Nursing Associate Apprenticeship

Benefits as an apprentice, a Higher or Degree Apprenticeship won’t cost you anything. Your employer and the government cover the costs of your training and assessment. Studying an apprenticeship with us means that you will:

• earn while you learn, and be paid at least the national minimum apprenticeship wage

• develop in-demand workplace skills for a defined professional role

• get a head-start with an employer who wants to invest in your future

• begin your journey towards membership of a professional body

• benefit from our state-of-the-art facilities, multi-million pound investments, and student learning opportunities.

This Apprenticeship has been designed and developed to meet professional body requirements in collaboration with employers, service users, and students/apprentices. To access the Apprenticeship, you must be in employment in a health or care setting for a minimum of 30 hours a week in England. The employer must be able to provide the Nursing Associate apprentice with a practice assessor (Registrant with NMC) in the employed setting, and a practice supervisor, and/or practice assessor are required within external placements to meet NMC Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment.

This two-year, three-month programme runs over three trimesters (this timeframe includes the end point assessment). Attendance at University is for one day per week. There is a requirement to complete mandatory external placement hours that equate to 460 hours in total over the two-year programme that must be completed away from the employed/host setting. External placement experiences are essential to meet NMC requirements and benefit from experience of children and adults, and patients/service users with mental health conditions and learning disabilities in a variety of health and care settings. 

On successful completion of this professionally accredited course, you will have achieved a Nursing Associate Foundation Degree (FD Sci), and will be eligible to register with the NMC as a qualified Nursing Associate.

This Apprenticeship has been developed to provide seamless progression to the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship or Bachelor of Nursing for qualified Nursing Associates wishing to follow a pathway to become a Registered Nurse.

For employers with a payroll below £3 million: The Government will pay 95% of the cost of the apprenticeship training and assessment for apprentices of any age, for employers who will not be paying the apprenticeship levy. You may also be eligible for extra employer incentives.

For employers with a payroll above £3 million: Since May 2017 employers are able to use their Apprenticeship Levy contributions towards the cost of the apprenticeship using their digital account. We will agree a payment schedule and discuss funding availability before you start your apprenticeships and ensure the cost to your business is clear upfront.

All applicants will need to be currently employed within the UK and be working or a minimum of 37.5 hours per week.

 Academic Pathway: 

For this apprenticeship programme we require applicants to have achieved the following admissions conditions 

• Level 2 Requirement:
  • GCSEs at grade 4 (grade C) in English Language and Maths or an approved equivalent

Free Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational Health Check: 

Due to the professional nature of our course, you will be required to complete a Declaration of Health and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check. We will coordinate both of these non-academic conditions with you should your course require this, and you receive an offer from us. 

  There will be no cost for the DBS this is free to applicants who have secured an offer and have chosen to study at the University of Wolverhampton.