The Level 3 Information communications technician, and the 77 providers delivering it.
Deliver efficient operation and control of the IT.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices learn to install, configure, and maintain IT and telecommunications infrastructure, covering both physical hardware and cloud-based systems. The programme builds knowledge of operating systems, network architecture, virtualisation, and security principles. Practical skills include diagnosing hardware and software faults, scripting with tools such as PowerShell or Linux, managing storage and data access, deploying applications on a network, and following disaster recovery and change management procedures. Apprentices also develop the judgement to prioritise support tasks and escalate issues within agreed service level agreements.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Work varies depending on the role pathway. A support technician typically handles helpdesk tickets, troubleshooting connectivity issues, slow performance, or access problems for internal users, often remotely. A network technician might monitor network performance, run reports, carry out cabling work, or assist with system backups and data restores. A digital communications technician may be involved in building and testing end-to-end solutions for customers. Across all pathways, apprentices log incidents, maintain asset registers, apply security controls, and carry out routine system maintenance to keep services running within compliance requirements.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship opens routes into first and second-line support, network support, IT field engineering, and data centre operations. Common job titles include IT support analyst, network technician, cloud technician, and telecommunications technician. With experience, progression typically leads to senior support roles, network engineering, systems administration, or cyber security positions. Employers span virtually every sector, including healthcare, education, retail, financial services, defence, and telecommunications. The apprenticeship suits organisations with internal IT teams as well as managed service providers delivering support to multiple clients.
77 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
South Devon College is a further and higher education provider offering a wide range of apprenticesh...
Pareto is an industry-leading recruitment, apprenticeship and training provider supporting organisat...
Telford College is Telford & Wrekin’s only further education college and works closely with local an...
Ixion is a national, not-for-profit training provider of skills and education and is part of Shaw Tr...
London South East Colleges is a further education college group delivering a wide range of technical...
Nottingham College is a general further and higher education college based in Nottingham, offering a...
New College Swindon is a further and higher education college offering a broad apprenticeship and pr...
Activate Learning is a UK education group that delivers apprenticeships and vocational training thro...
Nescot (North East Surrey College of Technology) is a further and higher education college in Ewell,...
Paragon Skills is a national apprenticeship provider delivering Ofsted-rated ‘Good’ training with a ...
Windsor Forest Colleges Group is a dynamic group of colleges offering first-class education and trai...
Lifetime is a UK apprenticeships training provider focused on helping employers upskill, reskill and...
AKR Growth is a social impact recruitment and training organisation that focuses on helping young an...
E-Careers is a UK-headquartered training provider specialising in flexible, technology-enabled profe...
London Vesta College is a digital education provider specialising in IT and digital sector training ...
Keibra is a UK-based training provider specialising in bespoke IT and digital apprenticeships tailor...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completers typically move into first or second-line IT support roles, working as IT Support Analyst, Helpdesk Support Technician, or IT Support Officer. Those who focused on networking often step into Network Support Technician or Network Field Operative positions. Completers with a telecoms or communications pathway may enter work as a Telecommunications Technician or Digital Communications Technician. Data centre and cloud-focused roles such as Data Centre Support Technician or Cloud Technician are also common destinations, particularly in larger infrastructure teams.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, many technicians move into third-line support, Network Engineer, or Systems Administrator roles, taking on greater responsibility for infrastructure design and change management. Those who specialise in security can progress toward Cyber Security Analyst or Security Operations roles. On a leadership track, a Senior IT Support Analyst or IT Team Lead position is a realistic step. Longer term, senior engineers, infrastructure architects, and IT managers are established destinations, with some taking formal routes such as CCNA, CompTIA certifications, or a degree apprenticeship.
