Training contract

"Training contracts" are a written agreement (contract) between an employer and a trainee (an employee "in training", e.g. a trainee solicitor or trainee accountant). A training contract is separate from, and in addition to, an employee's employment contract. A training contract is often a key feature of a graduate job, graduate scheme or any other position which offers

Training contracts are most commonly used when a trainee employee will be receiving external training from a third party organisation, paid for by their employer.

Training Contracts' Terms and Conditions

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A training contract will usually stipulate the terms and conditions by which an employer will provide training to an employee and state the conditions which a candidate must meet, to ensure they continue to qualify for such training.

The typical terms and conditions of a training contract are:

Graduate Training Contracts

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Graduate training contracts are most commonly part of graduate jobs and graduate schemes at law firms and accountancy firms.

Training Contract: Accountancy

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Training contracts are mandatory for all ACA or ACCA qualifications with the Big 4 and most other accountancy & professional services firms. Training contracts for accountancy jobs typically last for three years.

For further information on accountancy training contracts see:

Training Contract: Law

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Training contracts are necessary for all graduate solicitor roles at law firms. Legal training contracts typically last for two years and consist of a a variety of seats, secondments and third part training (such as the mandatory Professional Skills Course (PSC)).

Although the vocational legal training contract usually lasts for two years, many firms offer students training contracts two to three years in advance of employment, providing financial assistance to students as part of the training contract, throughout formal education (e.g. the GDL (Graduate diploma in law) and LPC (Legal Practice Course)).

For more information on legal training contracts see:
Also see:

Further Information

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For further information on getting a training contract or to ask questions about specific "training contracts" visit the WikiJob forum.

ACA Training Contract

The ACA training contract is a written contractual agreement between a candidate and their employer, acknowledging the candidate's commitment to the ACA training process.

Structure of ACA training contract

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The ACA training contract involves three important elements; the employer, the ICAEW and the candidate themselves.

Key features of ACA training contract

[Edit] An ACA training contract must:
  • Be undertaken by an ICAEW authorised training employer
  • Be between three to five years in duration
  • See the candidate complete 450 days technical work experience and IPD
  • Set out details of the candidate's training, such as the number of exam attempts your employer will support
  • Provide ongoing review and structured learning
  • Provide study leave and exams fitted around work
  • Provide support from a mentor, provided by your employer
  • Commit to providing you and your employer with the approved training and technical work experience
As part of the ACA training contract candidates must show:
  • Commitment to their employer for the duration of the contract

Objectives of an ACA training contract

[Edit] The objectives of an ACA training contract are:
  • To encourage the integration of exam study and work experience, enabling candidates to put their studies into practice and apply skills developed in the workplace to those studies
  • To ensure candidates receive the relevant, structured work experience
  • To detail the support provided to candidates (including study and exam leave)

The ACA training contract is not an employment contract

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The ACA training contract is entirely separate to an employment contract. The training contract is a written agreement between candidate and employer acknowledging the involved commitment to the ACA training process.

A proforma training contract is provided to each training employer by the ICAEW, and each employer can adapt this to reflect their own policies and procedures.

The training contract contains clauses that relate specifically to ICAEW training, including policies on study leave and exams. This contract does not confer any employment rights on the trainee or the training employer.