Software Development Technician Apprenticeship
Your future career, after completion
Your future career, after your Software Development Technician Apprenticeship:
Interested in becoming a Software Development Technician apprentice? Find all the information you need below…
Software Development Technician | Quick links
We are proud to work with the following employers:
Who should apply for the Software Development Technician apprenticeship?
Becoming a Software Development Technician apprentice is ideal for anyone who enjoys working with PCs, software components (web, mobile or desktop applications) and implementing code. If you like building software, problem-solving, programming and implementing code then the Software Development Technician apprenticeship could be for you. The roles you might expect to be applying for after your 12-15 month infrastructure technician apprenticeship are: Junior Developer, Junior Web Developer, Junior Mobile Developer, Assistant Programmer and many others.
What's the cost of a Software Development Technician apprenticeship & will I be paid?
As a Software Development Technician apprentice, you will NOT pay anything towards your apprenticeship.
You can find out more about your investment and wages here >>
Entry requirements to become a Software Development Technician apprentice?
Individual employers will set the selection criteria. It is likely to include:
- Grades A*-C (9-4 equivalent) in English and mathematics
- a science or technology qualification is desirable but not essential
- or a relevant Level 2 Apprenticeship
- a qualification or part-qualification in a related area at a lower or the same level would be advantageous, but not required
Having a passion for IT will help Software Development apprentices gain the most out of their apprenticeship programme.
OUR ACCREDITATION PARTNERS
What technical knowledge will I learn as a Software Development Technician?
- Logic: writes simple code for discrete software components following an appropriate logical approach to agreed standards (whether for web, mobile or desktop applications)
- Security: applies appropriate secure development principles to specific software components all stages of development
- Development support: applies industry standard approaches for configuration management and version control to manage code during build and also release
- Data: makes simple connections between code and also defined data sources as specified
- Test: functionally tests that the deliverables for that component have been met or not
- Analysis: follows basic analysis models such as use cases and also process maps
- Development lifecycle: supports the Software Developers at the build and also test stages of the software development lifecycle
- Quality: follows organisational and also industry good coding practices (including those for naming, commenting etc.)
- Problem-solving:
– Solves logical problems, seeking assistance when required (including appropriate mathematical application) - Communication: clearly articulates the role and function of software components to a variety of stakeholders (including end users, supervisors etc.)
- User Interface: develops user interfaces as appropriate to the organisations’ development standards and the type of component being developed
What qualifications will I gain?
- Level 3 Software Development Technician Apprenticeship, awarded by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
- BCS Level 3 Certificate in Software Development Content and Methodologies
- BCS Level 3 Certificate in Programming
What skills will I develop?
- Logical and creative thinking skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Ability to work independently and to take responsibility
- Can use own initiative
- A thorough and organised approach
- Ability to work with a range of internal and external people
- Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of situations
- Maintains productive, professional and secure working environment
Your future earning potential as a Software Development Technician:
What's included in the Software Development Technician apprenticeship?
Included: Induction
Within the first month, all apprentices and employers will receive a thorough induction to the apprenticeship training program from a dedicated NowSkills tutor. This will involve:
- “Workplace Health, Safety & Wellbeing Assessment”,
- Completion of enrolment documentation
- The signing of the “Commitment Statement” and an “Apprenticeship Agreement”.
- The completion of initial assessments/diagnostics for English and maths
- Agreeing the Professional Development Plan (POP), which will detail: The sequencing and content of learning key milestones (for submitting portfolio evidence, exams etc.)
- Details of how to access any online learning platforms arrangements for safeguarding
- Inductions usually take a working day to complete dependent on the individual apprentice and employer
Included: In-centre Training
It is a statutory requirement that 20% of an apprentice’s working hours are spent training. 10% of this will be covered by attending modules in centre. The other 10% will be independent learning, guided distance learning and tutor sessions in the workplace. Infrastructure Technician Level 3 apprentices must attend 6x weeks of training in centre in their first 4-5 months (this varies between 1-2 weeks at a time, depending on when the modules are scheduled). They will complete the following modules:
Session 1
Knowledge Session 1: Databases
Duration: 1 week (9 am-4 pm)
Logical Model
- Creating an Entity Relationship Diagram by identifying entities, attributes, relationships.
