NHS Apprenticeships: Earn While You Learn in a Real NHS Job

NHS apprenticeships are paid jobs that include structured training, so you gain skills on the job while working towards a recognised qualification. You are employed by an NHS organisation (for example, an NHS Trust) and you complete training alongside your normal working role.

Most NHS apprenticeships include a blend of:

• On-the-job learning (supervised practice in your workplace);
• Off-the-job training (training time that is part of your paid hours, delivered via a college, university, learning hub, workshops, shadowing, and structured learning activities);
• Assessment (evidence, practical observations, and an end-point assessment in many programmes).

Important update (England): apprenticeship training rules changed from August 2025. Many standards moved away from a simple “20% off-the-job” calculation and instead use minimum training hours per standard. This matters because different NHS apprenticeship programmes can now vary in structure and duration depending on the standard and training plan.

In plain English, that means you still train during paid work time, but the exact training hours and schedule depend on the apprenticeship standard you are on.

One helpful thing to know is that NHS apprenticeships cover over 150 different roles across clinical and non-clinical teams. So even if you do not want a patient-facing job, there are apprenticeships that can lead to a long-term NHS career.

Useful official pages to explore pathways and vacancies include:

• NHS Health Careers: NHS apprenticeships
• Step into the NHS: apprenticeships
• NHS Jobs: apprenticeship jobs search
• GOV.UK: Find and apply for an apprenticeship

The NHS needs skilled, values-driven people across clinical and non-clinical services. Apprenticeships help build that workforce by creating a practical route into healthcare for school leavers, career changers, and people who want to earn while they learn.

For you, the benefits are huge:

• Real NHS experience (not just classroom learning);
• Confidence and competence because you learn in real settings;
• A qualification with strong employability value;
• A clear progression pathway into higher roles and pay bands.

For NHS employers, apprenticeships are a strategic way to grow talent in roles like nursing, allied health professions, healthcare science, administration, finance, IT, estates and facilities, and more.

It also suits people who want to test whether healthcare is right for them. You see the reality of the job, you learn from experienced colleagues, and you can build a career without guessing what it is like day to day.

There are apprenticeships across a wide range of NHS careers, including patient-facing roles and behind-the-scenes jobs that keep services running.

Here are popular examples (this is not a complete list):

• Healthcare support worker and healthcare assistant apprenticeships
• Trainee nursing associate and nursing degree apprenticeships
• Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and other allied health degree apprenticeships
• Pharmacy technician and pharmacy support roles
• Dental nurse apprenticeships
• Clinical coding, admin, business administration, HR, and finance assistant apprenticeships
• IT support and digital apprenticeships
• Estates, facilities, and engineering apprenticeships

If you are exploring apprenticeship options and you know you want healthcare, NHS apprenticeships are especially attractive because they offer strong long-term employment pathways and structured progression.

Some people also search for apprenticeship opportunities in the UK when they are unsure which industry to choose. If that is you, it helps to start with what you care about. If you want work that matters and solid progression, healthcare is a strong choice.

NHS apprenticeship programmes exist at different levels. The right level depends on your current qualifications and the role you’re aiming for.

• Level 2 (intermediate): entry routes into support roles
• Level 3 (advanced): more responsibility and stronger progression options
• Level 4 to 5 (higher): specialist support roles, assistant practitioner routes, and some technical pathways
• Level 6 to 7 (degree and master’s level): professional routes such as nursing, allied health, and advanced roles depending on the programme

If you’re a school leaver, a Level 2 or 3 programme might be your starting point. If you already have experience, or you’re changing careers with strong transferable skills, you may be able to apply for higher-level roles.

If you are unsure, do not overthink it. Find a vacancy you like, read the essential criteria, and use that to guide your decision. The vacancy tells you what they need.

When people say “healthcare apprenticeships”, they often picture nursing. Nursing routes do exist, but the NHS also offers apprenticeships in dentistry, diagnostics, therapy support, science, and many other areas.

Two roles people commonly search for are dental nurse and physiologist:

Dental nurse apprenticeships

• You support clinicians during treatment and help create a safe, calm patient experience.
• You learn infection prevention, safeguarding basics, patient communication, and clinical support routines.
• You build a strong foundation that can lead to further roles in dental services and wider healthcare.

Physiologist and healthcare science apprenticeships

• These pathways can involve diagnostics and testing, where accuracy and attention to detail really matter.
• You may work in services such as cardiology diagnostics, respiratory diagnostics, or other physiological measurement settings depending on the Trust.
• Long term, healthcare science can offer clear progression into specialist roles.

