Apprenticeship ยท Level 6 ยท ICT

Software Testing Associate

Software testers find bugs and help make software reliable. This two-year apprenticeship suits people who are analytical and notice small details.

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
Where you train
  • Higher education institution (off-the-job training); contact: TUS Midwest
Pay
Salary from your employer while training on-the-job and off-the-job (rate agreed with employer)
Costs
Student contribution of โ‚ฌ2,400 per year, paid to the higher education institution. Your employer may sponsor it

Entry requirements

  • Must be employed by an approved apprenticeship employer
  • Full eligibility criteria are in the Software Testing Associate Apprenticeship Handbook

How to apply

You must be employed by an approved apprenticeship employer. Search the Apprenticeship Jobs page on apprenticeship.ie or ask your local ETB.

TUS consortia-led apprenticeships โ†— Apprenticeship.ie โ†— Official page on apprenticeship.ie โ†—

What you'll learn

  • Work in a development team to find issues and test features
  • Investigate defects and check fixes
  • Document test results
  • Support reliable software releases in a real work setting

Where it can lead

  • Software testing in finance, healthcare, manufacturing and digital services

Useful Leaving Cert subjects

Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Technology

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

Other ICT apprenticeships

Tertiary degrees in ICT

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.