Where these roles sit
Employers span virtually every sector. The NHS and wider public sector, local government, financial services, retail, logistics, higher education, and managed service providers all hire at this level. Defence organisations recruit specifically for secure communications work. Employers range from small IT teams within a single-site business to large enterprise infrastructure departments and specialist telecoms firms. Managed service providers are a particularly common first employer, as technicians gain exposure across multiple client environments.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning takes place in a real workplace, with the apprentice building competence in supporting IT and communications infrastructure alongside their day-to-day role. Before final assessment, there is a readiness check, commonly called the gateway, at which the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has met the requirements and is ready to proceed. Final assessment then confirms that the apprentice can apply the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the standard, covering areas such as system maintenance, network environments, troubleshooting and security. Assessment models for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Building a strong body of workplace evidence throughout the programme makes final assessment considerably easier. Apprentices should record examples of real tasks as they happen, whether that is configuring systems, diagnosing faults, applying security controls, or supporting users, rather than trying to reconstruct evidence at the end. Working regularly with both the employer and training provider to review progress against the standard's knowledge, skills and behaviours means any gaps can be addressed early, and the gateway readiness check is not a surprise.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile; above 75% is a strong signal for a standard where learners are often juggling live support queues alongside off-the-job study. Employer satisfaction scores above 80% suggest the provider is genuinely coordinating with workplace managers, not just processing learners. For this standard specifically, check that delivery covers current tools: virtualisation platforms, cloud environments (Azure or AWS at minimum), scripting such as PowerShell and Linux, and network monitoring utilities. Providers who can point to alumni working in helpdesk, network support or field technician roles give you a concrete benchmark.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers running large cohort volumes with a declining or opaque achievement rate, which can indicate they are recruiting freely but not supporting completions. If a provider cannot explain how off-the-job training is structured around shift patterns or support rotas, that is a practical problem for ICT roles. Vague answers about virtualisation labs, scripting practice or network simulation tools suggest the curriculum may not reflect what technicians actually use day to day. Outdated syllabi that do not address cloud services or mobile device management are a genuine concern given how central those areas are to the occupation.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What virtualisation, cloud and network simulation environments do apprentices get hands-on access to during training?
- How do you structure off-the-job hours for learners who are on helpdesk rotas or on-call cover?
- Which pathway does this delivery focus on, support technician, network technician or digital communications technician, and can it be tailored to our specific role?
- What scripting languages and tools are covered, and how recently was that content updated?
- What is your achievement rate for this standard over the last two years, and what is the main reason apprentices do not complete?
- How do you keep employer line managers involved between gateway and end-point assessment?
- Can you show me examples of the kinds of roles your completers have moved into after finishing?
Common questions
What are the entry requirements for the Information Communications Technician apprenticeship?
Employers set their own entry requirements, but most look for a good level of English and maths, typically GCSE grade 4 or above. Some employers prefer candidates with prior exposure to IT or a related subject, though this is not a formal requirement. Apprentices must be employed for the duration of the programme. If English and maths are not already at the required level, these must be achieved as part of the apprenticeship.
How long does the apprenticeship take and what does the time commitment look like?
The typical duration is 18 months, though the actual length depends on the apprentice's starting point and the employer's programme design. Apprentices are employed throughout and spend a portion of their working hours on off-the-job learning. The exact minimum proportion is subject to current Skills England reforms, so check the latest specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website at gov.uk for the current figure before planning your programme.
How is the apprenticeship assessed?
Before the end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway. This means the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has the knowledge, skills and competence set out in the standard. Assessment models for many standards are being updated under current reforms, so the specific end-point assessment methods, such as practical assessments, professional discussions or portfolio review, should be confirmed against the current specification at gov.uk before enrolment.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship?
The funding band for this standard is £15,000, which is the maximum government contribution. Levy-paying employers draw from their digital apprenticeship service account to cover training costs. Non-levy-paying employers, typically SMEs, pay 5% of the training cost and the government funds the remaining 95%. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing. All payments go directly to the training provider, not to the apprentice.
What does an Information Communications Technician actually do day to day?
The work varies by specialism. A support technician spends much of their time resolving helpdesk queries, diagnosing hardware and software faults, and managing user accounts. A network technician installs and monitors network infrastructure, deploys applications and sets up data storage. A digital communications technician may test and integrate communications systems, maintain cabling and connectors, and apply security controls. All three paths involve prioritising tasks, following escalation procedures and maintaining compliance with service level agreements.
What can an apprentice do after completing this apprenticeship?
Completers typically move into roles such as IT support analyst, network support technician, cloud technician or cybersecurity support. With experience, progression into senior technical roles, project work or IT management is achievable. Some go on to a Level 4 apprenticeship or professional qualifications such as CompTIA, Cisco or Microsoft certifications. The breadth of the standard, covering networking, cloud, security and support, means completers are not tied to a single career path.
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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: 618.
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.