The Level 3 Engineering Technician, and the 73 providers delivering it.
Designing, building, servicing and repairing a range of engineering products and services.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Engineering Technicians work on complex engineered products and systems across mechanical, electrical, electronic, electromechanical and fluid power disciplines. The apprenticeship develops the technical skills needed to work accurately on components and systems, taking personal responsibility for quality and precision. Apprentices learn how to apply engineering principles in practical settings, follow technical specifications, and work within safety and quality frameworks. Alongside technical knowledge, the programme builds the professional behaviours needed to contribute effectively to a team and support longer-term career development.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Day-to-day work varies by sector and employer but typically includes inspecting, assembling, testing or maintaining engineered components and systems. Apprentices read and interpret technical drawings and specifications, use hand and power tools or specialist equipment, and record work accurately. They may liaise with engineers, quality inspectors or production teams to resolve technical issues. Depending on the employer, the setting could be a production line, maintenance workshop, aircraft hangar, shipyard or automotive facility.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship opens routes into roles such as Maintenance Technician, Manufacturing Technician, Test Technician or Quality Technician. With experience, progression towards Engineering Inspector, Senior Technician or Incorporated/Chartered Engineer status is common. Employers across aerospace, defence, automotive, maritime and advanced manufacturing hire at this level, ranging from large prime contractors to specialist SMEs. Some completers go on to higher apprenticeships or degree-level study to move into engineering design or management roles.
73 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
The University of Sheffield is a research-intensive Russell Group university that also acts as an ap...
MTC Training is the training arm of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), focused on developing...
Sunderland Engineering Training Association (Seta) is a not-for-profit Group Training Association pr...
HETA (Humberside Engineering Training Association) is a not‑for‑profit Group Training Association sp...
Abingdon & Witney College is a further and higher education college in Oxfordshire offering a wide r...
The JCB Academy is an approved apprenticeship training centre that builds on its engineering and bus...
Gloucestershire Engineering Training (GET) is a specialist engineering training provider that has be...
Middlesbrough College Group provides a broad range of education and training routes for school leave...
The University of Derby is a UK higher and further education institution that works closely with emp...
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Group Training Association (HWGTA) is an employer‑led, not‑for‑profit...
Rochdale Training describes itself as the “Home of Apprenticeships for Greater Manchester,” providin...
SIGTA is a not‑for‑profit training organisation with charitable status that specialises in apprentic...
Yeovil College is a further and higher education provider in Somerset offering a broad apprenticeshi...
Wigan & Leigh College is a further and higher education provider in Greater Manchester that position...
West Suffolk College is a further education and apprenticeship provider based in Bury St Edmunds, of...
New College Durham is a further and higher education college that offers a broad apprenticeship and ...
Cheshire College – South & West offers apprenticeship and further education opportunities across its...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completers typically move into hands-on technical roles across manufacturing and engineering operations. Common job titles include Engineering Technician, Maintenance Technician, Manufacturing Technician, Test Technician, and Quality Technician. The precise focus, whether mechanical, electrical, electronic, or electromechanical systems, depends on the employer and the pathway followed. Most completers work within supervised but largely independent technical roles, taking direct responsibility for the quality and accuracy of their output.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, many technicians move into Senior Technician or Lead Technician roles, taking on increased responsibility for complex fault diagnosis, process improvement, or team coordination. From there, two tracks typically open up: a leadership route towards Technical Team Leader, Engineering Supervisor, or Production Manager; and a specialist route into roles such as Quality Engineer, Process Engineer, or Systems Engineer, often supported by further qualifications at Level 4 or above.
Where these roles sit
Demand for this grade of technician spans aerospace and aviation, automotive, maritime, defence, and broader advanced manufacturing. Employers range from large prime contractors and Tier 1 suppliers to small and mid-sized precision engineering firms. Both private sector manufacturers and public sector defence organisations recruit at this level, and apprentices may be based in production facilities, maintenance operations, test and inspection environments, or integrated engineering support functions.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Learning takes place on the job, with the apprentice building knowledge and practical skills in their employer's working environment throughout the programme. Before final assessment, the apprentice and their employer or training provider confirm readiness at a gateway point, which checks that the required knowledge, skills and behaviours have been developed to a sufficient standard. Final assessment then confirms whether the apprentice can perform competently in the role across the technical and professional areas the standard covers. Assessment arrangements for many engineering standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification before committing to a provider.
