Guidance

English and maths requirements in apprenticeships

Qualifications accepted as meeting the minimum English and maths requirements for apprenticeships.

From:
Department for Education
Published
4 May 2020
Last updated
31 July 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

English and maths requirements in apprenticeships guidance

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English qualifications for apprenticeships

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Maths qualifications for apprenticeships

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Details

Apprentices aged 16 to 18 at the start of their training are required to achieve English and maths qualifications to complete their apprenticeship, if they do not already hold suitable equivalent qualifications. Apprentices who do not already hold a suitable equivalent qualification in either English or maths or both subjects are funded to achieve up to an approved level 2 qualification in these subjects.

Apprentices aged 19+ at the start of their training can also be funded to study up to an approved level 2 qualification in English or maths or both, if they do not already hold suitable equivalent qualifications and their employer agrees that this should be part of their training plan.

Further information is set out in the apprenticeship funding rules.

This guidance sets out which qualifications or evidence are accepted as a suitable equivalent qualification. The requirements for English and maths are set out in the apprenticeship funding rules. Apprentices who already hold suitable equivalent qualifications are not eligible for this funding under the apprenticeship funding rules.

Updates to this page

Published 4 May 2020
Last updated 31 July 2025 show all updates

  1. Added 'English and maths requirements in apprenticeship standards at level 2 and above', 'Accepted English qualifications for apprenticeships' and 'Accepted maths qualifications for apprenticeships'.

  2. Updated 'Apprenticeship standards: list of acceptable qualifications for English and maths requirements'.

  3. Added an updated version of 'Apprenticeship standards: list of acceptable qualifications for English and maths requirements'.

  4. Updated hyperlinks in spreadsheet, no updates to qualifications listed.

  5. We have updated the list of acceptable qualifications for English and maths requirements in apprenticeship standards.

  6. We have updated the list of acceptable qualifications for English and maths requirements in apprenticeship standards.

  7. First published.

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