New Revised Level 4 Network Engineer Apprenticeship Standard  

The new revised version of Level 4 Network Engineer Standard has been updated and is available for all new Apprenticeship starts from the 01/06/2021.

Network Engineers are found in large and small businesses, in all sectors, and within public, private, and voluntary organisations and is key occupation in most organisations which are increasingly dependent on their digital networks.  

Network Engineers will primarily be:

Designing, installing, maintaining and supporting communication networks within an organisation or between organisations. 

Full time apprentices  

Will typically spend 24 months on-programme (before the gateway) working towards the occupational Network Engineer Apprenticeship Standard, with a minimum of 20% off-the-job training. All apprentices must spend a minimum of 12 months on-programme. 

Typical duration to gateway (i.e., excluding EPA period): 24 months 

Maximum funding: £17000 

New Digital Apprenticeship Standards now include “Duties” to support alignment between a job role and the Apprenticeship Standard. 

The Network Engineer “Duties” enable the Employer and the Training Provider to ensure that an apprentice is in the right job role to enable them to gain exposure to the work required to successfully complete the Apprenticeship.  

Other Key Changes  

EPA Assessment Methods are different across all the New Digital Apprenticeship Standards.

Mandatory knowledge certificates, vendor / professional qualification have been removed from the Standards.
Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours are generally only assessed in one specific End-point Assessment Method.
Individual EPA Assessment Methods are now graded and can be failed. 
Grades of individual EPA Assessment Methods are now combined to determine final grade.
Employer Reference and Synoptic Project have been removed as End-point Assessment Methods.

EPA Gateway  

In addition to the employer’s confirmation that the apprentice is working at or above the level in the occupational standard, the apprentice must have completed the following gateway requirements prior to beginning EPA: 

Achieved English and mathematics at Level 2. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and Mathematics minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. British Sign Language (BSL) qualifications are an alternative to English qualifications for those who have BSL as their primary language.
For the professional discussion with portfolio, the apprentice will be required to submit a portfolio.

Network Engineer End-point Assessment now consists of two different methods:

Virtual Network Lab, 2 Simulated assessments (Network Failure & Optimisation) in a virtual lab environment taken over two days, then on a separate day 45 minutes of questions with an Independent Assessor on the lab activity evidence.
A 60 minute two-way discussion underpinned by the portfolio, which involves both the Independent Assessor and the Apprentice actively listening and participating in a formal conversation.

Assessment Method 1 & 2 can be taken in any order and both must be passed to successfully complete the Network Engineer Apprenticeship.