The minimum age at which an apprentice may commence employment is 16 years.

The minimum educational requirements are:

  Grade D or "Achieved" in five subjects in the Department of Education & Skills Junior Certificate Examination or an approved equivalent,
or
  The successful completion of an approved Pre-Apprenticeship course,
or
  Three years’ work experience gained over sixteen years of age in a relevant designated industrial activity as SOLAS shall deem acceptable.

  You must obtain a job as an apprentice in your chosen occupation. Your employer must be approved to train apprentices and must register you as an apprentice within two weeks of recruitment.

  To become an apprentice you may need to pass the Ishihara Colour Vision Test (24 Plate Edition). For further information, contact your local Education and Training Board    .

Note: These are the current approved minimum educational requirements for apprenticeship programmes. However, previous experience in the following subjects would be an advantage, though not essential:

• Technical Drawing/Graphics
• Construction Studies
• Technology
• Mathematics

This apprenticeship is a four-year programme consisting of 7 phases. 4 on-the-job and 3 off-the-job in a training facility. 

On successful completion of the programme, the learner is awarded a Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft – Plastering.

Phase 1: With Employer

• Induction Training
• Introduction to Health & Safety
• Introduction to Tools & Equipment
• Introduction to Basic Skills

Phase 2: Delivered in Training Centre (20 weeks)

Course Content:

• Induction
• Slabbing, Rendering, Floating & Skimming
• External Work
• Slabbing, Skimming, Dry Lining & Floors

Phase 3: With Employer

• Work Based Training and Assessments

Phase 4: Delivered in Educational Colleges (10 weeks)

Course Content:

• Expanded Metal
• External Finishes
• Decorative Plasterwork
• Pitched Roofs

Phase 5: With Employer

• Work Based Training and Assessments

Phase 6: Delivered in Educational Colleges (10 weeks)

Course Content:

• Metal Systems
• Advanced Mouldwork
• External Finishes
• Wall & Floor Tiling

Phase 7: With Employer

• Work Based Training and Assessments

As a plasterer, you need to be physically active and comfortable working with your hands.

A strong awareness of health and safety practices, along with good housekeeping, is essential. Attention to detail and an eye for aesthetics are also important qualities for success in this trade.

A plasterer should have the ability to:

• Plan and organise work effectively
• Communicate clearly and professionally
• Solve problems efficiently
• Work independently as well as part of a team
• Maintain a positive attitude
• Understand the importance of good customer relations
• Demonstrate strong work practices, including:
  • Punctuality
  • Tidiness
  • Responsibility
  • Quality awareness
  • Safety awareness

Plasterers require many skills, including:

• Working with a variety of specialised hand and power tools
• Understanding the properties of a range of materials and chemicals
• Working quickly and producing high-quality finishes
• Performing a range of techniques, including decorative and ornamental work
• Interpreting technical drawings and specifications
• Producing decorative panels by moulding and casting plaster in workshops
• Planning and organising plastering jobs

Aspects of the Work:

• Learning and developing new practical, craft-related skills, knowledge, and competence
• Working with and learning from experienced craftspersons
• Seeing a job through from start to finish
• Complying with Health and Safety requirements
• Working with drawings, diagrams, photos, or paintings
• Demonstrating accuracy and attention to detail
• Being well-organised and careful with practical tasks
• Working at heights
• Working both indoors and outdoors
• Lifting and carrying heavy items
• Being physically active and on your feet for extended periods
• Taking responsibility for your own learning, including effective time management for study
• Bending, lifting, and stretching
• Passing all phase exams (theory and practical skills demonstrations)
• Earning as you learn

On successful completion of the apprenticeship programme, apprentices are qualified to work within the recognised trade or profession. 

Opportunities for promotion to supervisor level arise from time to time. Many individuals use an apprenticeship as a first step toward careers as instructors, teachers, training advisors, managers, or business owners.

Employees have a variety of options for both educational and career progression. It may be possible to gain promotion within your current company. By leveraging your existing qualifications and experience, you might also secure a more senior position with another employer. Additionally, you could consider starting your own business based on your skills and experience.

Whatever path you choose, remember that education is a lifelong pursuit. You can always continue to upskill or retrain, no matter your age. Links to educational and enterprise support resources are provided below.

Career Progression Useful Links:  

Educational Support:  

On completion of an apprenticeship, your educational progression options may include full awards at NFQ levels 7–10 (National Framework of Qualifications). Alternatively, you might choose to pursue a partial award or enhance your skills in a specific area by undertaking a short specialised course.

