Shorter Duration Apprenticeships

Shorter Duration Apprenticeships (SDAs) are where competence can be achieved in less than 12 months.

From 1 August 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) have officially reduced the minimum duration of apprenticeships to eight months, down from 12 months.

The core objectives of this reduction are to:

• upskill new and existing employees to reach full occupational competence, meeting employer needs and contributing to economic growth

• support skills development in occupations where competence usually can be reached in less than 12 months

• recognise relevant prior knowledge and skills and allow competence to be reached more quickly (in less than 12 months).

This reduction is applicable only to new starts from 1 August 2025. It does not include existing learners, restarts and those who come back from a break in learning.

There’s been a bit of buzz around SDAs, with a few different terms being used. Let’s break them down and clarify what each one means:

• Condensed: The same knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) are covered, but delivered over a shorter timeframe using a model that fits industry patterns—like seasonal roles or the academic year.

• Shorter: Following a review of the apprenticeship standard, some knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) may be removed if they’re not essential for demonstrating occupational competence.

• (More) Accelerated: Designed for apprentices who start with relevant prior learning, allowing them to reach occupational competence in less than the usual 12-month timeframe.

The newly reduced minimum duration of eight months now applies to all apprenticeship standards - both foundation and specialist.

In addition, three specific standards have had their typical duration officially updated to eight months. This change reflects the understanding that, for these roles, someone with no prior experience or knowledge can realistically achieve full occupational competence within that timeframe. These standards are:

• Level 2 Dual Fuel Smart Meter Installer

• Level 2 Healthcare Support Worker

• Level 3 Production Assistant (Screen and Audio)