To become an apprentice or trainee you need to be at least 15 years of age or older, unless you have written evidence of special dispensation granted by a school principal.

In regards to age, there is no maximum working age limit for undertaking apprenticeship or traineeship, with an increasing number of mature age workers now choosing to upgrade their skills and knowledge through an apprenticeship or traineeship qualification.

Some apprenticeships and traineeships require a minimum standard of education, which can vary between different training programmes. If you don't meet these minimum standards, you may still be allowed to enter into the apprenticeship or traineeship following an assessment by the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts (DETA).

Australian Government Requirements

To be eligible to start an apprenticeship or traineeship and attract Australian Government funding you must either be:

• An Australian citizen or
• A permanent resident or
• A New Zealand passport holder who has been a resident in Australia for at least 6 months
• And employed on either a full-time, part-time or Australian School-based basis (not available to casual employees).

Prior Qualifications

Generally if you have a prior qualification at Certificate level III or higher you are not eligible to attract Government incentives unless:

1. You have completed a Certificate Level II to IV qualification, more than 7 years ago, in a different or higher level qualification to the qualification you are applying for or
2. You commenced a Certificate Level II to IV qualification over 7 years ago but did not complete it or
3. You completed a Certificate Level II to IV qualification which was commenced whilst you were still at school or you undertook within 2 years of completing your schooling through a pathway other than an apprenticeship or traineeship. The apprenticeship or traineeship must be in a different or higher level qualification.

Currently studying

If you are currently studying for a qualification, the apprenticeship or traineeship you are planning on commencing cannot be from a similar field. 

Existing Employee

Existing employees may be eligible to attract Australian Government incentives if the apprenticeship or traineeship qualification has a minimum 24 month full-time nominal duration at Certificate Level III or IV and they meet the above prior qualifications guidelines.

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Queensland Government Requirements

In addition to the above eligibility criteria, the Queensland Government will also register apprentices and trainees who are:

• On Temporary Protection Visa or
• Fiancés of, or recently married to, an Australian citizen and are holders of Temporary Residency Visas under subclass 820 and 309 (Please note: Australian Government funding is not available for these two categories).

An apprentice or trainee that meets the Queensland Government eligibility guidelines, but does not meet the Australian Government guidelines can still undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship, but will not be eligible for Australian Government incentives.

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