Small Business Apprenticeship Program
Program updates
15 July 2026: Registrations open for an additional 2,000 places. Read on to find out how to register.
3 July 2026: Payment rates increase from 1 July 2026. See below.
The Small Business Apprenticeship Program (formerly a pilot program) pays eligible small businesses for construction apprentice wages during training. This is based on an average training period of 8 weeks each year and up to a total of 32 weeks.
Eligible small businesses can receive a wage subsidy during training periods. This subsidy equals 50% of the typical wage for first- and second-year construction apprentices and 25% in the third and fourth years.
Registrations for the wage subsidy will be open until 4,000 eligible apprentices are registered. The first 2,000 of the 4,000 available apprenticeship places were filled between October 2025 and June 2026.
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a wage subsidy, the business must have:
- 19 or less employees by headcount (excluding contractors)
- a maximum annual turnover not exceeding $10 million
- a full-time, part-time, or school-based apprentice who is attending training.
The apprentice must:
- be registered in a training contract in Queensland
- have commenced from 1 July 2025 and still be undertaking the apprenticeship
- be completing an eligible construction, plumbing, engineering or electrical apprenticeship from the list below
- have completed probation (generally 90 days)
- remain active in their apprenticeship at the time of each subsidy payment
- be one of the first 4,000 apprentices registered as eligible.
Eligible apprenticeships
-
- AHC30921 Certificate III in Landscape Construction
- CPC33020 Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
- CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry
- CPC31420 Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
- CPC32820 Certificate III in Fire Protection
- CPC32720 Certificate III in Gas Fitting
- CPC31920 Certificate III in Joinery
- CPC30620 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating
- CPC32420 Certificate III in Plumbing
- CPC32620 Certificate III in Roof Plumbing
- CPC30820 Certificate III in Roof Tiling
- CPC31020 Certificate III in Solid Plastering
- CPC32320 Certificate III in Stonemasonry
- CPC31220 Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining
- CPC31320 Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling
- CPC30120 Certificate III in Shopfitting
- CPC30216 Certificate III in Signs and Graphics
- MEM31922/MEM31925 Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade
- MEM30219 Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade
- MEM30819 Certificate III in Locksmithing
- MEM31322 Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
- MSF30422 Certificate III in Glass and Glazing
- MSF30822 Certificate III in Flooring Technology
- MSF30322 Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology
- UEE32220/UEE32225 Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration
- UEE32120/UEE32125 Certificate III in Appliance Service
- UEE30420/UEE30425 Certificate III in Data and Voice Communications
- UEE33020 Certificate III in Electrical Fitting
- UEE30920 Certificate III in Electronics and Communications
- UEE30820 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
- UEE30820 & UEE31220 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician & Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control (dual apprenticeship)
- UEE31020/UEE31025 Certificate III in Fire Protection Control
- UEE31220/UEE31225 Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control
- UEE31420/UEE31425 Certificate III in Security Equipment
- UEE40620 Certificate IV in Electrotechnology – Systems Electrician
What we pay
An eligible employer can claim up to 4 payments as their eligible apprentice progresses through the block training periods. Payments will be made at quarterly milestones in the training.
Each payment provides a portion of apprentice wages for an average training period of 8 weeks per year. This starts at a 50% subsidy of the typical first- and second-year wage and reducing to 25% in the third and fourth years.
| Payments | 21 and over* subsidy | Under 21* subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 50% subsidy^ for 8 weeks training | $4,800 | $3,080 |
| 2. 50% subsidy^ for 8 weeks training | $4,800 | $3,480 |
| 3. 25% subsidy^ for 8 weeks training | $2,400 | $1,820 |
| 4. 25% subsidy^ for 8 weeks training | $2,400 | $2,170 |
*The subsidy is based on the age of the apprentice at commencement of the apprenticeship.
^The subsidy is based on a typical apprentice wage.
Registration form
If you are a small business employing an eligible apprentice, you can register for the wage subsidy through the online registration form.
Claim form
After a training milestone is achieved by the eligible apprentice, use the online claim form to request a wage subsidy payment.
More information
- Read the Small Business Apprenticeship Program funding guidelines.
- Refer to our frequently asked questions (FAQs).
- Phone us on 1800 210 210.
- Email us at sbapp@dtet.qld.gov.au.
Construction Skills Queensland has partnered with the Queensland Government to fund the Small Business Apprenticeship Program to attract a pipeline of construction apprentices.