- Normalising the Entity Relationship Diagram to third Nomal form
Relational Model
- Validating Logical and Relational Model through Design rules
- Engineering the Entity-Relationship Model into a relational database design
- Completing the Physical Model and generate the DDL scripts
Use Structured Query Language (SQL) to build your database and query data
- Creating, altering and dropping a MySQL database
- Writing SQL statements to select data from a MySQL database
- Writing joins and subqueries
NoSQL
- Explaining what NoSQL databases are.
- Explaining the purpose of NoSQL databases.
- Listing the benefits of NoSQL database over traditional RDBMS database.
- Identifying various types of NoSQL databases.
Session 2
Knowledge Session 2: Programming
Duration: 2 weeks (9 am-4 pm)
Introduction to Programming Using C
- Understanding the concept of a variable and declaring, initialising and modifying variables of data types into, double and char
- Creating and commenting simple C-programs
- Using logical conditions to control the flow of a program via branch statements (if-else), repetition (for or while loop) and nesting of these structures
Programming with Java
- Developing simple programs in Java
- Understanding basic mechanisms of the OOP paradigm, as well as use the API of some of the most common Java classes
- Developing basic data structures including lists, stacks, queues and trees
- Developing and using linear and non-linear data structures and implement algorithms
- Instantiating objects from classes
- Aggregation and composition
- Extending existing classes
- Overloading and overriding methods
Included: Ongoing Professional Development
Apprentices will be guided by a NowSkills tutor and their workplace mentor, throughout the duration of the infrastructure technician apprenticeship. For a level 3 apprentice this must equate to 1/2 a working day for every week they aren’t attending training in centre, and will likely consist of:
- Mentoring sessions with the nominated employer mentor
- Training in the workplace, relevant to the standard
- Producing/collating evidence for the apprentice’s summerative portfolio
- Work shadowing
- Industry visits
- Attendance at competitions
- Online learning
- Studying or researching
Included: Examinations
Before an apprentice can reach the threshold for the gateway phase, apprentices must have successfully achieved the following exams:
- BSC Level 3 Software Development Context and Methodologies
- BSC Level 3 Certificate in Programming
Included: Tutor 1:1s
These take place monthly, either at the workplace or live online with the tutor. The will involve:
- Coaching sessions, in areas of training need agreed with the tutor
- Professional Development Reviews (PDRs), which employers must partake in. These allow for a meaningful discussion between all 3x parties about the apprentice’s achievements, areas for improvement and progress made to date
- Updating of the Professional Development Plan (POP)
- Provision of ongoing careers education, information, advice & guidance
(CEIAG) - Feedback on an apprentice’s work
- English, maths, and wider digital skills development
- Support in understanding and applying: safeguarding; fundamental British values; health, safety, & wellbeing; and equality, diversity, and inclusion
In addition to tutor 1:1s, all apprentices and employers must also partake in a monthly Professional Development Review (PDR):
- A meaningful discussion about the apprentice’s achievements
- Identifying areas for improvements, and agreeing a consequent target plan
- Looking at progress made to date
Included: Gateway to End-Point Assessment
This is the period in which the decision is made whether the apprentice is ready to cross the threshold phase, from learning and formative assessments to the end-point assessment phase. This decision will be made by the employer, training provider, and apprentice, based on the apprentice’s progress. To move onto the end-point assessment phase, it is essential to have passed all the knowledge modules and/or vendor or qualifications or professional qualifications and to provide a portfolio of work.
Successful completion!
Congratulations! You will have completed your Software Development Technician Apprenticeship! You will have learned the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours to embark on a rewarding IT & digital career.
What happens after I successfully complete the Software Development Technician apprenticeship?
Upon successful completion of the Software Development Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship, further progression opportunities are available:
- Promotion in the workplace, or a movement into a managerial role
- Study at a higher level of apprenticeship (dependent on occupation)
- Enrolling in a degree (full or part-time) or even a degree apprenticeship
- Continuing in the role, but undertaking additional, related qualifications to further development
NowSkills tutors and support staff are trained to advise you on the wide range of career options available after your apprenticeship. For many apprentices this may be continuing employment in a permanent with their apprenticeship employer; for others, it may be new education or career opportunities.