If you are drawn to science and diagnostics, this is often a great fit because you can see the real-world impact of your work on patient outcomes.

One of the biggest questions people ask is: “What are the salary expectations for healthcare apprenticeships?”

The honest answer is: it depends on the NHS employer, the apprenticeship standard, your age, and the role level. Some apprentices are paid at (or near) the apprentice minimum wage, while others are paid using NHS pay bands (often Band 2 to Band 4 for many entry and support roles).

To give you a realistic feel, here is a simple guide using typical NHS pay band examples. Always check the job advert for the exact figure.

London salary note: NHS roles in London may include a High Cost Area Supplement (often called “London weighting”), depending on whether you work in Inner London, Outer London, or the Fringe. This can significantly increase your take-home pay compared to the same band outside London.

Apprentice minimum wage note: Some roles use the apprentice minimum wage (especially very early entry-level roles). The apprentice minimum wage is different from the National Living Wage and depends on age and whether you are in year one of your apprenticeship.

The best approach is simple. Use the salary figure on the advert as your main reference, then compare it with other local vacancies so you get a feel for the market.

Remember, the salary can vary by employer and location, so use this as guidance, then verify it on the job advert.

Dental nurse salary

• Dental nursing roles can vary across settings. Many NHS dental nurse roles are aligned to NHS pay structures, while others vary depending on employer type and experience.
• If you are comparing roles, check if the advert lists an NHS band, a fixed salary, or an apprenticeship rate.

Play therapist salary

• Play therapy salaries vary across sectors (NHS, schools, charities, private practice). If you are looking at play therapy as a long-term direction, pay often rises with experience and responsibility.
• Because job titles can vary, always read the job description to confirm the role, setting, and qualifications required.

Physiologist salary (example: cardiac physiologist)

• Many physiologist roles in the NHS use Agenda for Change pay bands. Progression can move from Band 5 into Band 6 and Band 7 for specialist and highly specialist roles.
• Salary depends on experience, qualifications, and the scope of the role.

Echocardiography salary

• Echocardiography roles can sit at higher bands depending on training, accreditation, and responsibility. Some employers advertise trainee and senior roles with different banding.
• If echocardiography interests you, an apprenticeship or trainee pathway can be a realistic route in, depending on local vacancies.

If your end goal is a healthcare science or diagnostics career, an apprenticeship route can be a smart earn-while-you-learn alternative, building directly into long-term NHS career progression.

Because apprenticeships are offered by individual NHS employers, the best approach is to search in multiple places and set up alerts.

Use these three search methods:

• NHS Jobs: search “apprenticeship” plus your location (for example, “London” or “Bradford”). You can also filter by contract type and pay range.
• Find an apprenticeship (GOV.UK): a national search and apply service for apprenticeships in England.
• Trust careers pages: many NHS organisations run apprenticeship hubs and publish information even when vacancies are not live.

Pro tip: search both “apprentice” and “trainee” on job boards. Some NHS apprenticeship roles are advertised as trainee posts with an apprenticeship programme attached.

If you see the phrase apprenticeships london gov in your searches, you are usually looking at London-wide apprenticeship information. That can be useful, but for NHS roles your best starting point is still NHS Jobs and local Trust pages.

Applying for NHS apprenticeships is very similar to applying for any NHS job. The difference is that the employer will also be assessing your potential to learn, your attitude, and your ability to manage work and study.

• Step 1 (Choose a direction): pick a career area you genuinely want (clinical, admin, IT, finance, estates, healthcare science).
• Step 2 (Search smart): use NHS Jobs and search by “apprenticeship” and your location. Set up alerts.
• Step 3 (Read the advert properly): highlight the essential criteria and values. Make sure your application matches them.
• Step 4 (Write a targeted supporting statement): show motivation, reliability, learning mindset, teamwork, and patient focus.
• Step 5 (Prepare for interview): expect values-based questions and examples that demonstrate responsibility, communication, and trustworthiness.

Application success tip: your supporting statement should show evidence. If you say you are a team player, include a short example. If you say you are organised, explain what you do that proves it.

If it helps, imagine the person reading your application has never met you. Your job is to make it easy for them to picture you in the role. Clear, specific examples do that.

If you are searching for NHS apprenticeships in London, you have a big advantage. There are many NHS organisations across London and surrounding areas, and a wide variety of roles.