Depending on your skills, knowledge, and experience, some of the opportunities below may be suitable to help you develop your career pathway.

• Springboard & conversion courses      
• Skillnet Sector learning network courses    
• Skills to advance Local ETB Board    
• Further education training centres Fetchcourses
• Post graduate education Search Post Graduate options

Enterprise and Self-Employment Support:

On successful completion of the apprenticeship programme, apprentices are qualified to work within the recognised trade or profession.

As a plasterer, you will have significant opportunities to start your own business.

The links below may be useful to support you:

• Local Enterprise Offices     For profit local enterprise support
• Local Area partnerships     For profit enterprise support
• Social entrepreneurs     Not-for-profit enterprise support
• Franchising    Developing your business under an established franchise

In order to secure an apprenticeship, you must first secure a contract with an employer. You must apply directly to an employer rather than the training provider. Once you have found an employer to take you on as an apprentice, your employer must then register you as an apprentice with SOLAS    .

• The employer must be approved to train apprentices.
• The employer must register you as an apprentice within two weeks of recruitment.

Opportunities for this apprenticeship arise throughout the year.
To secure an apprenticeship contract of employment, you should identify and target companies you are interested in and apply to them directly.

To find an apprenticeship, you can search for current vacancies and view a list of approved apprentice employers on the Apprenticeship Jobs & Employers Portal    . The portal allows you to search by location and by employer within each apprenticeship trade.

View Approved Employers by Region and by Apprenticeship Type here    .

The training is provided by the following institutions:

• Kerry ETB Training Centre    
• Waterford Wexford ETB    
• City of Dublin ETB    
• Galway and Roscommon ETB    

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and training providers may change over time. Be sure to check with your local ETB to confirm whether they are currently offering this apprenticeship programme.

To find out if apprenticeship courses are available in your area, view your local ETB by selecting your county here    .

Finding an Employer

Finding an employer or registering your interest with an official Coordinating Provider is one of the first things you need to do to start an apprenticeship.

To find an apprenticeship and secure an apprenticeship work contract you can search apprenticeship vacancies on the Apprenticeship Jobs Portal . You can search for vacancies by location and by apprenticeship type.

Your local Education and Training Board may also hold details of employers seeking to employ an apprentice.

You should also directly connect with local employers who might be interested in taking on an apprentice. It is a great idea to get a part time job with a local employer who might be more inclined to take you on as an apprentice following a successful work experience placement or a part time job contract.

Further information about this apprenticeship may be available from the following organisations on this website:

Online Job Sites

Here are some direct links to employment websites that frequently list apprenticeship vacancies.

Note: These websites may include vacancies that are not QQI accredited Apprenticeships.

As an apprentice, you earn while you learn.

Employment Salary (On-the-job)
The employer pays you a salary while you are being trained on-the-job. The rate of pay is agreed between you and your employer.

Training Allowance (Off-the-job)
A training allowance is paid by the local Education and Training Board (ETB) while you are attending the off-the-job training. In some cases, a contribution towards travel or accommodation costs may be paid.

The sector the apprentice's employer is engaged in will determine the allowance payable. These allowances are calculated on the gross wages paid by industry in each sector. The hourly rates and weekly gross wage norms in the construction industry are listed below.

Weekly Gross Wage Norms 

View more details on rates of pay at Connect Trade Union.     

(Connect is the largest trade union representing construction, electrical, and technical workers in Ireland.)

Apprentice Hourly Rates of Pay in the Construction Industry

(Per Construction SEO Order SI 620 of 2024)

From 1st August 2025 to 31st July 2026 

• 1st Year.     33.33%.    €7.67
• 2nd year.    50%.        €11.50
• 3rd Year.     75%.        €17.25 
• 4th Year.     90%.        €20.70 

From 1st August 2026 

• 1st Year.    33.33%.       €7.91
• 2nd year.    50%.          €11.87
• 3rd Year.     75%.          €17.81 
• 4th Year.     90%           €21.37

View more details on rates of pay at Connect Trade Union    

View more Information on off-the-job payments here    .

For information on how to access payslips via PEOPLEXD, see out the Apprentice Payee PeopleXD for Payees User Reference Guide    . 

FEES

Apprentices complete two of their three phases of off-the-job training in a higher education institution. A student contribution must be paid for this part of the training.

The amount of the student contribution is a proportion of the annual student contribution paid by students who are attending a full-time course in higher education. The student contribution is paid directly to the higher education institution.

The student contribution for this apprenticeship is €1,000 for Phase 4 and €1,000 for Phase 6.