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Finding an Apprentice or Trainee

How to find an apprentice or trainee and start their training at CIT

STEP DETAILS
Step 1 Find an apprentice or trainee
Step 2 Contact and meet with an ANP to select your apprentice or trainees’ qualification, select CIT as the RTO/training provider, and sign into a training contract
Step 3 Get your apprentice or trainee to enrol into their qualification at CIT

1. Find an apprentice or trainee

Find an apprentice, trainee, or Australian School-based Apprentice (ASbA) who is interested in working and training in your business. If you are unsure where to start, contact an Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP).

  • How do I find an apprentice or trainee?
    • You can start by advertising the job vacancy.

      CIT advertises some job vacancies on our looking for employment web page. There are also organisations that assist job hunters find a job, including Group Training Organisations (GTOs) who hire apprentices and trainees and match them with a host employer.

      An Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP) can also help - see ANP details below.

  • What is an Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP) and how do I contact them?
    • Apprenticeship Network Providers (ANPs) are contracted by the Australian Government to help apprentices and trainees and employers sign into an Australian Apprenticeship Training Contract. ANPs offer free advice and support services regarding what is involved and the assistance they can provide throughout an Australian Apprenticeship from pre-commencement to completion. The ANP can also give you advice around financial incentives that you may be eligible for to help offset the cost of taking on an apprentice. Details on ANP services and contact details are on our Apprenticeship Network Providers web page.

2. Contact and meet with an Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP) to select your apprentice or trainees’ qualification, select CIT as the RTO/training provider, and sign into your training contract

Once you have found an apprentice or trainee to employ, you and your apprentice or trainee should contact an ANP to select the qualification they will undertake their apprenticeship or traineeship in, and select a training provider called a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) e.g., CIT.

We highly recommend also contacting CIT to discuss your apprentice or trainees’ training needs when choosing a suitable qualification.

Once the qualification and training provider is selected the ANP will arrange for you to sign an Australian Apprenticeship Training Contract (within 28 days of starting employment).

The ANP then lodges the Training Contact with the State Training Authority (STA) for approval before a notification is sent to CIT which triggers the enrolment process.

3. Get your apprentice or trainee to enrol into their qualification at CIT

Once the training contract is approved, your apprentice or trainee can enrol in their qualification course subjects. CIT will contact your apprentice or trainee to organise their enrolment, pre-commencement information and develop their training plan.

Your apprentice or trainee will be asked to complete a Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital (LLND) assessment prior to commencing training.

Fees for their course will be due after their enrolment.

Once enrolled and given class dates, your apprentice or trainee can start their training at CIT and work with our teachers and you as their employer to learn, develop and use your new skills.

  • How does my apprentice or trainee enrol in their qualification at CIT?
    • Apprentices and trainees need to have an approved Australian Apprenticeship Training Contract before enrolling in a qualification at CIT. CIT will contact your apprentice or trainee to enrol in their subjects and they will either be invited to attend an information and enrolment session or directed to enrol into their subjects online.

      The enrolment process is not complete until their fees are paid.

      If you have any questions about the enrolment process, contact CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or infoline@cit.edu.au.

  • What is a Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital (LLND) Assessment?
    • Prior to commencing training at CIT, your apprentice or trainee will be required to complete a Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital (LLND) assessment to help identify areas where they may require additional assistance to successfully undertake their training and achieve their qualification.


      Some CIT courses may also have a particular level they will need to meet as part of entry requirements into the course. CIT will contact the apprentice or trainee via email to complete the LLND assessment.

  • How much will the training at CIT cost?
    • The total cost of training for your apprentice or trainee in their qualification at CIT is advertised on the CIT website and varies for each course. The advertised qualification fee is for an apprentice or trainee that successfully completes all units of competency on the first attempt.

      The Government subsidises some apprenticeship and traineeship course fees for eligible qualifications identified by the Government as being an occupation with a skills shortage. Courses that are not subsidised are classified as full fee.

      An invoice for your apprentice or trainees’ fees will be emailed to them after enrolment. The invoice will be itemised per subject and costs will vary depending on the number of subjects they enrol into. If you are paying your apprentice or trainees fees, make sure they forward a copy of the invoice to you for payment by the due date.



      If they are eligible for a fee concession their fees may be reduced by 50 per cent. They must have a concession applied every semester before classes start and before any invoice is paid. Find out more about our course fees and assistance.



      There may be some additional expenses not covered by student fees for resources specific to the subject they undertake e.g. tools and equipment, uniforms, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The apprentice or trainee will be advised of these at enrolment.

  • What is a Training Plan?
    • A Training Plan is developed by CIT with the apprentice or trainee and employer and sets out how and when training and assessment will be conducted for them to achieve their qualification and enable you to track their progress.

      Example of an Australian Apprenticeships training plan

  • When will classes start?
    • Most CIT teaching departments operate on semester-based training calendars with classes generally commencing in February and July each year. Each qualification is different, and the start date may vary for classes. The start date will be confirmed at enrolment.

  • How can I best support my apprentice or trainee with their training at CIT?
    • - Release your apprentice or trainee from work to attend training at CIT. If you have any queries about their training at CIT, have concerns about the workload or identify they need help with their studies, reach out to the teaching area.


      - Provide supervision, support, and opportunities to develop knowledge and skills according to their qualification.


      - Understand the workplace tasks that need to be undertaken to support the development and competency in the workplace for each unit outlined in your apprentice or trainees’ training plan.


      - Encourage your apprentice or trainee to maintain a training record of their workplace activities and verify their entries.


      - Keep track of your apprentice or trainees’ progress.

Can’t find an answer to a question you have? Contact CIT student services on (02) 6207 3188 or infoline@cit.edu.au.

Industry areas CIT trains apprentices and trainees

CIT has strong relationships with local industries and partner with employers to deliver training to skill Canberra’s workforce. These industries include accommodation and food services, administrative and support services, construction, health care and social assistance, information media and telecommunications and more.

Quick links to other resources

Australian Apprenticeships

Fair Work Ombudsman

Ready Skills

CIT uses electronic tool Ready Skills to support the learning of apprentices and trainees and is where your apprentice or trainee can log their workplace activities for you to approve. Find out more about Ready Skills.

Ready Skills