Can I Transfer My Apprenticeship to Another Employer?
Yes. If your current apprenticeship is not working out for any reason, you can transfer to a new employer and continue your training. Your Training Contract stays in place and the training you have already completed carries over. You do not have to start again from scratch.
Why Apprentices Transfer Employers
There are many reasons why an apprentice might need or want to move to a new employer during their training. Most of them have nothing to do with performance or conduct.
Common reasons include:
- The employer runs out of work or the business closes down
- The employer cannot provide the full range of work experience required to meet the competencies of the qualification
- The apprentice needs to relocate to a different area
- The placement is not working out for either party
- The employer's circumstances change and they can no longer support an apprentice
- The apprentice wants to gain experience in a different type of work environment
Whatever the reason, finding yourself needing to move mid-apprenticeship can feel stressful and uncertain. The important thing to know is that it is a manageable situation, and that your training progress does not have to be lost in the process.
How Does a Transfer Work?
An apprenticeship transfer involves changing the employer party on your Training Contract while keeping the contract itself in place. The training you have already completed remains valid and counts toward your qualification. You pick up where you left off with a new employer rather than starting from the beginning.
The transfer process involves notifying the relevant State or Territory Training Authority, updating the Training Contract to reflect the new employer, and in some cases updating the Training Plan with the Registered Training Organisation if the new employer's work environment requires any adjustments.
The exact process varies slightly by state and territory, but in all cases the intent is to ensure continuity of training rather than forcing apprentices to recommence from scratch when their employment situation changes.
It is worth noting that transferring your employment is separate from cancelling your Training Contract. If you simply leave your employer without formally transferring the contract, your apprenticeship may lapse. It is important to manage the process correctly to protect your training progress.
What Happens to Your Training Progress?
In most cases, all competencies and units you have completed under your previous Training Contract are recognised and credited toward your new arrangement.
This means a third year apprentice who transfers to a new employer continues as a third year apprentice, not a first year.
The new employer and RTO will review what has been completed and what remains outstanding, and your Training Plan will be updated to reflect your current stage of training.
If you switch your apprenticeship to MIGAS, we manage this process on your behalf, coordinating with the relevant parties to ensure your previous progress is properly documented and carried forward.
What if Your Employer Has Run Out of Work?
If your employer can no longer keep you due to a downturn in work, this is one of the most common situations that leads to a transfer. In this case, your employer should notify the relevant State or Territory Training Authority and work with you to facilitate a smooth transition to a new employer rather than simply cancelling the contract.
How MIGAS Can Help
If you need to transfer your apprenticeship, MIGAS can step in as your new employer and place you with a suitable host business. This means you do not have to find a new employer yourself, navigate the transfer paperwork on your own or worry about whether your previous training will be recognised.
MIGAS focuses on finding you the right host to complete your training, taking into account the stage of your apprenticeship, the remaining competencies you need to complete and the type of work environment that will give you the best opportunity to finish.
We regularly place second, third and fourth year apprentices with host businesses, and many employers actively seek more experienced apprentices who can contribute more meaningfully from day one.
Being partway through your training is not a barrier to finding a new placement. In many cases it is an advantage.
Ready to Get Back on Track?
If you are looking to transfer your apprenticeship or traineeship, browse the MIGAS Jobs Board for current opportunities, including roles specifically suited to second, third and fourth year apprentices.