Apprenticeship ยท Level 6 ยท Agriculture & Horticulture

Farm Technician

A two-year apprenticeship doing the daily and seasonal work on a commercial farm. It suits people who like physical outdoor work, agriculture and science.

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
NFQ Level 6 Higher Certificate in Technical Farm Operations
Where you train
  • Teagasc Ballyhaise College, Co. Cavan
  • Teagasc Clonakilty Agricultural College, Co. Cork
Pay
You earn a salary from your employer. Basic pay will be the minimum wage.
Costs
Student contribution of โ‚ฌ1,077 per year, paid to Teagasc over the two years.

Entry requirements

  • You must be hired by an employer approved by SOLAS
  • Full eligibility criteria are in the Farm Technician Apprenticeship brochure

How to apply

You must be hired by an approved employer. Search the Apprenticeship Jobs page or contact Teagasc using the details on the page.

Official page on apprenticeship.ie โ†—

What you'll learn

  • Working safely and productively on a commercial farm
  • Farm operations done alone or in a team
  • Health and safety, regulations and biosecurity
  • Communication, teamwork and leadership
  • The science behind farm enterprises

Where it can lead

  • Farm technician on arable, cattle, pig, poultry, sheep or suckler farms
  • Progress within the sector or to higher education

Useful Leaving Cert subjects

Agricultural Science, Biology, Geography

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

Other Agriculture & Horticulture apprenticeships

Tertiary degrees in Agriculture

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.