Advanced Healthcare Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship

This two-year earn-and-learn apprenticeship trains you to become an Advanced Healthcare Assistant Practitioner while you continue working in a healthcare setting. You study one day per week at Griffith College, covering clinical skills, anatomy, person-centred care, and healthcare communication, while applying what you learn directly on the job the rest of the week. Specialist areas include infection prevention, safe medication support, palliative care assistance, and working with vulnerable populations such as older adults and people with disabilities. Practical competencies are assessed in your workplace under the supervision of a registered healthcare professional. The programme is designed for existing Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) who want to formalise and deepen their skills with a nationally recognised NFQ Level 6 qualification.

To enter this apprenticeship you must already be employed as a Healthcare Assistant in an approved healthcare setting, as the employer registers you with SOLAS and Griffith College. A Leaving Certificate is not always strictly required, but most employers expect it; relevant subjects such as Biology, Home Economics, or LCVP Health and Social Care modules strengthen your application. Alternatively, a QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support award is widely accepted as an entry route in place of Leaving Certificate results. Mature applicants who have substantial experience working as an HCA but no formal qualification may also be considered through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). No CAO application is involved; you apply directly through your employer and the Generation Apprenticeship portal at apprenticeship.ie.

Demand for skilled healthcare assistants in Ireland is strong and growing, driven by an ageing population and ongoing HSE workforce expansion. Graduates of this apprenticeship are well placed compared to unqualified HCAs, as employers increasingly require formal Level 6 credentials for senior support roles. Progression into managerial positions or into Level 7 and Level 8 degree programmes in nursing or social care is a realistic next step. The HSE, TUSLA, and large private providers such as Mowlam Healthcare and Barchester regularly recruit at this level.