This is not the latest approved version of this apprenticeship. View the latest version
This apprenticeship is in revision
This revised version has been agreed and is available for information only at present. It will replace the version below for new starts from 1 April 2025 with a funding band of £27,000. Further details of this and other apprenticeship in revision are available in the revisions status report.
Proposal approved
Occupational standard approved
End-point assessment plan approved
Funding approved
This apprenticeship has options. This document is currently showing the following option:
This occupation is found in a wide range of science, technology, engineering and manufacturing organisations which could include chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, environmental, engineering, formulated products, consumer products, nuclear, defence, analytical services and academic environments.
The individuals are likely to conduct procedures or experiments in research or laboratory environments. These locations could be wide ranging and could include the completion of field based work.
Scientists are employed across a range of employers from micro through to multinational employers.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to design complex and sustainable scientific investigations and lead on the development of work plans as well as completing scientific procedures using standard and specialist equipment and instrumentation.
Scientists interpret, analyse and evaluate data, present conclusions and justify further investigations.
They apply scientific knowledge, concepts and ideas to address problems and root causes and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. Scientists are likely to be employed in chemical scientist, physicist or biologist related occupations.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with colleagues throughout their working environment. This may typically include technicians, scientists, service engineers, supply chain contacts, technical professionals, business professionals, internal and external customers, other scientists and academics.
An employee in this occupation is responsible for coordinating and applying knowledge of scientific concepts, techniques and practical methods in laboratory and field-based experimentation, diagnostics or analysis.
They are likely to work as part of a wider scientific team, which may include laboratory technologist and laboratory technicians. They deliver scientific value to their organisation, whilst contributing to the development of others.
They are responsible for working safely and ethically and adopting sustainable working practices at all times.
They monitor risk and compliance with regulatory and non-regulatory compliance requirements and procedures and operate within organisational codes of conduct.
They are responsible for maintaining their continuous professional development and for providing support to colleagues.
Whilst any entry requirements will be a matter for individual employers, typically, candidates will have 5 GCSE’s at grade 4 or above, including English, maths and a science subject and hold relevant level 3 qualifications providing the appropriate number of UCAS points for entry to a level 6 Higher Education programme. Other relevant or prior experience may also be considered as an alternative.
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Duty 1 Generate and manage workplans collaboratively to achieve scientific project outcomes. |
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Duty 2 Evaluate, use, justify and troubleshoot scientific equipment selection. |
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Duty 3 Combine, compare and critically evaluate data from diverse and complex sources and draw conclusions. |
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Duty 4 Evaluate and select tools to produce, process and interpret analytical results reliably. |
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Duty 5 Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice. |
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Duty 6 Present and justify the outcome of investigations and procedures to scientific and non-scientific audiences. |
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Duty 7 Identify the root cause of problems and implement solutions. |
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Duty 8 Apply scientific knowledge to ensure continuous performance improvement within the scientific and technical environment. |
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Duty 9 Monitor health and safety risks and regulatory and non-regulatory compliance of scientific procedures. |
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Duty 10 Keep up to date with advances in technology and working practices and share learning across the wider business and stakeholder network. |
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Duty 11 Select working practices, taking account of environmental and sustainability factors. |
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 12 Design or propose sustainable and complex chemical science based investigations and procedures. |
K1 K3 K4 K5 K11 K16 K18 K20 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 |
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Duty 13 Perform and lead chemical scientific tasks, investigations and procedures. |
K1 K3 K4 K5 K11 K16 K18 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 |
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Duty 14 Lead the completion of chemical science based projects. |
K1 K2 K4 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K15 K16 K19 K20 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 |
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 15 Design or propose sustainable and complex physics based scientific investigations and procedures. |
K1 K3 K4 K5 K11 K16 K18 K20 K32 K33 K34 K35 K36 K37 K38 K39 |
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Duty 16 Perform and lead physics scientific tasks, investigations and procedures. |
K1 K3 K4 K5 K11 K16 K18 K32 K33 K34 K35 K36 K37 K38 K39 |
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Duty 17 Lead the completion of physics based scientific projects. |
K1 K2 K4 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K15 K16 K19 K20 K32 K33 K34 K35 K36 K37 K38 K39 |
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 18 Design or propose sustainable and complex biology based scientific investigations and procedures. |
K1 K3 K4 K5 K11 K16 K18 K20 K40 K41 K42 K43 K44 K45 K46 K47 K48 |
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Duty 19 Perform and lead biology scientific tasks, investigations and procedures. |
K1 K3 K4 K5 K11 K16 K18 K40 K41 K42 K43 K44 K45 K46 K47 K48 |
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Duty 20 Lead the completion of biology based scientific projects. |
K1 K2 K4 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K15 K16 K19 K20 K40 K41 K42 K43 K44 K45 K46 K47 K48 |
K1: The underlying scientific techniques, principles, theories, concepts and terminology applied to scientific investigations and experiments relevant to the role application.
