Ending your apprenticeship early

If you change your mind about doing an apprenticeship

You may find early on that the apprenticeship or traineeship is not for you. Most training contracts will have a cooling off period, which means you can change your mind and withdraw without penalty. After the cooling off period, you may need to pay some fees if you withdraw from your studies.

It’s likely you’ll also have an employment contract and you may need to give your employer notice if you want to quit. Your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider can help you understand what your options are.

If you end your apprenticeship early

If you end your apprenticeship or traineeship early, you may not gain a qualification. Talk to your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider about what your options are.

You may be able to get prior recognition of the training you have completed if you take up another traineeship or apprenticeship. Talk to your education institution about your options.

Suspending or pausing your apprenticeship

You may be able to pause or suspend your apprenticeship or traineeship for a fixed period of time. Talk with your employer and Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider to understand your options.

If your apprenticeship is terminated

As an apprentice or trainee, you’ll generally be entitled to notice of termination, unless:

• your employment is for a specified period
• you're dismissed for serious misconduct
• you're made redundant.

There's information about ending an apprenticeship or traineeship on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

If you get a payment from Services Australia

If you get a payment from Services Australia, you need to tell them if you end your apprenticeship. You have 14 days to tell them if any of your circumstances change. Find out more about managing your payments while studying.

Paying back your Trade Support Loan

If you took out a Trade Support Loan (TSL) during your apprenticeship or traineeship, once your income reaches a certain amount, you’ll need to start paying your loan back. You make these repayments through tax.

Find out about TSL repayment thresholds and rates on the Australian Taxation Office website.