What learners need to prepare
Evidence of real work is central to demonstrating competence, so apprentices should keep records of the tasks they carry out from an early stage rather than trying to reconstruct them later. This means logging activities, outcomes and any problems resolved as part of normal working practice. Regular reviews with both the employer and the training provider help to track progress and identify any gaps before the gateway. Staying organised throughout, rather than treating evidence gathering as a separate task at the end, makes the final assessment process considerably more straightforward.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Providers worth considering will have an achievement rate above 65% for this standard specifically; rates above 75% suggest a programme that retains and supports apprentices through a 42-month journey. Check whether the provider has practical workshops or engineering labs rather than classroom-only delivery, since hands-on work with mechanical, electrical and electromechanical systems is central to the role. Employer satisfaction scores above 80% are a reasonable signal that the provider communicates well and adapts to different engineering contexts. Learner reviews mentioning specific equipment, real fault-finding tasks or structured progression carry more weight than vague comments about "support".
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers with high apprentice volumes but a falling achievement rate over recent years, especially given the 42-month duration where disengagement tends to compound. If a provider cannot clearly explain how delivery maps across aerospace, automotive, maritime or advanced manufacturing contexts, that gap matters for employers in specialist sectors. Vague answers about end-point assessment preparation, or an inability to show where past apprentices have progressed within engineering careers, are worth pressing on before signing. Opaque cohort sizes can also indicate that individual apprentices receive little structured attention.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What practical facilities do you have, and which systems can apprentices work on directly, for example electrical, electromechanical or fluid power?
- How do you adapt the programme for employers in specific sectors such as aerospace or automotive, where technical environments differ significantly?
- What is your achievement rate for this standard over the last two years, and how has it changed?
- How do you prepare apprentices for end-point assessment, and what is your EPA pass rate?
- What progression do your previous Engineering Technician apprentices typically move into after completing?
- How often will an employer-facing skills coach or assessor visit the workplace, and what does that contact involve?
- How do you handle an apprentice who falls behind technically mid-programme?
Common questions
What qualifications or experience does someone need to start an Engineering Technician apprenticeship?
There are no nationally fixed entry requirements, so employers set their own. Most look for GCSEs in maths and science at grade 4 or above, though some accept equivalent qualifications or relevant prior experience instead. Applicants should have a genuine interest in engineering work and be able to handle technical learning alongside practical duties. Check individual provider requirements, as these vary by sector and employer.
How long does the apprenticeship take and how is training structured?
The typical duration is around 42 months, though actual length depends on the apprentice's prior learning and the employer's sector. Training combines on-the-job work with off-the-job learning throughout the programme. The exact off-the-job requirement is subject to current reforms, so check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page on gov.uk for the up-to-date figure before planning your intake.
How is the Engineering Technician apprenticeship assessed?
Before assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer, provider and apprentice agree the apprentice is ready to demonstrate full occupational competence. Assessment methods for many engineering standards are under review as part of Skills England reforms, so the specific endpoint assessment components may have changed. The current assessment plan is published on gov.uk under standard reference ST0167, and that should be your definitive source.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship?
The funding band is £26,000, which is the maximum government contribution per apprentice. Levy-paying employers draw this from their Digital Apprenticeship Service account. Non-levy employers, typically SMEs, pay 5% of training costs and the government covers the rest. If you are a small employer taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18, government funding covers the full cost. Payments go directly to the training provider, not as a lump sum upfront.
What does an Engineering Technician apprentice actually do day to day?
Day-to-day work depends on the sector, but typically includes maintaining, assembling, testing or fault-finding on mechanical, electrical, electronic, electromechanical or fluid power components and systems. Apprentices take responsibility for the accuracy and quality of their own work within agreed limits. They follow technical instructions, apply engineering principles to real tasks and are expected to behave professionally, as their conduct feeds directly into their end-point assessment evidence.
What can someone do after completing an Engineering Technician apprenticeship?
Completion opens routes into higher-level technical roles, specialist engineering positions or supervisory work within the same organisation. Many completers pursue registration with a professional engineering institution such as the IMechE or IET at Engineering Technician grade. From there, progression towards Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status is possible through further qualifications or a higher-level apprenticeship, depending on the employer's structure and the individual's ambitions.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 167.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.