Nursing Associate
Developing the nursing skills to register with the NMC as a Nursing Associate.
A role in its own right, the Nursing Associate bridges the gap between healthcare assistants and registered nurses. Therefore, the Nursing Associate Higher Apprenticeship is for anyone interested in a career in nursing. That includes school leavers who have finished their A Levels, as well as adults looking for a career change. It's also an ideal career development route for current Band 2/3 healthcare assistants wishing to move into nursing.
Apprentices study towards an FdSc certificate with no tuition fees, gaining practical experience on the job, supported by your healthcare employer. Employers gain the reliable and skilled nursing staff they need.
Why apprenticeships at ARU?
We’ll help you reap the benefits of talent acquisition through apprenticeships.
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Upskill your band 2-3 healthcare assistants or support workers
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Courses developed in partnership with NHS trusts and private healthcare providers
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Reinvest your Levy funds to cover cost of training
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Nursing skills labs mimic the working hospital environment
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Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council
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Over 25 years of nursing education experience
of employers say apprentices bring fresh ideas and new perspectives.
Source: ARU degree apprenticeships impact report
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Employer partners Joe, Dan, Emma and Tim explain why ARU apprenticeships work so well for their organisations, and highlight the benefits for SMEs and larger businesses.
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Ideal for existing bands 2-3 healthcare assistants or support workers
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Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
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Prepare for clinical practice through work placement experience
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Work-based approach delivers impact in the workplace as you learn
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Gain an FdSc higher education qualification without the tuition fees
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Participate in a diverse and inclusive learning environment for all ages
learnt new skills to contribute to their workplace in a practical way.
Source: ARU degree apprenticeships impact report
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Find out more about studying a Nursing Apprenticeship at ARU in this short video
Nurse Education Provider of the Year
We’re proud to have been shortlisted for the Nurse Education Provider of the Year award in 2023.
Talent development
Empower and retain your existing healthcare assistants or attract new employees to secure your nursing team’s talent pipeline.
It’s also a way to attract new recruits into your nursing team, developing their skills and embedding your organisational culture from an early stage.
Recruitment support for employers
Our dedicated apprenticeship team is on hand to help you attract the best candidates for your organisation. We can help with:
- crafting job advertisements
- promoting your vacancy to our quality candidate mailing lists
- adding your vacancy to the National Apprenticeship Service
- sharing opportunities across our social media channels.
Our consultants can also help you to assess candidates' suitability.
Creating a world-class apprenticeship
See how we helped Cambridge University Press recruit for their brand new degree apprenticeship.
Completing the Level 5 Nursing Associate course lets you register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) at a Band 4 salary with your employer.
Also, your employer may help you join the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship. This allows you to use up to 180 credits of Accredited Prior Learning (APL) from your Nursing Associate course. You can then study extra modules at Level 6 and specialise in adult, child, or mental health nursing for a Band 5 role.
Programme content
Approved by NMC
This course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council which demonstrates that the skills, knowledge and attributes your apprentices develop are aligned to the NMC professional standards. On successful completion of the course, apprentices will be able to register with the NMC.
Approved by NMC
This course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council which demonstrates that the skills, knowledge and attributes you’ll develop are aligned to the NMC professional standards. This means that on successful completion of the apprenticeship you’ll be able to register as Registered Nurse.
You’ll learn in a vibrant, modern faculty with strong ties to local and national organisations.
All our campuses feature nursing skills labs designed for your training. These labs mimic a real hospital ward and let you use advanced healthcare equipment.
Entry requirements
Employers set out the person specifications for the role, but apprentices will need to meet our entry requirements to be accepted onto this course.
- Employment in a suitable role on a permanent contract exceeding 30 hours per week
- A completed Skills Scan and Initial Assessment discussion, post interview.
- Maths and English GCSE grade 4/C or above (or equivalent).
- Evidence of completion of the ARU Step into Healthcare online learning activity, which includes numeracy, literacy and digital skills.
- If previous education has not been in English, evidence of achievement of the English Language Testing System (IELTS) test (or equivalent): at least 7.0 in the listening, reading and speaking sections, at least 6.5 in the writing section, and at least on overall score of 7.0.
You must supply these before you can be registered on the course:
- an Enhanced DBS for the Adult and Child Workforce, signed up to the online update service (ARU will fund new applications if you cannot provide this)
- occupational health clearance from your employer
- line manager confirmation of support.
Please note: you are required to evidence the Care Certificate to undertake the End Point Assessment (EPA). Completion of the course enables you to meet this requirement.
All applicants must meet the eligibility criteria outlined by the DfE Apprenticeship Funding Rules applicable at the start of the course. If you have any questions about these entry requirements, please contact [email protected]
Fees and funding
Degree apprenticeships are a smart investment. You can reinvest Levy funds to cover the cost of an apprenticeship or receive funding support from the Government.
If you operate in England and your annual payroll is over £3m, you pay a levy of 0.5% of your payroll into a levy account.
Apprenticeships are paid for by your employer. You won’t pay any tuition fees on this course.
Our team of experts is here to help form your organisation’s apprenticeship offering and guide you through the process.
Speak to your employer about this course and how it could be beneficial for your development.
Our expert consultants can meet with you and your employer to make setting up simple and straightforward.
Finding an apprenticeship role
To start an apprenticeship, you need to be in a suitable role and have the support of your employer.