CSA Learning & Development
CSA LEARNING

Level 6 Trading Standards Professional Apprenticeship (Tobacco & Vapes legislation)

About

Welcome to the new bespoke Tobacco and Vapes apprenticeship. We will be delivering this Level 6 Trading Standards Professional apprenticeship programme via a series of online Workshops over a shorter, more intensive period of no longer than 29 months* (including End Point Assessment) and incorporating the new Tobacco & Vape legislation into a specialist module that all apprentices will undertake.

Our aim is to empower the apprentices to make a meaningful impact in the community more quickly. We will not compromise on quality, the curriculum will cover the same modules as the standard three-year programme. To achieve this, workshops in the early part will be run monthly to accelerate learning and will require two day allocation of a working week to the apprenticeship.

 

Apprenticeship:

Level 6 Trading Standards Professional (Tobacco & Vapes legislation)

Length of course:

29 months maximum (24 months for learning delivery plus five months for End Point Assessment)

Number of modules:

10 (plus 2 additional specialist modules)

Qualifications:

Level 6 Apprenticeship (equivalent educational level: Bachelor's Degree) plus Chartered Trading Standards Practitioner (CTSP) status from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. As well as the mandatory Tobacco & Vapes module, learners also have the opportunity to choose another specialism to study from Food Standards*, Animal Feed*, Animal Health & Welfare, Weights & Measures**, or Product Safety and become competent in enforcement in those areas.
*Option to transition to FSA certification via a CTSI oral exam and successful coursework assessment.
**Designed as an introduction to Weights & Measures. Learners can opt for additional study with the CTSI for the Section 73 Certificate to become a qualified Weights & Measures Inspector.

Funding:

We will work with you to maximise Apprenticeship Levy funds (which are available to both Levy paying and non-Levy paying organisations) and access any other support or incentives that are available to fund the programme.

Delivery method:

Teams or Zoom.

CTSI membership:

Apprentices on this standard receive a free one-year Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) membership.

Learner profile

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), as the funding body, has specified that the use of the funding provided to Local Authorities is for apprentices who are new to Trading Standards and who will be joining the newly-created Tobacco and Vapes Level 6 programme.

Enrolling

Once your new apprentice Trading Standards Officer is in post you will be able to reserve a place on one of the eight cohorts that will be launching between July and October 2025. Please follow the link to the pre-enrolment form below to register your learner. Once we receive the completed form, a member of our Enrolment Team will be in touch to start the onboarding process. This involves an eligibility check, learner portal registration and functional skills/cognitive assessments. Cohort Start Dates:

Brochure

L6 Trading Standards Professional brochure - Tobacco & Vapes legislation

Roadmap

Roadmap to end point assessment

Enrol

Pre-enrolment form

Learn more

View all standards
Email us
Call: 0191 217 2948

CSA Apprenticeships are provided by CSA (Services) Ltd as a subsidiary of the Credit Services Association (CSA).

FAQs


If your company is a levy payer then the apprenticeship is fully-funded up to £22,000 per year per apprentice.


The Weights & Measures Specialism within the apprenticeship will provide those studying with a valuable insight into the principles of Metrology, including traceability, reference sources, metrological organisations and an introduction to the Weights and Measures Act and EC legislation.

The tasks given to learners allow them to gain knowledge and experience in the majority of typical inspection work, plus the opportunity to reflect on challenges facing a modern Weights and Measures Inspector.

Areas covered via the workshops and allocated tasks include routine inspections of licenced premises, petrol stations, and supermarkets. An introduction to inspections of goods, including of packers under the Packaged Goods Regulations 2006 is also covered.

The workshops are taught from a practical standpoint by experienced Weights and Measures Inspectors and are a good springboard into more advanced study


Practical learning period is 24 months followed by five months End Point Assessment.


The Tobacco and Vape programme has been specifically designed to be shorter than the standard 41 month Level 6 so the reduction in duration has already been factored in.


Cohort Start Dates:
  • 14 July 2025
  • 29 August 2025
  • 1 September 2025
  • 5 September 2025
  • 7 October 2025
  • 13 October 2025
  • 4 November 2025



Unless the apprentice asks us, or agrees, for their details to be circulated we will not be able to distribute names due to GDPR requirements.


Yes.


Funding for training is available through the apprenticeship levy.


As with most companies now hybrid working is commonplace. The programme drives the apprentice to seek out live work to embed learning. Monthly progress reviews check in on that progress and Line Manager progress reviews every quarter check in on progress with each apprentice and address any concerns. Remote working works brilliantly for apprentices. 


There are no entry requirements for the Level 6 Trading Standards programme. However, we do have many employers who have stipulated minimum qualifications such as GCSE Maths and English or A-Levels.


The new programme will require the learners to undertake the new Tobacco and Vapes specialist module as well as one other from the standard list (Weights & Measures, Feed, Food, Product Safety, Animal Health and Welfare) - so two additional modules in total.


Many employers use the duration of learning to award pay grades. For example, upon completion of the first year, second year etc. Others award pay grades based on module completion.


Any apprentice that passes the End Point Assessment attains Chartered Trading Standards Practitioner status.


We are pleased to say that we have made some great progress in the area of Student Membership. All Level 6 Apprentices now get a year of membership on a complimentary basis (Free). All you have to do is complete an application form and when asked if this is a one-year complimentary membership, tick yes. (form available upon request)


Yes, once enrolled we can arrange for you to have membership of Totum so you can access student membership benefits.


Yes, we complete an initial assessment to make sure prior learning is recognised.


We offer a full range of support to ensure all apprentices can access the programme and provide the support they need.

  • Credit Services Association Limited
  • Registered in England and Wales No. 00089614

  • CSA (Services) Ltd
  • Registered in England and Wales No. 05055685

  • Registered address:
  • 2 Esh Plaza
  • Sir Bobby Robson Way
  • Great Park
  • Newcastle upon Tyne
  • NE13 9BA