Apprenticeship and traineeship funding

Apprenticeships and traineeships combine work with study – you'll learn practical skills in the workplace with your employer, gain knowledge and skills through training with your training provider, and at the end be awarded with a qualification.

The Queensland Government contributes towards the cost of training for eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees, through:

• school-based apprenticeships and traineeships – for school students
• Career Start – for job seekers to access entry-level and certificate III qualifications in priority and emerging industries – you may access up to 2 funded apprenticeships and traineeships in either a certificate II or III qualification
• Career Boost – for workers and career changers to access certificate IV and above qualifications – you may access only one funded apprenticeship or traineeship in a certificate IV or above qualification, as long as you have not accessed 2 apprenticeships or traineeships under Career Start.

Instead of paying for the full cost of training, you or your employer may pay a reduced amount.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• be currently employed in a Queensland apprentice or trainee (under a training contract)
• not be enrolled in another qualification
• be undertaking a funded apprenticeship or traineeship qualification
• have selected a government-approved training provider
• not have completed 2 funded apprenticeships or traineeships within the last 10 years. Limits apply to funded program access – check the eligibility for your preferred program—Career Start or Career Boost.

Learn more about apprenticeships and traineeships.

Funded apprenticeships and traineeships

There are over 350 different apprenticeship and traineeship pathways to choose from. The Queensland Skills Gateway has more information about qualifications. The course search results will provide details of whether a qualification is a funded apprenticeship or traineeship.

Government-approved training providers

You can choose any training provider to deliver training and assessment for your apprenticeship or traineeship. However, to receive a funding contribution towards your training, your training provider must be a Skills Assure Supplier (a government-approved training provider).

You can check this by finding a provider on the Queensland Skills Gateway:

• enter the provider’s name or a location
• click ‘Find a training provider’
• view the search results at the bottom of the page—if they are an approved provider, they will be listed as ‘Funded’.

If you choose a training provider who is not approved, you'll be required to pay full course costs.

How much will I pay

We will pay part of your training course costs directly to your chosen government-approved training provider.

You pay the remaining training course costs (a co-contribution fee) to your training provider. They set these fees – prices will vary, so it pays to shop around. Read our training consumer tips.

The fee may be paid on your behalf by a third party, such as your employer or your parents, but cannot be paid by your training provider.

If you are a school-based apprentice or trainee, you do not have to pay the co-contribution fee.

Contact

• Phone 1800 210 210
• Email apprenticeshipsinfo@qld.gov.au.

Related information

• Learn about apprenticeships and traineeships, including school-based.
• Find out about Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s and Free Construction Apprenticeships for Over 25s.
• If you have substantial industry experience, the Trade Skills Assessment and Gap Training program may help you complete a priority trade qualification.