CIFE
PARS - Post-Apprenticeship Recognitions Scheme
Association of Apprentices

Post-Apprenticeship Recognition Scheme (PARS)

All your unique apprenticeship achievements wrapped up and showcased in just three letters after your name

Apprenticeships are a unique route that provide the skills and experience needed to create a bright future. Show the world that you completed your apprenticeship by gaining the PARS award

Why apply for PARS?

Find out why other completed apprentices applied for their PARS awards and what it's given them
Click Here
PARS is a new awards scheme for those who have completed an apprenticeship in the UK. Successful applicants will be able to use letters after their name, which means people will automatically recognise your apprenticeship achievement.
In a nutshell, having the PARS award letters after your name show that:

You have skills that would be an asset to any organisation

You have work experience embedded

You are part of, and contribute to, a wider apprenticeship community

You are committed to developing to a professional standard

Learn more about how having letters after your name can benefit you, and how to use them in the PARS Guide to Post-nominals.
PARS is brought to you by the Association of Apprentices and the Chartered Institution for Further Education 
 
Apply Now

There are four PARS awards, depending on your apprenticeship level:

CSA

Certificate of Standard Apprenticeship

Level 2 (Eng / NI / Wales)
Level 5 (Scot)
Fee = £40

CAA

Certificate of Advanced Apprenticeship

Level 3 (Eng / NI / Wales)
Level 6 (Scot)
Fee = £58

CHA

Certificate of Higher Apprenticeship

Levels 4 & 5 (Eng / NI / Wales)
Levels 7 & 8 (Scot)
Fee = £64

CGA

Certificate of Graduate Apprenticeship

Levels 6 & 7 (Eng / NI / Wales) Levels 9-12 (Scot)
Fee = £75

The fee is a single payment, made at the time of application. There is no need for renewal or any ongoing payments. 

Can’t afford the fee? You might be able to access financial support! Click here for more details

Eligibility Criteria

have completed an apprenticeship in the UK

As long as you did your apprenticeship in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, you can apply. There are no time restrictions on when you completed your apprenticeship.

have your official apprenticeship completion certificate

See the images below and the additional notes in the FAQs for the certificates we accept.

be able to provide the name and contact details of someone who can verify you 

This person can be your current employer, your apprenticeship employer, someone at your training provider or someone senior from your industry. They will not need to do anything as part of the application process.

Eligible Certificates

The majority of people who complete their apprenticeship will receive a certificate like those shown below, To apply, you must have received a completion certificate. 

Note: some degree apprentices may receive a certificate from their university instead of one of the below examples – these will also be accepted though some additional evidence of the degree apprenticeship may be requested on an individual basis.

England

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

Application Process

The application process is really quick and straightforward. You will just need to complete some basic personal information, answer some general questions about your apprenticeship experience, and (for higher levels) provide further information based on your personal reflections on your apprenticeship journey. Here’s overview of the information we ask for:

Section 1 – Personal Details

All applicants

  • Name
  • DOB
  • Email and home addresses
  • Mobile number
  • Job title
  • Name of your current employer

Section 2 – Apprenticeship Details

All applicants

  • Name of your apprenticeship employer (if different to your current employer)
  • Name of your training provider
  • Issuing Authority for your apprenticeship (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales)
  • Apprenticeship certificate number
  • Apprenticeship title

Section 3a – Your Apprenticeship Experience

All applicants

Answer questions about:

  • The skills and behaviours your apprenticeship helped you develop
  • How your apprenticeship has helped you develop skills for the future
  • If your apprenticeship has helped you gain experiences outside your main role
  • What you have done since completing your apprenticeship

Section 3b – Your Apprenticeship Experience

From Level 3 (Eng/NI/Wales) / Level 6 (Scot) upwards

  • A free-text box (up to 250 words) to provide at least two examples from your own experience about the benefits of achieving your apprenticeship

Section 3c – Your Apprenticeship Experience

From Level 4 (Eng/NI/Wales) / Level 7 (Scot) upwards

Two free-text boxes (up to 250 words each):

  • Describe how you are continuing your professional development, any training, learning & development you have undertaken, and any future plans.
  • How do you think your apprenticeship will help you to progress and contribute to your organisation, industry and/or wider community?

Section 4 – Declaration

All applicants

Provide the following details about the person endorsing your application:

  • Name
  • Job title
  • Company / organisation
  • Work email address
You will then need to declare that your application is correct and that you have gained permission to share your supporter’s details
Here's a handy guide to applying for PARS

Financial Support

We want PARS to be accessible for everyone who have completed a UK apprenticeship, and although we have kept the application fees as low as possible, we appreciate that some applicants might appreciate some help to pay. Therefore we are working with partners to provide bursaries that cover the fees for certain applicants. 

Click here to see what bursaries are on offer at the moment. And if you don’t meet the eligibility this time, keep checking back as we may be adding new bursaries soon!

Questions?

Check out our FAQs! Or drop us a line at pars@associationofapprentices.org.uk.

Jan Richardson-Wilde

CEO, Occupational Awards Limited

Jan is the CEO of Occupational Awards Limited, a Director of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink and an FE College Governor. She has over 35 years’ experience in the education sector in strategic and operational management of training programmes with colleges, private training providers, local authorities the voluntary sector and not for profit organisations. Jan has previously been a board member of the Learning and Skills Council, chair of the North Yorkshire Training Provider network and Vice-Chair of Yorkshire Coast College and a Governor of the Grimsby Institute for Further and Higher Education. She has extensive experience of education policy, apprenticeships, qualification, and curriculum development as well as business improvement.

Jan joined OAL in 2019, a leading non-profit industry-focused Awarding and End-Point Assessment Organisation, supporting a wide range of employers and of key stakeholders to succeed and surpass expectations. Jan is committed to continuous improvement and enthusiastic about improving the effectiveness, impact and quality of apprenticeships, education, and training in the UK and internationally. She has a wide range of experience of working in a collaborative context with employers and training providers to develop End Point Assessment, apprenticeships, and a wide range of vocational programmes.

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