Teagasc land-based apprenticeships: earn while you learn

Brian Morrissey Marcella Phelan

As land-based industries navigate current and future sustainability challenges and regulations, it is essential that operators and managers are highly skilled. The Irish land-based sector is reliant on skilled farmers and operatives who can cope with such challenges as well as managing day-to-day productions task, work with people and meet business objectives. The next generation of farm operatives and managers, horticulturists, and sportsturf managers should avail of every training opportunity in order to acquire knowledge, skills and experience to secure the long-term future of their career or business. Experience with excellent farm and business operators reinforces learning experiences and offers a network of people and mentors that can make a significant positive contribution throughout a future farmers’ career.

If you are interested in learning about land-based enterprises and earning a salary while you learn, then you should enquire about the four apprenticeship programmes that Teagasc operate: Farm Technician, Farm Manager, Horticulturist, and Sportsturf Management, further details are available on the Teagasc apprenticeship webpage. The Fourth cohort of land-based apprentices are due to commence their apprenticeship in September 2026.

Farm Technician Apprenticeship

The Farm Technician Apprenticeship (Higher Certificate in Technical Farm Operations – NFQ Level 6) trains apprentices to operate successfully within Irish farming systems, gaining skills in daily operations, compliance with industry standards and regulatory measures. The programme provides individuals with the knowledge and technical skills required to operate within commercial farming systems. Individuals who successfully complete the Farm Technician Apprenticeship will be skilled in compliance with industry standards and regulatory measures. Learners will be equipped with skills to manage the daily operations (e.g. animal and grassland management) as well as recording and administrative activities, farm planning and business performance evaluation. The Farm Technician Apprenticeship is coordinated from Teagasc Clonakilty Agricultural College, Cork. Progression from the Level 6 programme includes the Teagasc Farm Manager Apprenticeship.

Farm Manager Apprenticeship

The Farm Manager Apprenticeship (Bachelor of Science in Professional Sustainable Farm Management – NFQ Level 7) creates a pathway to a managerial career in the agricultural sector, equipping the apprentice with the latest research and best practice management knowledge to successfully run a commercial farm business. The programme aims to equip trainee farmers with management skills to successfully run farm enterprises. Successful completion of this programme will see individuals take responsibility for all farming activities including work organisation, income and expenditure, strategic planning, compliance, safety, health and welfare management, and human resource management. The Farm Manager Apprenticeship is coordinated from Teagasc Kildalton College, Piltown, Kilkenny.

Horticulturist Apprenticeship

The Horticulturist Apprenticeship (Higher Certificate in Horticulture – NFQ Level 6) is coordinated from Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture in the Botanic Gardens in Dublin. The Horticulturist Apprenticeship equips apprentices with the knowledge, skills and competence to work in their chosen field of horticulture – nursery stock production, parks and garden maintenance, fruit production, vegetable production, landscape construction and garden centre operations.

Sportsturf Apprenticeship

The Sportsturf Apprenticeship (Higher Certificate in Sportsturf Management – NFQ Level 6) is designed for anyone who wishes to pursue a career in the sportsturf sector or existing personnel employed in a sportsturf facility that would like to gain a recognised qualification. Apprentices will be trained in a progressive manner and will get to put their skills into practice during both on and off the job training stages. On successful completion, the apprentice will be fully competent in the role of a Sportsturf Technician.

Programme duration

Each of the four apprenticeship programmes is a duration of two years and leads to a major award on the National Framework of Qualifications. The first step with apprenticeships is the approval process of employers for the relevant apprenticeship prior to the registration of apprentices with the approved employer. This process is completed by SOLAS in collaboration with Teagasc.

Apprenticeship learning experience

The main component of the Teagasc apprenticeship programmes is two years of work-based learning employment, where apprentices are in full-time employment on one farm or unit in Ireland, in their sector of choice. Apprenticeship employers must be screened and approved by SOLAS in collaboration with Teagasc. During these two years, there are approximately 10 weeks of block release days per year where apprentices further develop a broad range of skills in technical farming and farm business planning. Block release days will be delivered at the coordinating Teagasc College, industry locations, and online. This process will incorporate both formal lectures and informal discussion groups and practical skills training, delivered by an integrated team of highly specialised Teagasc staff, including researchers, college teachers and specialists. Guest lecturers will also be invited, such as key industry stakeholders and successful commercial farmers.

Joining a Teagasc Apprenticeship Programme

The apprentice is required to secure their own full-time employment with the SOLAS approved employer and agree employment terms and conditions with the employer. The employer pays the apprentice employee a salary for the duration of the programme, inclusive of when the apprentice is on block release. The employer may apply for an employer grant of €2000 per apprentice per year of the programme. Apprentice entry requirements for the apprenticeships and employer requirements are published on www.apprenticeship.ie.  Employer approval and apprentice registration is completed by SOLAS in collaboration with Teagasc.

For more details about Teagasc Apprenticeships, visit the Teagasc Apprenticeships webpage or or contact apprenticeships@teagasc.ie.

Compiled and edited by Mark McGee and Paul Crosson, Teagasc, Grange Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, and first published in BEEF2026 – Driving Sustainable Performance, additional reading from BEEF2026 is available here.