To give yourself the best chance:

• Search NHS Jobs using “apprenticeship” plus “London”, then filter by “Apprenticeship” contract type.
• Also search directly on major London NHS employers’ careers sites, because some advertise apprenticeship pathways and open days.
• Remember that London roles may include a High Cost Area Supplement, so compare job adverts carefully.

One practical tip for London is to widen your search to nearby areas you can commute to. Some roles will be in Outer London or the Fringe, and the travel can be manageable depending on where you live.

If you are searching specifically for NHS apprenticeships Bradford, the best approach is to check both NHS Jobs and local Trust apprenticeship pages.

Bradford area apprenticeship opportunities often appear through organisations such as:

• Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust apprenticeship information and vacancies
• Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust apprenticeship pathways and development opportunities

You will find apprenticeships across clinical and non-clinical areas, including admin, education support, pharmacy, and allied health degree apprenticeship routes, depending on current workforce needs.

Pro tip for Bradford searches: use both “Bradford” and the nearest postcode areas, and also check “Airedale” and “West Yorkshire” if you are willing to commute.

Competition can be strong, especially for degree apprenticeships. The applicants who stand out usually do four things well:

• They show NHS values in action (compassion, respect, inclusion, teamwork, integrity, and patient focus).
• They prove reliability (attendance, punctuality, commitment, and consistency).
• They demonstrate learning ability (examples of upskilling, training, qualifications, or self-development).
• They communicate clearly (structured answers and evidence-based statements).

Quick supporting statement framework (copy and adapt):

Motivation: why you want the apprenticeship and why the NHS.

Values: a short example of compassion, teamwork, or patient focus.

Capability: evidence you can manage responsibility and learn quickly.

Fit: match your strengths to the job description and essential criteria.

Simple interview prep tip: have three short stories ready. One about teamwork, one about dealing with pressure, and one about customer service or caring for someone. You can adapt those stories to most NHS interview questions.

One of the biggest advantages of NHS apprenticeships is that they are designed to lead somewhere. Many people use an entry-level apprenticeship to build into higher roles.

Examples of progression routes include:

• Support worker to senior support worker to assistant practitioner pathways (depending on the role and local training routes)
• Admin apprenticeship to banded admin roles, to team leader, to management apprenticeships
• Healthcare science support to technical roles, to specialist practitioner roles

Many NHS employers also encourage continuing education after your apprenticeship, including additional qualifications, internal development programmes, and progression apprenticeships.

What progression can look like:

• Someone starts as an admin apprentice, becomes a permanent banded administrator, then moves into HR, finance, or project support once they have experience.
• Someone starts as a healthcare support worker apprentice, completes further training, and progresses into a nursing associate pathway, then applies for a nursing degree route later on.
• Someone begins in a healthcare science support role, builds confidence with diagnostics work, and then applies for a higher apprenticeship once they meet the entry criteria.

The common theme is consistency. If you show up, learn, and ask for feedback, progression becomes realistic.

Do I need experience to get an NHS apprenticeship?
Not always. Many entry-level apprenticeships are designed for people who are new to healthcare, as long as you can show the right attitude, values, and willingness to learn.

Can adults apply, or is this only for school leavers?
Adults can apply. NHS apprenticeships are used for career starters and career changers. Always read the advert requirements.

Where are NHS apprenticeships advertised?
Most are advertised on NHS Jobs and sometimes on Trust careers pages. Some also appear on national apprenticeship search services.

How long do NHS apprenticeships last?
It depends on the programme and standard. Some can be shorter than traditional programmes in England due to post-2025 rule changes, but many healthcare pathways (especially higher and degree routes) remain multi-year due to clinical learning requirements.

What if I do not have GCSE maths or English?
Some vacancies ask for GCSEs, but many routes support Functional Skills as part of training. Always read the advert, and if you are unsure, ask the recruiting team before you rule yourself out.

Is it worth applying if I do not meet every requirement?
If you meet the essential criteria and you can show strong motivation and reliability, it is usually worth applying. NHS teams often look for attitude and values as much as experience for entry-level roles.

If you want a practical route into the NHS with a real salary and a qualification, NHS apprenticeships are one of the best options in the UK. Choose a direction, search consistently, tailor every application to the criteria, and prepare values-based interview examples.

Action step: open NHS Jobs, search “apprenticeship” plus your location then set up job alerts so you never miss a vacancy.

And remember, you do not need to have your whole life planned out. You just need a sensible next step. An NHS apprenticeship can be that step.