Why should I study an apprenticeship?

If you’re considering doing an apprenticeship then you’ve come to the right page.

In this article, we’ll discuss 3 of the top reasons why people choose an apprenticeship.

We’ll also show you how to become an apprentice through a top trades school like Builders Academy Australia.

1. You get qualified

Why is it that so many people in Victoria do trades apprenticeships?

It’s got a little something to do with how apprenticeships are the best way to learn a trade.

This is because when you do an apprenticeship, you study a certificate by night and practice your skills in a real job by day.

So when you do your apprenticeship, you’ll also be doing a certificate III in your favourite trade.

The apprenticeship part of it is where you work for a real employer and practice your theoretical learnings on the job in real world situations.

You’ll learn with your boss, supervisor and colleagues, and your trainer from your building school will also pop in from time to time.

Once you complete your certificate III and your apprenticeship, you’ll be fully qualified and your skills will be recognised across Australia and beyond.

This means any time you want to apply for a job, you’ll have an advantage over people who don’t have a certificate or work experience.  

2. You earn a great income

You may have heard that getting a university degree is the best way to get a high paying job.

But in reality, tradies can sometimes earn more than people with degrees.

A recent study found that young men with low ATAR scores can earn more by learning a trade than by getting a university degree.

As a tradie, you can earn good income by working for a builder, building company, or even by starting your own businesses. 

3. You “earn while you learn”

A lot of people choose to do apprenticeships because they let you earn while you learn.

In contrast, if you were to do a university degree, you wouldn’t get paid to do a job that’s relevant to your studies.

A lot of university students have to work part time in low-paid work that has nothing to do with their studies, like waitressing or retail.

But doing an apprenticeship lets you get paid to do work in the same trade that you’re specialising in.

How to become an apprentice

Not sure which apprenticeship to do?

There are many different trades out there from carpentry right through to plumbing.

That means there are also heaps of different apprenticeships to choose from.

If you’re feeling indecisive about which trade you want to learn, you can do a pre-apprenticeship to help you work it out.

The best pre-apprenticeship for construction is the CPC20211 Certificate II in Construction Pathways, which lets you try your hand at a few different trades.

After completing a pre-apprenticeship, you’ll be better able to choose the right trade for your apprenticeship.

The carpentry apprenticeship

The carpentry apprenticeship is where you study a CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry while working full time for an employer as a carpenter’s apprentice.

You learn how to become a carpenter or a joiner by working with timber either on site or in a workshop.

The cert 3 in carpentry is one of the most popular apprenticeships because carpentry is a trade that can open up many doors.

After completing your certificate III in carpentry, you may find that you love carpentry so much that you want to continue working “on the tools”.

Alternatively, you might like to move up to a more challenging and higher paying role such as site supervisor, construction manager or registered builder.

You’ll be in a good position to do these higher level jobs after having completed a carpentry apprentice because you will know what it’s like to be one of the tradies.

Get funding for your apprenticeship

Becoming an apprentice in Victoria is easy because there are plenty of government funded courses and loans.

Because apprenticeships are so important to our state’s economy, the government helps a lot of people pay for certificates and apprenticeships.

You might be eligible to do the pre-apprenticeship Certificate II in Construction Pathways (CPC20211) (pre-apprenticeship) for free as part of the Free TAFE for Priority Courses program.

You could also get funding for your Certificate III in Carpentry or other apprenticeships through the Victorian Skills First Program.

If you’re interested in doing an apprenticeship but not sure if you’re eligible for funding, just speak to a course advisor at a registered training provider like Builders Academy Australia.

We’re experts in helping citizens, permanent residents, and international students get funding or loans for trades certificates and apprenticeships.

Give us a call for a no-obligation chat about your eligibility and your study options.

Thinking of doing an apprenticeship? Find out if you’re eligible for funding by giving us a call on 1300 534 363 (LEGEND), or request a call back today.