Can You Do an Apprenticeship Without GCSEs?

  • By: Preetam
  • Date: October 10, 2021
  • Time to read: 5 min.

Yes, it is entirely possible to do an apprenticeship without GCSEs.

There are many apprenticeship places out there that do not require you to hold any formal GCSEs.

That’s because apprenticeships can equate to GCSEs so are readily available to people without any qualifications at all.

Apprenticeships are designed to offer an alternative route into the workforce away from traditional schooling.

Whether or not you can do an apprenticeship without GCSEs depends on your interest in the subject and your aptitude for learning.

If you are dreading going back to the classroom then fear not! Apprenticeships are different from traditional teaching methods, they combine practical work experience with theoretical based learning.

Many apprenticeships do not even have written exams, instead, you will be asked to demonstrate your skill in practical terms.

How Many GCSEs Do You Need for an Apprenticeship?

The good news is, you don’t necessarily need any at all!

However, some apprenticeships do require you have three GCSEs grade A-C, usually maths, science and English.

Some may also require you to already have some A levels.

These are usually only for advanced apprenticeships where the student wishes to skip the basic modules.

Advanced apprenticeships are usually also offered to people who do not have GCSEs or A-levels but have completed the foundation courses and first-year modules.

What Apprenticeships Require No GCSEs?

Several courses accept students with no GCSEs.

They are often vocational courses that give students practical skills that enable them to enter a certain trade.

Common vocational curses are:

  • Beauty Therapy
  • Construction
  • Carpentry and joinery
  • Hairdressing
  • Hospitality 
  • Animal care
  • Business administration
  • Mechanic

What Jobs Require No GCSEs?

Several jobs require no GCSEs and these vary from entry-level jobs to high paying roles.

Most jobs that do not require GCSEs rely on you having adequate experience or a passion for the job.

Almost every industry has entry-level positions available for employees to work their way up through the company to access the top tier jobs.

This may be a route for you if you do not want to participate in the traditional study or undertake an apprenticeship.

Of course, some industries such as medicine and law require qualifications with no work experience only options available.

Retail

The retail industry relies heavily on workers with no qualifications.

Staff turnover is usually high, so there are job opportunities available throughout the year, particularly for school leavers.

But just because their entry-level positions are generally low-skilled, does not mean that you can’t make an excellent career out of it.

Companies such as Next have great in-house training opportunities for their floor staff to take advantage of.

Many high-level Next employees started at entry-level and worked their way up.

Construction

Most believe that you need to choose a trade and complete the apprenticeship before you can work on-site but that is not strictly true.

Most construction sites rely on general laborers to get their work done, and although it may be considered ‘grunt’ work, to begin with, general labour work can be very fulfilling depending on the project.

Companies such as Ground force take those who show an aptitude for life on-site and put them through training.

They also accept external applicants.

High paying jobs in construction require people who know the business from the ground up, and the most successful project managers started their careers as general laborers.

Wait Staff

Waiting tables is a common part-time job and an appealing first job for school leavers.

Long gone are the days when waiters and waitresses relied on tips, the industry has become so competitive that wait staff in London can demand a minimum of £18,956 per year. 

However, it doesn’t stop there for wait staff.

The hospitality sector is one of the last standing where real hands-on experience is key to career progression.

Wait staff can work their way up the ladder relatively quickly and the route to management is pretty straightforward.

Other jobs that require no GCSEs to attain paid entry-level positions include:

  • Fast Food Server
  • Police 
  • Train operative
  • Bus Driver
  • Cleaner
  • Lorry driver
  • Journalist
  • Games Tester
  • Call Centre Agent
  • Cashier
  • Royal Navy or Armed Forces
  • Taxi Driver
  • Refuse Collector
  • Landscaper
  • Factory Worker
  • Support Worker

Do GCSEs Matter When Applying for College?

Whilst GCSEs are not necessary for most apprenticeships, they do matter for A-levels.

So A-levels aside, having some GCSES when applying for a college apprenticeship will not hurt your application and can help you stand out from the crowd.

Mostly, it is down to the institution you are applying to and the level of apprenticeship you are applying for.

Low to middle range institutions – whilst still being respectable – generally do not require you to have any GCSEs at all.

High-end colleges and universities that offer apprenticeships such as Oxford and Cambridge, do require you to have GCSEs for most of their subjects, but this is because demand for places is high and they offer more bespoke apprenticeships such as engineering technician, lab assistant and clinical trails support worker.

Do GCSEs Matter When Applying for a Job?

Employers use GCSEs as a baseline for recruitment, so in general yes they do matter when applying for a job.

That being said, there are some jobs that require no GCSEs at all, and in those cases, employers will look at your work experience.

If you don’t have work experience then they will look at your personality, character and ability to do the job.

That is why having some hobbies and interests to note down on your CV is great if you have no GCSEs and no experience.

Also the higher up you go in education, the more employers ignore your GCSE results.

If you hold a bachelors degree they may still look at your GCSEs, but if you hold a masters or PhD then employers may overlook any bad GCSE grades (yes, even some PhD students only scraped by their GCSEs!).

Conclusion

You do not need GCSEs for most apprenticeships, and even some jobs!

There are jobs out there that will hire you with zero qualifications and experience and will happily train you in-house.

The key is to make your application as relevant as possible and apply for the right apprenticeships for you.

GCSEs are important and can help you, but you can also succeed if you rely on your character and interest in the subject to get you through rather than focusing on your GCSEs.

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