Registrar (creative and cultural)
Level 6 · DegreeCreative and design 3 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A Registrar (creative and cultural) manages and cares for collections of objects, artworks, archives, or specimens in museums, galleries, historic houses, and similar organisations. Apprentices coordinate loans, manage condition checks, maintain collection databases, and ensure objects are stored and transported safely. This level 6 role leads to senior collections management and curator positions within the cultural heritage sector.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Collections management standards including Spectrum and PAS 197
Object handling, packing, and environmental storage requirements
Documentation and data management using collections management systems
Loan management - incoming and outgoing agreements, condition reporting
Intellectual property, copyright, and provenance research
Risk management and emergency planning for collections
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Maintain and update the collections database with accurate records
Coordinate incoming and outgoing loans with museums and galleries
Carry out condition checks on objects before and after movement
Pack and oversee the safe transport of artworks or artefacts
Support accessioning and deaccessioning of collection items
Liaise with conservators, curators, and external couriers
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 6 (Degree) - roughly Bachelor’s-degree level. Usually needs A-levels or a Level 3 qualification (employers set UCAS-point targets). You earn a full degree while you work - with no tuition fees to pay.
What’s next: Leads into professional roles, sometimes with a Level 7 (Master’s) apprenticeship after.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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