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K2: How scientific techniques and research methodologies can be applied to inform the development of science and technology.
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K3: Requirements for the development and validation of analytical methodology, including the theoretical basis and limitations, and selection of appropriate equipment used for scientific applications.
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K4: Sampling method selection appropriate to the application.
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K5: How statistical techniques can be applied to inform experimental design, test hypotheses, evaluate results, and draw evidence based conclusions.
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K6: The principles of implementing new processes based on a variety of information and data sources from inside and outside the organisation.
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K7: Knowing when, how and why to escalate appropriately and recognising limits of scope of practice.
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K8: Project management principles and stakeholder management.
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K9: How to identify and recommend appropriate workflow improvements or scientific solutions.
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K10: The requirements of internal and external stakeholders.
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K11: The internal and external regulatory environment and codes of conduct pertinent to the occupation, including, quality, health and safety, ethics, sustainability and the environment.
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K12: The business environment in which the company operates and its impact on the role.
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K13: Methods available to evaluate own performance and knowledge, and how to set personal development goals aligned to organisational objectives.
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K14: Tools and Information sources available to keep up to date with advances in technology and scientific working practices.
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K15: How to select communication methods to influence scientific, non-scientific, specialist and technical audiences.
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K16: How to determine the scope and success criteria for complex scientific investigations and procedures.
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K17: Techniques to identify and test the theory of probable root cause of problems, verify functionality and implement solutions.
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K18: Calibration techniques and strategies to ensure accuracy, limits of detection, precision, standardisation and repeatability in measurements.
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K19: Methods used to assess and prioritise stakeholders affected by your business or project.
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K20: Approaches to supporting sustainability by reference to emissions targets, environmental management systems and personal responsibilities.
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K21: How other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
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K22: The importance of keeping up to date with recent developments and applications of science relevant to the role, and the benefits that can be realised through their adoption across the wider business.
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K23: Safe working practices, in terms of managing operational hazards and chemical hazards including reactivity, toxicity, stability and radioactivity.
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K24: Basic principles of classical and statistical thermodynamics, kinetics, quantum mechanics and spectroscopy and their application to the solution of theoretical and practical problems to wider topics in chemistry.
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K25: Likely and potential synthetic products, bond-forming reactions, mechanistic pathways, stereochemistry and reactivity.
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K26: Purification, isolation and characterisation strategies, in the light of physicochemical properties and trends of elements and compounds.
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K27: Periodic trends in chemistry, the consequences of these trends on reactivity, behaviour and physical properties and how these trends can be applied to the solution of theoretical and practical problems.
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K28: Atomic and molecular orbitals and their conceptual applications to structure, bonding and reaction pathways.
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K29: Knowledge of a range of inorganic and organic substances, compounds and materials and their uses.
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K30: Computational techniques and tools, and how they can be used to aid further understanding and insight of chemical structure, bonding and reactivity.
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K31: The principles of scaling up chemical processes to meet the demands of their real-world applications in a reproducible, safe and sustainable manner.
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K32: Mathematics methods and theories applied in physics including complex numbers, vector calculus, matrices with eigenvalues and eigenvectors, probability and statistical techniques.
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K33: The fundamental areas of physics including electromagnetism, quantum and classical mechanics, statistical physics and thermodynamics, wave phenomena and the properties of matter.
