Recognition of Prior Learning – Your Guide to What It Means and How It Works

Before they take on an apprentice, employers must first establish what, if anything, learners already know about the job they’re planning to train for. 

By finding out if the prospective apprentice already has existing skills, knowledge and experience, employers and training providers can tailor or accelerate their programmes to meet the learner’s own individual needs. Determining exactly what they know also avoids apprentices needlessly going over old ground, repeating learning they already have. 

The assessment process, known as RPL – Recognition of Prior Learning – is undertaken by the training provider. They determine the apprentice’s prior learning and experience against occupational competence requirements as set out by Skills England. 

A key element of good apprenticeship delivery, RPL ensures that the apprentice’ s training plan: 

• Doesn’t duplicate knowledge and skills the learner already has 
• Identifies their specific needs 
• Might potentially shorten the time needed for them to successfully complete the apprenticeship 

For employers RPL means they can offer training that best meets their organisation’s needs and uses off-the-job training time effectively. And, for training providers, it means they’re able to deliver a more tailored learning experience.  

Notably, accounting for relevant prior learning and experience can reduce the content, duration and cost of the apprenticeship. 

RPL requirements for apprentices aged 16 to 18 

Apprentices aged 16 to 18 will in most cases, have just left school, and are unlikely to have any learning, skills or experience that could be called RPL. 

However, work-based learning is increasingly being blended with academic study in qualifications such as T levels, so training providers need to assess RPL carefully.  

A total of 25,508 learners in the UK started T Levels in the 2024 to 2025 academic year – up 59% on the previous 12-month period. Of these students, some will progress to apprenticeships on completion of their T levels, so will have some industry experience that could count as RPL.  

Providers must also check if young people in this age group have any post-16 work experience relevant to the apprentice occupation or if they’ve previously started or completed an apprenticeship.  

 How is an apprentice's prior learning assessed and recorded? 

The KSBs listed in the apprenticeship occupation standard are a good place to start. Providers should talk to apprentices and employers, so they know which KSBs have been achieved to date. These will need to be documented in the evidence pack and commitment statement. 

How does RPL impact apprenticeship funding? 

To maximise a training programme’s value, the government has specific rules on how apprenticeship funding must be used.  

In a policy change, introduced in August 2025, ‘to be eligible for government funding, an apprentice with no RPL must receive at least the published volume of off-the-job training hours for the standard.’  

This figure, say the updated funding rules, can only be reduced if there is evidence of relevant prior learning. The resulting programme, with a corresponding price reduction, must not fall below 187 hours of evidenced delivery or eight months in actual duration. Funds are at risk of recovery if the off-the job training minimum requirement (reduced where applicable for prior learning) is not met. 

What counts as RPL – and what doesn’t? 

Prior learning is any education or experience an apprentice has which matches the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupation standard. This could be work experience, prior education, training or qualifications, and any previous apprenticeships. 

Learning that is outdated, previously assessed or gained informally without being evidenced won’t count as RPL.  

How Onefile can help 

Onefile has wide experience of assisting training providers with assessing apprentices RPL and adjusting their funding rules calculations to make sure the sums add up. 

For more information on how to recognise prior learning, book a discovery call with a member of the team.