November 20, 2025

Can I Finish My Apprenticeship Without an Employer in Australia? (Western Australia Focus)

If you’ve lost your employer during your apprenticeship, you’re not alone. Many apprentices in Western Australia find themselves “out of trade” or out of contract at some stage. While it can feel like your pathway to becoming a qualified electrician has stalled, there are options to keep your training moving.

At the College of Electrical Training (CET), we work with out-of-contract apprentices across WA to support training continuity, re-employment, and progression towards qualification.

Important: This article explains how things work in Western Australia. Apprenticeship rules can vary between states and territories.

Can You Complete an Apprenticeship Without an Employer?

In Australia, apprenticeships are designed to combine:

Paid on-the-job training with an employer, and
Off-the-job training with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) such as CET.

To complete your apprenticeship training contract in WA and receive your trade certificate through that pathway, three parties must agree that you’ve achieved all required competencies:

you (the apprentice),
your employer, and
your RTO.

That means:

You can continue your classroom and practical training at CET for a limited period after your training contract is cancelled, even if you don’t currently have an employer.
However, you must have an employer again at some point to complete the on-the-job component and sign off your apprenticeship via a training contract.

At CET:

If your training contract is cancelled or terminated, you can normally continue training in the units you are already enrolled in for up to six months from the date of cancellation, while you look for a new employer.
This six-month continuation reflects current WA funding and administrative rules used by TAFEs and RTOs for out-of-contract apprentices.

After that period, you may need a new training contract or a different enrolment arrangement to keep studying, but the competencies you’ve already achieved remain recorded and can be recognised when you re-engage.

Note: Separate to an apprenticeship training contract, some experienced workers may eventually be able to obtain the qualification and trade certificate through recognition of prior learning (RPL) This is a different pathway and doesn’t change the fact that a standard apprenticeship completion normally requires an employer.

Options for Out-of-Trade / Out-of-Contract Apprentices in Western Australia

Continue Training at CET

Even if you don’t currently have an employer, CET allows eligible out-of-contract apprentices to:

Stay enrolled and complete the units you are already undertaking, and
Continue off-the-job training for up to six months from the date your training contract is cancelled or terminated, while you secure a new employer (subject to current funding and CET enrolment policies).

This helps prevent long gaps in your training and keeps your skills current and job-ready.

2. Re-employment Support

CET has strong industry connections across Perth and regional WA. Our team will typically recommend that you:

Speak with a Jobs and Skills Centre and an Apprentice Connect Australia provider (the national apprenticeship support service) about finding a new employer and
Consider opportunities with Group Training Organisations (GTOs) such as our sister organisation, Electrical Group Training (EGT).

We can also provide references, advice, and information about what stage of your training you’ve reached to help you present clearly to potential employers.

3. Group Training Organisations (GTOs)

In WA, apprentices can transfer to a Group Training Organisation, such as EGT. GTOs:

Employ apprentices directly as the legal employer, and
Place them with host employers for on-the-job experience.

This model can provide more stability, especially if your previous employer’s workload or business circumstances made it hard to keep you on.

4. Financial & Government Assistance

If you’ve been displaced, you may be eligible for:

State or Commonwealth incentives that encourage employers to take on out-of-contract apprentices, and
Fee relief or concessions in specific circumstances.

Jobs and Skills Centres and Apprentice Connect Australia providers can help you identify what assistance might apply in your situation.

Why Staying Engaged with CET Matters

Avoid losing momentum – keeping your off-the-job training going makes it easier to slot back into work when you find a new employer.
Stay current – continuing your studies helps you maintain and build skills that employers and licensing bodies expect.
Show commitment – staying enrolled demonstrates you’re serious about your trade, which many employers see as a positive.
Industry support – CET’s trainers and staff understand the WA apprenticeship system and can connect you to support services and potential opportunities.

Common Questions from Apprentices Without an Employer (WA)

What happens if I lose my employer during my apprenticeship in Australia?

In WA, if your employer can’t continue your apprenticeship (e.g. redundancy, business change), your training contract may be cancelled or terminated.
When that happens:

you are effectively an out-of-contract (out-of-trade) apprentice
you can usually continue your off-the-job training at CET for:
- the units you are already enrolled in, and
- up to six months from the date your training contract is cancelled/terminated, subject to CET and funding rules
you will need a new employer and training contract to complete the on-the-job component and finish your apprenticeship.

Can I finish my apprenticeship without an employer in Australia?

For a standard apprenticeship completion via a training contract:

In practical terms, no – you will need an employer at some point to complete your apprenticeship.

In WA, completion requires agreement between the apprentice, the employer and the RTO that all required competencies have been achieved.

If you can’t secure an employer:

your previously completed units remain valid, and
you may later explore recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on industry experience as a separate pathway to the qualification and trade certificate, but that is different from completing your original apprenticeship contract.

How can CET help out-of-contract apprentices?

CET supports out-of-contract apprentices by:

enabling you to continue off-the-job training (within current funding and enrolment rules)
confirming your current stage and completed units so you can explain your progress to potential employers
providing industry connections and referrals, including to:
- Employers who contact CET looking for apprentices
- Group Training Organisations (e.g. EGT)
- Jobs and Skills Centres and Apprentice Connect Australia providers in WA.

What is a Group Training Organisation (GTO)?

A Group Training Organisation (GTO), such as EGT:

Employs apprentices directly, and
Places them with host employers for on-the-job training.

If you’ve lost an employer, transferring to a GTO can provide more continuity because the GTO can move you between hosts if workloads change.

Will I lose my apprenticeship if I can’t find a new employer straight away?

Not automatically.

In WA:

You can usually continue off-the-job training with your existing RTO for up to six months after your training contract is cancelled, subject to RTO and funding rules.
Your completed units and competencies remain on record, and can be picked up in a new training contract or recognised via RPL later.

However, if you don’t secure a new employer or training pathway over time, your original apprenticeship training contract won’t complete. Staying active in training and job-seeking gives you the best chance of resuming without losing progress.

Who should I contact if I’m out of contract in WA?

If you’re out of contract in WA, your key contacts are:

CET – to discuss continuing your off-the-job training and confirm your training record
A Jobs and Skills Centre – for job search support and information about incentives and programs
An Apprentice Connect Australia provider – for help signing a new training contract with a new employer
Group Training Organisations – such as EGT, if you’re open to the GTO model.

The Apprenticeship Office can also explain how any changes affect your training contract and what options you have.

How CET Can Support Your Apprenticeship

While you cannot usually complete your electrical apprenticeship via a training contract without an employer, you don’t have to stop training if you find yourself out of contract.

At CET, we:

Provide pathways to continue your off-the-job training for a limited period after contract cancellation,
Work with you and system partners to help you connect with new employment opportunities across Western Australia, and
Ensure your completed units and progress are clearly documented so you can pick up where you left off.

If you’ve lost your employer, don’t let it derail your career. Contact CET to talk through your options and find out how we can help keep you on track towards becoming a qualified electrician in Western Australia.

Disclaimer: This information is general in nature, based on current Western Australian apprenticeship policies at the time of publication. It is not legal advice. For advice about your specific circumstances, please contact the Apprenticeship Office, a Jobs and Skills Centre, or an appropriate adviser.