Learners should be able to progress to an apprenticeship from a Diploma without repeating any learning in cases where there is an overlap of learning content.

Key features:

• Apprenticeships provide job-specific competencies.
• They are normally managed by employers with an element (for example a technical certificate) being delivered by a further education college or other learning provider.

What's happening and when

An apprenticeship qualification will soon be piloted. Exams officers in further education colleges will continue to administer qualifications for apprentices alongside their other learners.

• September 2008: The progression routes between the Diploma and apprenticeships will evolve when the first five Lines of Learning are available.
• 2010: Evaluation findings from the pilot will provide further information on the potential progression routes from the Diploma.