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What is a Shorter Duration Apprenticeship (SDA)?

An SDA is an apprenticeship where full occupational competence can be achieved in less than 12 months.
 
From 1 August 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) has officially reduced the minimum duration of an apprenticeship from 12 to 8 months.
 
This change applies to all foundation and specialist apprenticeship standards, but only for new starts from 1 August 2025 onwards. It does not include existing learners, restarts, and those that come back from a break in learning.