A school based apprenticeship or traineeship are great options for students to get a head start in their career and earn a wage while completing their South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

Students can commence an apprenticeship or traineeship in years 10, 11 or 12+, combining senior secondary school with Vocational Education and Training (VET) and paid employment. They continue to attend school as required, participate in on-the-job training in the workplace and formal VET with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) under an arrangement known as a training contract.

Learning in school and attending work is balanced between the needs of the student, the employer and the school.

Students can complete SACE while completing a near full time apprenticeship or traineeship during their final year of school by using VET to provide up to 150 of the 200 required SACE credits (can be 5 days if compulsory subjects are done and enough SACE credits attached). This may depend on the apprenticeship or traineeship being undertaken.