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L5Apprenticeship4341 approved provider
The Level 5 Nursing associate (NMC 2018), and the 1 provider delivering it.
Providing care for people of all ages and from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Nursing associates are trained to provide direct nursing care across the full lifespan, for people with physical, mental, cognitive and behavioural needs. The apprenticeship covers clinical skills, evidence-based care, health promotion, and working within multidisciplinary teams. Apprentices develop the proficiencies set by the NMC, meaning successful completion meets the requirements for registration as a nursing associate. The role sits between healthcare support workers and registered nurses, carrying genuine clinical responsibility while working within a defined scope of practice.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Working across hospital wards, community settings, GP practices, care homes or patients' own homes, apprentices deliver hands-on nursing care under supervision and, increasingly, independently. Typical tasks include monitoring patient observations, administering medications, carrying out clinical procedures, documenting care accurately, and communicating with patients, families and carers. Apprentices interact regularly with registered nurses, doctors, social workers and other agencies. Shift patterns often include evenings, nights and weekends, reflecting the 24-hour nature of health and care services.
Career outlook
Completion leads to registration with the NMC as a nursing associate, a protected title. Registered nursing associates work in NHS trusts, GP surgeries, mental health services, community providers, independent hospitals, care homes and the voluntary sector. The role is a recognised progression route into graduate-level nursing for those who want to train as a registered nurse. Senior nursing associate or specialist nursing associate posts are available in some organisations, and the registered status opens doors across the breadth of health and care settings in the UK.
1 approved provider
Sorted by achievement rate.
Anglia Ruskin University ARU
Employer: 3.0
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is an innovative UK university offering a wide portfolio of learning ...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which is required before practising in the role. The protected job title is Nursing Associate, and this is the entry point for most completers. Day-to-day responsibilities include direct patient care, clinical observations, medication administration, wound care, and supporting registered nurses in managing care plans across a range of settings including wards, community teams, GP practices, and care homes.
Progression paths
Many registered Nursing Associates move into more senior band positions within a few years, taking on greater autonomy in clinical decision-making or acting as mentors to trainee nursing associates and healthcare support workers. The role is also a recognised stepping stone to registered nurse status: completers can apply for shortened registered nursing degree programmes, typically at level 6, without starting from scratch. Longer-term, those who pursue registration as a nurse can progress into specialist practitioner, advanced clinical practitioner, or clinical leadership roles.
Where these roles sit
The NHS is the largest employer, across acute hospitals, community NHS trusts, and primary care networks. Independent sector providers, including private hospitals, hospices, and residential and nursing care homes, also recruit into this role, as do mental health trusts and learning disability services. Voluntary sector organisations delivering community health services represent a smaller but consistent part of the market. The role exists across both urban and rural settings, reflecting the breadth of health and social care provision across England.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Because the Nursing Associate qualification is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, assessment goes beyond a typical apprenticeship: completing the programme and meeting all requirements leads to eligibility for NMC registration, and the title "Nursing Associate" is legally protected. Throughout the apprenticeship, the learner develops and demonstrates the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the NMC Standards for Proficiency. Before final assessment can take place, a readiness check (gateway) confirms the apprentice has met the necessary evidence requirements. Assessment covers both academic and practice-based elements across a range of care settings. The gov.uk page for this standard holds the current specification, which is worth checking as assessment models across many standards are being updated.
What learners need to prepare
Clinical placements span multiple settings, so keeping thorough, ongoing records of practice experience is essential. Waiting until the end of the programme to gather evidence puts unnecessary pressure on completion. Working closely with the employer, practice supervisor and training provider from the start helps ensure each placement contributes meaningfully to the required portfolio of evidence. Learners should also stay aware of their progress against the NMC proficiency standards throughout, rather than treating them as a checklist to revisit at gateway. Preparation is a continuous process, not a final-stage activity.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with achievement rates above 75% on their FATP profile: this apprenticeship ends with NMC registration, so completion rates are a direct proxy for how well the provider prepares trainees for the point of registration. Strong providers will have formal agreements with placement sites across multiple care settings, not just acute hospital wards, because the NMC standards require exposure to community, mental health and primary care environments. Check that supervisors and assessors hold current NMC registration themselves. Employer and apprentice satisfaction scores above 80% are worth noting, particularly if learner reviews mention clinical supervision quality.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious if a provider cannot confirm the range of clinical placements they arrange, or if all placements sit within a single employer or setting type. The NMC proficiency standards require breadth of experience, so a provider relying on one partner organisation is unlikely to meet that requirement. A high volume of learners paired with a declining or below-65% achievement rate is a serious concern given the registration outcome at stake. Vague answers about how off-the-job training maps to NMC Annexes A and B, or uncertainty about who holds approved education institution status, should prompt further scrutiny.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it trended over the past two years?
- Which clinical settings do apprentices rotate through, and how do you ensure coverage of the NMC Annex B clinical skills requirements?
- Who holds approved education institution (AEI) status, and what is the provider's formal relationship with that body?
- How do you support apprentices who are struggling with the NMC proficiency assessments before their end-point assessment?
- Can you share examples of where apprentices have progressed to NMC registration and, if relevant, into graduate nursing programmes?
- What is your process if a placement site cannot offer a specific care setting or patient group required by the standards?
- How do practice supervisors and practice assessors receive training, and how often is that training updated?
Common questions
What are the entry requirements for someone to start this apprenticeship?
Employers set their own entry criteria, but candidates typically need a good standard of English and maths, often evidenced by GCSEs at grade C/4 or above or equivalent. Most employers look for existing healthcare experience, usually as a healthcare assistant or similar support role. Candidates must also meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council's good health and good character requirements, as registration with the NMC is the outcome of successful completion.
How long does the apprenticeship take and what does the time commitment look like?
The typical duration is 24 months. The apprentice remains employed throughout and splits their time between workplace practice and off-the-job learning, which may include university study, simulation, and supervised clinical placements. Specific minimum duration rules and off-the-job training requirements are subject to ongoing reform under Skills England; check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education pages on gov.uk before planning your programme.
How is the apprentice assessed at the end?
Before reaching end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has met the required occupational standards and is ready to be assessed. Assessment models for many standards are being updated, so check the current specification on gov.uk for the exact requirements. The apprentice must demonstrate clinical competence and meet NMC proficiency standards, as successful completion leads to eligibility for registration as a nursing associate with the NMC.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship?
The funding band for this standard is £15,000. Larger employers who pay the apprenticeship levy use their levy account to cover training costs. SMEs that do not pay the levy contribute 5% of training costs, with the government paying the remaining 95%. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing; the government funds the full cost. Funding is paid directly to the training provider, not to the employer.
What does a nursing associate actually do day to day?
Day-to-day work involves delivering direct nursing care across a range of settings, including hospitals, community services, care homes, and patients' own homes. Tasks include monitoring health conditions, administering medications, supporting personal care, and assisting with clinical procedures under appropriate supervision. Nursing associates interact with patients of all ages and backgrounds and work alongside registered nurses, allied health professionals, social services, and other agencies, often as part of a multidisciplinary team and sometimes working independently in community settings.
What can a nursing associate progress to after completing the apprenticeship?
Nursing associate is a protected title and a regulated profession in its own right, so completing the apprenticeship and registering with the NMC allows someone to practise in that role across the NHS, independent sector, and voluntary sector. The role was designed with onward progression in mind; a registered nursing associate can use their qualification and experience as a foundation for entry onto a registered nurse degree programme, typically at level 6, through routes that recognise prior learning and clinical experience.
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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: 434.
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.