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Overview

The Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship (Level 3), once completed, is a qualification equivalent to 2 A-Levels. Taking approximately 18 months to complete, this programme is an ideal career progression route into the payroll industry. Typical job roles associated with the programme include Payroll Administrator, Payroll Assistant, Reward Administrator and many more.

There are no standardised eligibility criteria for this qualification. This means the individual employer will decide if a candidate is suitable.

ATL’s 23/24 Achievement Rate for the Level 3 Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship Standard is 100% which is above the 23/24 National Averages of 63.4%

Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship Features

Throughout the apprenticeship you’ll gain the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed for your chosen role and industry. To help you with this, you can expect to study the following subject areas:

  • Business and Customer Awareness
  • Regulation and Compliance
  • Systems and Processes
  • Planning and Prioritisation
  • Payroll (Core)

During your apprenticeship you will gather evidence as part of a portfolio to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and behaviours.

This will include:

  • Completion of workbooks and knowledge questions.
  • Virtual observations, carried out in line with data protection and GDPR requirements.
  • Recorded professional discussions to capture reflective learning and understanding.
  • Witness testimonies from managers to verify on-the-job performance and competence.

Forget about lugging around all your work. The online iLearner e-portfolio system means all your work can be uploaded directly to your account and accessed wherever you go.

The system is easy to navigate and full guidance will be provided through our iLearner handbook and from your tutor through one-to-one support.

payroll administrator apprenticeship features

Off-the-Job Training

For 20% of your apprenticeship, you must have time away from your regular duties. This is to engage in training related to your post and programme. Known as ‘Off-the-Job Training’, this should take place at a time convenient for both you and your employer.

The qualification is delivered through a blended learning approach. You will be required to make time to see your tutor via remote or face-to-face sessions.

The sessions will take place roughly once per month, usually lasting around 2 hours. The duration of these can be extended for any additional learning or support you require. Your tutor will also provide support and guidance in between each learning session.

You should also expect to carry out self-study and learning as part of the Off-the-Job Training using your iLearner portfolio.

Functional Skills

Functional Skills maths and English are an essential part of many apprenticeship courses. Apprentices aged 16-18 who have not previously achieved GCSE Grade 4/C (or an equivalent qualification) are required to complete and achieve their Functional Skills qualifications. However, for adult apprentices (19+), Functional Skills are now optional and not a mandatory requirement for completing an apprenticeship. The decision is for the employer and the learner to decide whether to undertake these qualifications.

Benefits of completing Functional Skills:

  • Some higher-level roles and further qualifications require maths and English at Level 1 or 2. Completing Functional Skills can open doors to promotions and further education.
  • Strong communication and numerical skills are essential in most job roles, helping with tasks like report writing, budgeting, and problem-solving.
  • Functional Skills help with real-life tasks, such as managing finances, understanding contracts, and effective communication in personal and professional settings.
  • Functional Skills are designed to be practical and flexible, meaning they can be tailored to fit around your apprenticeship work.
payroll administrator apprenticeship functional skills

The End-Point Assessment

As part of your Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship, an End-Point Assessment (EPA) will be completed to demonstrate your development and growth. You can achieve either a Pass or Distinction based on your final grade.

Multiple Choice

To assess your knowledge, you will complete a multiple-choice assessment, either remotely or in person. You will answer around 50 questions, each with four possible answers. This assessment must be completed in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.

Project With Report

Following from the multiple-choice test, you will complete a project and write a report. You will be asked to complete a project. The title and scope must be agreed with the End-Point Assessment Organisation at the gateway. The report should be a maximum of 3000 words (with a 10% tolerance).

You will have 8 weeks to complete the project and submit the business case to the End-Point Assessment Organisation.

You will have a question and answer session with an independent assessor to discuss the project. It will last 20 minutes. They will ask at least 4 questions.

Synoptic Professional Discussion

Finally, you will complete a synoptic professional discussion to gauge your understanding of the apprenticeship standard. This discussion will be conducted by an independent assessor, and will consist of fourteen questions. It will last for roughly 60 minutes, and will be completed face-to-face (typically in your place of work) or remotely via video conference or Skype.

Go Further

Once you’ve completed your Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship, there are several progression routes available, dependant on your industry and job role:

You can also progress into a variety of job roles within payroll, such as Team Leader, Supervisor, Manager and many more!

Contact us for further information!

Call us on 01246 278931, email info@apprenticeteam.co.uk or fill in the contact form below to check availability and for further advice about the next steps.

Our team will be happy to advise you on additional programmes we provide and can help point you in the right direction for any learning requirement not delivered by Apprentice Team Ltd.