Adult apprenticeships in New Zealand
You are not too old. An apprenticeship in New Zealand has a minimum age of 16 and no maximum. The real questions for a career changer are money, and persuading an employer to take you on.
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How long did your apprenticeship take?
Put it on the record. Anonymous, about two minutes.
Add your timelineCan adults do an apprenticeship in NZ?
Yes. Tahatū, the Tertiary Education Commission’s careers service, puts it plainly: “You must be 16 or older, but there is no upper age limit.” People start apprenticeships in their twenties, thirties and later, often after a first career that did not stick.
The route is the same at any age. Tahatū says you need to find a job before you can start an apprenticeship, so the order is employer first, training second. Our guide to getting an apprenticeship walks through it.
Is 40 too old for an apprenticeship?
No. There is no upper age limit in New Zealand: the only rule is that you are 16 or older. At 40, the age itself is not the obstacle. The two things that decide whether it works are whether you can live on a training wage for three to four years, and whether you can get an employer to hire you before you start training.
How much less will you earn as an adult apprentice?
If you are 20 or over and your agreement requires at least 60 credits a year of training, your employer can legally pay you $19.16 an hour, which is $766.40 a week before tax on a 40-hour week. Here is how that compares, taking $30.00 an hour as an example of the job you might be leaving.
| Hourly rate (before tax) | Per week (40 h) | Per year | Less than $30.00/h, per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training minimum wage, $19.16 | $766.40 | $39,853 | $22,547 |
| Adult minimum wage, $23.95 | $958.00 | $49,816 | $12,584 |
| Example previous job, $30.00 | $1,200.00 | $62,400 | — |
Worked example: someone leaving a $30.00-an-hour job for an apprenticeship paid at the training rate takes home about $433.60 a week less before tax, or $22,547 over a year. If the employer pays the adult minimum instead, the gap narrows to $12,584. These are the legal floors; employers can pay more, and many raise pay as you pass stages, so ask for the progression in writing. Wage rates from Employment New Zealand, checked 2026-11-01.
How long does an apprenticeship take, and what does it cost an adult?
The same as it does for a school leaver: age does not change the qualification, the length or the fee. For three common career-change trades:
| Trade | Qualification and provider | Typical length | Apprentice fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpentry (builder) | NZ Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4), BCITO | 3 to 4 years | $1,984 first year, then $964 a year |
| Electrical | Level 4 electrical trade qualification (e.g. via EarnLearn), then EWRB registration | 3 to 4 years | Set by the provider; ask before you sign |
| Hairdressing | NZ Certificate in Hairdressing (Professional Stylist) (Level 4), HITO | 36 to 42 months | $1,715 a year (funded) |
Lengths and fees from BCITO (checked 2026-10-30), EarnLearn (checked 2026-10-27) and HITO (checked 2026-10-29). Fees are usually paid by the apprentice, though some employers cover them; see apprenticeship fees.
What changes when you start an apprenticeship later?
Pay is the big one
Most apprentices aged 20 or over can legally be paid the training minimum wage of $19.16 an hour, if their employment agreement requires at least 60 credits a year of industry training. If you are coming from a job that paid more, that is a real drop, and it lasts for the length of the apprenticeship unless you negotiate otherwise. What apprentices are paid explains both legal floors.
- Work out the weekly figure on the training rate and check it covers your rent or mortgage.
- Ask for the pay progression in writing: when it goes up, and what it is tied to.
- If you supervise or train other workers, the training rate stops applying and you must be paid at least the adult minimum wage.
What you bring counts
Employers taking on an older apprentice are usually buying reliability: someone who turns up, has a driver licence, can talk to customers and will not leave after six months. Say so. Experience from another job, such as managing people, handling money or working on site, is worth putting in front of them.
Previous study can affect Fees Free
If you studied after school, check before you count on Fees Free. Inland Revenue says that in most cases it is only available if you are starting study or work-based learning for the first time. Apprenticeship fees and Fees Free has the details.
How do you convince an employer to take you on?
Make it easy for them to say yes. An employer weighing up an older apprentice is thinking about cost, time to train and whether you will stick at it.
- Mention Apprenticeship Boost: $500 a month to the employer for up to your first 12 months. Small firms often do not know it exists.
- Be clear about why you are changing careers and why this trade.
- Offer a trial day if it is safe and paid, so they can see you work.
- Look at what other apprentices say about an employer before you commit: see the company pages.
Which trades take adult apprentices?
Any trade can. What matters more is local demand where you live, and whether the trade needs a licence or registration before you can work unsupervised. The trade pages list what each trade pays once qualified, how long the training takes and what you need to start.
Common questions
Is 40 too old for an apprenticeship?
No. Tahatū, the Tertiary Education Commission's careers service, says you must be 16 or older and there is no upper age limit. At 40 the harder parts are living on a training wage that can legally be $19.16 an hour for three to four years, and finding an employer to hire you first.
Can I do a carpentry apprenticeship as an adult?
Yes. A carpentry apprenticeship works the same at any age: you are employed by a builder and work towards BCITO's New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4), which BCITO says typically takes 3 to 4 years. BCITO lists the apprentice fee as $1,984 for the first year and $964 a year after that.
Is there an age limit for apprenticeships in NZ?
Only a lower one. Tahatū, the Tertiary Education Commission's careers service, says you must be 16 or older, but there is no upper age limit.
Can I start an apprenticeship at 30 or 40 in NZ?
Yes. There is no upper age limit. The practical hurdles are pay, because most apprentices aged 20 or over can be paid the training minimum wage, and finding an employer willing to take on someone new to the trade.
What do adult apprentices get paid in NZ?
At least the training minimum wage of $19.16 an hour, if you are 20 or over and your employment agreement requires at least 60 credits a year of industry training. Otherwise at least the adult minimum wage of $23.95. Many employers pay mature apprentices more, but that is negotiated, not required.
Can employers get Apprenticeship Boost for an older apprentice?
Apprenticeship Boost eligibility, as Work and Income describes it, is about how far into the apprenticeship you are, the qualification and the training agreement, not your age. It is paid to the employer for up to 12 months.
Age requirement and the employer-first rule from Tahatū Career Navigator (Tertiary Education Commission) — About apprenticeships, checked 2026-10-09. Wage floors from Employment New Zealand — Minimum wage rates and types, checked 2026-11-01. Apprenticeship Boost from Work and Income, checked 2026-09-18.