable of the academic learning required to become a degree registered nurse.
2. Applying for an apprenticeship
The first nursing degree apprenticeships will be available from September 2017.
Employers will advertise apprentice vacancies nearer the time.
In the meantime, if you already work in a health or care setting please talk to your employer if you’re interested in the nursing degree apprenticeship.
3. Becoming a degree registered nurse in 4 years
Most nursing degree apprenticeships will take 4 years. It could take more time if the apprentice takes time off for any permitted reason. If the apprentice already has prior learning and experience which is accepted by the approved education institution under Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) arrangements it could take less than 4 years.
4. Funding the nursing degree apprenticeship
Nursing degree apprentices won’t have to pay anything themselves. The cost of the apprenticeship will be paid by employers.
From April 2017 there will be a new apprenticeship levy. The levy requires all employers operating in the UK, with a pay bill over £3 million each year, to invest in apprenticeships.
Employers who pay the levy will be able to access funds to spend on apprenticeship training.
Find out more about how the apprenticeship levy works
5. Nursing associates and nursing degree apprenticeships
It is possible to progress from being a nursing associate to a nursing degree apprenticeship. A nursing associate will work and study towards a level 5 qualification. A nursing degree apprentice will work and study towards a level 6 nursing degree.
It may also be possible to count the learning and experience gained as a nursing associate towards the degree-level apprenticeship, and reduce the length of the apprenticeship.