The process for the establishment and variation of apprenticeships (Class A and B qualifications) is overseen and endorsed by the State Training Board. Apprenticeship in this context means any employment based training scheme, whether termed an apprenticeship, traineeship, cadetship or internship.
Section 60C of the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 allows the Minister to establish or vary apprenticeships and traineeships based on the advice from the State Training Board. The Board, the Department of Training and Workforce Development, the Minister for Education and Training and the Western Australian industry training councils all play key roles in the establishment and variation of apprenticeships.
To establish an apprenticeship or vary an existing apprenticeship in WA, a proponent will need to submit a Notice of intent to the Board. The proponent may be an individual business/employer, employer or industry group, union, registered training organisation, industry training council, the Board, the Minister, or other stakeholder.
Class A – This qualification can only be achieved by entering into an employment-based training contract with an employer; ie the qualification is delivered predominantly through employment based training undertaken with an employer. A training plan is drawn up between the employer, registered training organisation and the apprentice/trainee that sets out the ratio of on and off the job training.
Class B – This allows a qualification to be achieved either by entering into an employment-based training contract with an employer or through institutional delivery; ie the qualification is delivery predominantly through classroom/online training with some practical experience in a workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions.
The State Training Board endorsed new guidelines for the establishment and variation of apprenticeships on 16 February 2017.
These new guidelines are effective for all new applications from 1 March 2017.
For full details on the process, or assistance with lodging your proposal, please look through the guidelines document.
View or download the Guidelines for the establishment and variation of apprenticeships, version 2.3.
Under the VET Act, the Department of Training and Workforce Development must keep and make available to the public a register of Class A and B qualifications. The register includes:
Penalties may apply to a registered training provider or an employer who does not comply with the classification of a qualification.
This flowchart outlines the steps in the process for the establishment and variation of apprenticeships (Class A and Class B qualifications).
Select each of the steps to find out more.
A new apprenticeship* or change/s to an existing apprenticeship is proposed.
*Apprenticeship means any employment based training scheme whether termed an apprenticeship, traineeship, cadetship or internship.
The proposal is lodged with the State Training Board.
The relevant training council/s must consult with employers, unions, and other stakeholders in accordance with the State Training Board’s Guidelines for the establishment and variation of apprenticeships.
(Delegated to the Establishment and Variation of Apprenticeships Committee)
The Board considers the proposal and may consult with other stakeholders, including the Department, as required. The Board makes recommendation/s to the Minister. Matters considered include:
1. Qualification to be classified (Class A or B – whether a training contract only, or not)
2. Type of apprenticeship (whether the person will be called apprentice, trainee, cadet or intern)
3. Occupation/title of apprenticeship
4. Nominal duration
5. Part-time arrangements (if applicable)
6. School-based arrangements (if applicable)
7. Any special conditions (eg pre-entry requirements)
The Minister seeks the advice of the State Training Board.
Recommendations are made to the Minister.
The Minister considers the Board’s recommendation and approves or rejects the proposal. The Minister may use his/her initiative to establish or vary an apprenticeship; however, must seek the advice of the Board who will make a recommendation following consultation with industry in the prescribed manner.
The Minister’s decision is published in the Government Gazette.
The apprenticeship is listed on the public register and the State Training Board website, and affected parties are notified of the outcome.
Please note: If a proposal is rejected at any stage, the proponent will be notified. Otherwise, notification will occur at the end of the process.
To establish a new classification or vary an existing one, a proponent must lodge a Notice of intent with the Office of the State Training Board using one of our four online forms. Please use a separate form for each establishment or variation request.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require assistance with this process.
To propose a new classification, use the Notice of intent – Establishment form.
To propose a variation to an existing qualification, use the Notice of intent – Variation (vary) form.
To propose the transfer of an existing qualification, use the Notice of intent – Variation (transfer) form.
To propose the removal of an existing qualification, use the Notice of intent – Variation (remove) form.
The following proposals are currently being considered by the State Training Board. If you have questions about a proposal, please contact us by email or telephone.
A proposal goes through several stages, as indicated in the status column of the table. These stages are explained at the end of the table.
| Qualification / Type of apprenticeship | Proponent | Relevant training council | Notice of intent | Reason | Date lodged | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52864WA Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways |
Jillian Dielesen, Chief Executive Officer, Logistics and Defence Skills Council Jason Cullen, Chief Executive Officer, Utilities, Engineering, Electrical and Automotive Training Council |
Logistics and Defence Skills Council Utilities, Engineering, Electrical and Automotive Training Council |
Establishment - Class B | Industry need | 26/02/2021 | Consideration by EVAC | |
|
AHC32416/AHC32419 Certificate III in Irrigation |
Kay Gerard, Chief Executive Officer, Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council | Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council | Variation - name change | Industry need | 4/01/2021 | Department response | |
| AHC31116 Certificate III in Production Nursery | Kay Gerard, Chief Executive Officer, Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council | Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council | Variation - name change | Industry need | 4/01/2021 | Department response | |
| TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment | Caroline Thompson, Executive Director, CommunitySkills WA | CommunitySkills WA | Establishment Class B | Industry need | 9/10/20 | Awaiting decision by Minister | |
| TLI40218 Certificate IV in Mobile Crane Operations | Anthony Grosser, Tadano Australia | Logistics & Defence Skills Council | Establishment - Class A traineeship | Industry need | 1/9/20 | Awaiting decision by Minister | |
| RII30919 Certificate III in Civil Construction | Miss Karyn Grant, Civil Contractors Federation Western Australia | Construction Training Council | Variation - increase nominal duration & update to Class A apprenticeship | Industry need | 11/03/2020 | Awaiting decision by Minister | |
| MEM31215 / MEM31219 Certificate III in Engineering - Industrial Electrician | Ms Kathy Hoare, Department of Training & Workforce Development | Utilities Engineering Electrical and Automotive Training Council | Variation - add a condition | Industry need | 11/03/2020 | Awaiting decision by Minister |
|
| RII31615 Certificate III in Trenchless Technology | Miss Karyn Grant, Civil Train Western Australia | Construction Training Council | Variation - increase nominal duration & update to Class A apprenticeship | Industry need identified | 8/1/2020 | Awaiting decision by Minister | |
| RII30815 Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations | Miss Karyn Grant, Civil Train Western Australia | Construction Training Council | Variation - increase nominal duration & update to Class A apprenticeship | Industry need identified | 8/1/2020 |
Awaiting decision by Minister |
Consultation underway
The proponent and the relevant industry training council(s) are consulting with industry on the proposal and developing their submission for lodgement with the Board.
Department response
The Department of Training and Workforce Development is preparing its response/report on the implications and risks relating to the proponent's proposal.
Review by Office of the State Training Board
The OSTB is reviewing the written submission(s) to ensure that they comply with the guidelines and that all relevant information is available for the Establishment and Variation of Apprenticeships Committee to consider.
Consideration by EVAC
The reports from the industry training council, the proponent and the Department are currently being considered by the Establishment and Variations of Apprenticeships Committee.
Awaiting decision by Minister
The proposal is currently with the Minister for Education and Training in accordance with section 60C of the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996.
No proposals have been completed since January 2021.
A streamlined process has been developed to simplify EVAC applications for replacement Class A or B apprenticeships and traineeships that result from national training package updates. Qualifications deemed equivalent and qualifications that are deemed to be non-equivalent but still having the same occupation outcome can undergo this expedited process. This process is considered to meet the legislative requirements under the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 and associated Regulations.
The same occupational outcome is defined as “where any of the national or state ANZSCO or secondary ANZSCO codes assigned to the replacement qualification are the same as for the original qualification.”
