Course Summary
Course Category: Apprenticeship Courses (FET / HET)
Led by the Irish Hotels Federation, this two-year apprenticeship combines practical on-the-job training (3–4 days per week) with academic off-the-job learning (1–2 days per week). Coordinated by Kerry ETB, the program is delivered across multiple ETB locations nationwide, including Dublin, Cork, and Galway. It offers a structured pathway for aspiring professionals to gain industry-recognized qualifications while working directly within the hospitality sector.
Course Details
What will you study?
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Year 1 consists of:
3 weeks of intensive structured learning in a college or centre.
2 days per week in a college or centre and 3 days per week working with a SOLAS approved employer from October to June. 1 day per week in a college or centre and 4 days per week working with a SOLAS approved employer for July and August.
Year 2 consists of:
2 days per week in a college or centre and 3 days per week working with a SOLAS approved employer from September to June. 1 day per week in a college or centre and 4 days per
week working with a SOLAS approved employer for July and August.
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course leads to a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which any Major Award (including this one) provides a possible Progression route, click below:
| CAO with Any QQI Major Award |
| Old FETAC Code | New QQI Code |
| 6M20518 |
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Naturalist
Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.
Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.
Administrative
Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.
They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.
Further Research
Career Progression
On successful completion of the Commis Chef Apprenticeship the newly qualified Commis Chef will receive a QQI Level 6 Major Award - Advanced Certificate in Culinary Arts. Apprentices who successfully complete the Commis Chef Apprenticeship will be eligible to progress to the Chef de Partie Apprenticeship at QQI level 7.
College Profile