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K34: The application of the fundamental principles of physics relevant to role. For example atomic physics, environmental physics, fluids, hard and soft condensed matter, materials, medical physics, nuclear and particle physics, optics, and plasmas, as well as the application of physics to other disciplines.
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K35: Safe operational working practices and physics hazards, including electricity and electrical equipment, electrostatic generators, lasers, ionizing and non-ionising radiation, compressed gases, pressurised and vacuum systems, mechanical and thermal, cryogenic hazard, clean room, magnetic fields.
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K36: Use of instruments in physics studies relevant to their role (such as measuring, optical, electrical, heat and thermodynamic equipment, semiconductor devices, gravity, wave and sound related apparatus).
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K37: How numerical analysis and computational physics can be applied to solve problems.
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K38: How to use computer programming to solve physics based problems.
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K39: Knowledge of the structure and dynamics of the universe, including composition and behaviour down to subatomic particles.
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K40: The biochemical processes that occur inside cells, and their regulation as well as intra and interspecific interactions, behaviour and stochastic processes.
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K41: Concepts and application of the classification of species across all kingdoms of life.
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K42: Application of biotechnologies.
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K43: The processes and mechanisms of life, from molecular to cellular, and from organism to ecosystem including molecular and cellular, physiological processes, health and ageing.
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K44: The structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including cell division, cell cycle, cell specialisation and cooperation.
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K45: The structure and function of biologically important molecules and the molecular events that govern their function.
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K46: Safe working practices, in terms of managing and assessing the risk of operational and biological hazards including handling and disposal of chemicals, lawful handling of living organisms and their entities and safe handling of radioisotopes.
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K47: Computational techniques and tools, and how they can be used to aid understanding and insight of biological data sets.
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K48: The use of suitable sampling techniques including sample preparation.
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S1: Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow-up experiments.
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S2: Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
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S3: Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
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S4: Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
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S5: Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
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S6: Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
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S7: Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
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S8: Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
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S9: Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi-skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
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S10: Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
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S11: Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
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S12: Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
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S13: Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
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S14: Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
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S15: Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
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S16: Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
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S17: Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
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S18: Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
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S19: Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
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S20: Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
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S21: Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.
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S22: Apply chemical concepts and theories to investigations.
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S23: Design, develop and carry out chemical science investigations.
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S24: Recommend synthetic pathways to target-compounds and design experimental activities to test predictions.
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S25: Design and deploy purification, isolation and characterisation strategies, taking account of physicochemical properties of elements and compounds.
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S26: Design, develop and carry out qualitative and quantitative sample preparation, chemical measurement, and analysis.
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S27: Critically compare the results of theoretical or computational modelling with those from experiment and observation.
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S28: Apply physics theories to solve problems that cross scientific discipline boundaries.
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S29: Apply computational techniques to analysis and model physical behaviour.
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S30: Apply physics concepts and theories to investigations.
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S31: Design, develop and carry out physics based investigations.
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S32: Use mathematical techniques and theories to solve physics problems.
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S33: Use computer programming software to solve physics based problems.
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S34: Critically analyse current and emerging developments in the biosciences and the contribution of Biosciences to the wider industry.
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S35: Apply Biological concepts and theories to investigations.
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S36: Design, develop and carry out biological investigations
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S37: Perform tasks related to sample preparation and culturing techniques.
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S38: Use of laboratory automation systems.
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S39: Perform sampling with consideration for sample variation.
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B1: Takes personal responsibility for sustainable outcomes and encourages others to achieve sustainability goals.
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B2: Leads by example and advocates for change.
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B3: Embraces equality, diversity and inclusion
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B4: Uses initiative to develop and identify new ideas.
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B5: Committed to and encourages collaborative working.
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B6: Acts autonomously with self motivation.
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B7: Takes responsibility for the critical evaluation of own capabilities and development.
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B8: Upholds company and professional values, and demonstrating integrity, and respect for confidentiality.
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B9: Committed to the adoption and promotion of safe working practices.
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Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised version awaiting implementation | Occupational standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band revised | 01/04/2025 | Not set |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 03/01/2018 | 31/03/2025 |
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