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
say apprentices being fresh ideas and new perspectives.
Source ARU degree apprenticeships impact report
We’re proud to have been shortlisted for the Nurse Education Provider of the Year award in 2023.
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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
We’re proud to have been shortlisted for the Nurse Education Provider of the Year award in 2023.
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Find out more about studying a Nursing Apprenticeship at ARU in this short video
Talent development
Apprenticeships allow us to develop our own workforce, engage in their experience and employ and retain the best people around the country. 90% of our apprentices have stayed with us, which is a real testament to the training they receive from CUH and the learning they receive from ARU.
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.
I would advise you to apply to come and study at ARU because it is a family here and there's a whole host of support.
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
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 Child Nurse.
You’ll learn in a vibrant, modern faculty with strong ties to local and national organisations. These include healthcare trusts, social services, local authorities, schools, and academic institutions.
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.
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 Child Nurse.
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. If your contract is less than 37.5 hours per week you will need to extend the length of your apprenticeship in order to meet the mandatory practice hours as required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
- Maths and English Level 2 qualifications.*
- GCSE Maths and English grade 4/C or above (or equivalents)*, plus ability to demonstrate a good command of written and spoken English. International applicants for whom English is not their first language, and who are unable to provide evidence of being taught and examined through the medium of English, are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language via one of the following: GCSE English Language- Grade C or above English Language Testing System (IELTS) test at a minimum of 6 in each category.
- Evidence of a Level 5 qualification in a related subject, eg foundation degree in Nursing, Assistant Practitioner (Nursing) or Health and Social Care, from which up to 180 credits can be applied as Accredited Prior Learning (APL).**
*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].
Successful applicants must pass an interview. In the interview you will be expected to demonstrate appropriate values for health care and insight into your chosen field of nursing.
All applicants are required to complete an APCL/APEL portfolio to ensure mapping to the degree top-up to professional requirements and ARU’s modules. If you are not transferring directly from a foundation degree with ARU, you may also be required to complete a Safe Medicate exam.
If you are intending to top-up your higher apprenticeship qualification, you will not be eligible to start the degree apprenticeship course unless the ESFA has received confirmation that you have successfully completed your End Point Assessment for the preceding apprenticeship.
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.
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 and the Government. 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.
We publish regular updates on our social media channels:
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.