The Farm Manager Apprenticeship is the gold standard for farm management and farm ownership training in Ireland.

The Farm Manager Apprenticeship is for anyone who wishes to pursue a managerial career in the agricultural sector or existing personnel employed on farms to progress with their existing educational qualifications.

The programme aims to equip trainee farmers with management skills to successfully run farm enterprises. This is an excellent opportunity to earn while you learn while gaining valuable experience on commercial farms to progress your career opportunities into farm management.

About the programme

This is a two-year programme with 9 modules, developed in consultation with industry. As part of this programme, apprentices will engage in on-the-job training with a SOLAS approved employer. Off-the-job training will take place in a Teagasc centre and will also include visits to farms, industry and research locations. On completion of the programme, the apprentice will hold a nationally recognised QQI Bachelor of Science in Professional Sustainable Farm Management (NFQ Level 7).

You will:

• Earn while you learn,
• Gain a recognised qualification,
• Develop knowledge, skills and competencies in Sustainable Farm Management Practices,
• Undertake a diverse range of work on a commercial farm,
• Work as part of a team,
• Embark on a career in Farm Management.

Programme content

Through the Farm Manager Apprenticeship, you will complete 9 industry-focused modules over 2 years as follows:

Year 1 / Stage 1

• Farm Finance & Strategic Management,
• Health & Safety Management,
• Sustainable & Environmental Farm Management,
• Farm Product Quality & Operations Management.

Year 2 / Stage 2

• Manager Skills,
• Economic Sustainability & Labour Management,
• Farm Infrastructure & Regulations,
• Climate Smart Farm Technologies,
• Apprentice Project.

Entry requirements

To be eligible for this apprenticeship, an applicant must:

• Be directly employed by a SOLAS approved Employer
• Farm Technician Apprenticeship qualification (Higher Certificate in Technical Farm Operations – NFQ Level 6)

Or

• Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (or equivalent) Award

Or

• Anyone working in the agricultural sector must be 18year old or older working in the agricultural sector (2years full-time) with the relevant experience and equivalent educational experience (NFQ Level 6 or higher*) deemed acceptable by employer and consortium and subject to the validation of supporting evidence and/or assessment process.

Employer information

Apprentices will be employed on commercial farms in Ireland in such enterprises as arable, cattle, dairy, pigs, poultry, sheep and sucklers.

The Employer pays the Apprentice for the duration of the apprenticeship, including while attending training with Teagasc. The rate of pay is agreed between the Employer and the Apprentice, with the basic pay will be minimum wage.

Off-the-job training will be undertaken at either Teagasc, Kildalton College or Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research Centre, Moorepark.

The cost of the apprenticeship is €1,375 per year of the programme.

Employers are required to:

• Be a SOLAS approved employer,
• Nominate a workplace mentor,
• Release the apprentice for the ‘off-the-job’ block release days,
• Pay the apprentice for the duration of the apprenticeship.

Further information on the Farm Manager Apprenticeship

For further information on the Farm Manager Apprenticeship, contact Marcella Phelan, National Apprenticeship Programme Co-ordinator at marcella.phelan@teagasc.ie or 051-644508, or contact Dr. Emma-Louise Coffey, Programme Co-Ordinator at emmalouise.coffey@teagasc.ie or phone 025-42706.

To express your interest in the Farm Manager Apprenticeship, click here.

Note: Where there is a mathematics requirement at Leaving Certificate Established or Vocational Programme, obtaining a minimum grade O6/H7 in Maths or a F2 in Foundation Maths, mature and international applicants may be required to demonstrate that they possess the required competency through the completion of a maths assessment. The programme is through the medium of English and it is highly desirable that the applicant will meet CEF Level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Language). Applicants whose first language is not English may be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency. The certificate of the English language standard must have been issued within 2 years of the expected start of your course.