Apprenticeship ยท Level 5 ยท Hospitality & Food

Butcher

Butchers prepare, cut and present meat and meat products. This two-year apprenticeship suits people who like the food industry and dealing with customers.

How apprenticeships work: you are hired by an approved employer and paid while you learn, mixing work with blocks of training in a college or training centre. You don't apply through the CAO and you don't need CAO points.

Key facts

How long
2 years
Award
QQI Level 5 Certificate in Craft Butchery
Where you train
  • Co-ordinated by Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim ETB, Sligo Training Centre
Pay
Salary from your employer while training on-the-job and off-the-job (rate agreed with employer)
Costs
No student contribution

Entry requirements

  • Must be hired by an approved employer
  • Full eligibility criteria are in the Craft Butchery Apprenticeship brochure

How to apply

You must be hired by an approved employer. Search the Apprenticeship Jobs page or ask your local ETB. Contact Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB, who manage this apprenticeship.

Apply/register (MSLETB Training Centres) โ†— Official page on apprenticeship.ie โ†—

What you'll learn

  • Prepare meat using boning knives, saws and cleavers
  • Cut, bone, roll, trim and fillet meat
  • Make products such as sausages and pies
  • Present and price meat for display
  • Follow health and safety rules and customer service skills

Where it can lead

  • Butcher in a butcher shop, supermarket or meat factory
  • Progress to QQI Level 6 courses

Useful Leaving Cert subjects

Home Economics, Biology, Business

These help with the content of the programme; they are not entry requirements unless listed above.

Other Hospitality & Food apprenticeships

Tertiary degrees in Manufacturing and Processing

Not sure which route suits you?

Our CAO Interest Test matches you to course areas, and now shows apprenticeships and tertiary degrees in your strongest areas too.

Take the CAO Interest Test โ†’ Try the free 3-minute test

Information from apprenticeship.ie, checked November 2026. Details can change, so always confirm on the official page before applying.