Apprenticeship ยท Level 8 ยท Finance

Professional Banking Practitioner

A three-year degree apprenticeship in banking and financial services with one of the main Irish banks. It suits people who like helping customers with money decisions.

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
3 years
Award
UCD BSc in Banking and Financial Services (NFQ Level 8), with the Qualified Financial Adviser (QFA) designation after Year 1
Where you train
  • Institute of Banking (IOB) with UCD (blended workplace and academic study)
Pay
Salary from your employer from day one. Minimum starting salary is โ‚ฌ30,000.
Costs
No student contribution for you. The employer pays it.

Entry requirements

  • You must first get a job with AIB, Bank of Ireland or PTSB
  • You must meet the programme entry requirements
  • You must be at least 18 on your employment start date
  • You need access to a laptop, Chromebook or other compatible device

How to apply

First secure a position with AIB, Bank of Ireland or PTSB. The IOB can tell you how to apply. Entry details are on the IOB programme page.

Apply through IOB โ†— Official page on apprenticeship.ie โ†—

What you'll learn

  • Customer service and relationship management
  • Financial planning and advice
  • Banking regulation and compliance
  • Lending and credit basics
  • Digital and data skills

Where it can lead

  • Retail banking and customer relationship management
  • Financial advice and lending
  • Operations, compliance, risk or digital banking

Useful Leaving Cert subjects

Business, Accounting, Economics

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

Other Finance apprenticeships

Tertiary degrees in Business and Information

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.