JourneyApprenticeshipsCultural heritage conservator (degree)

Cultural heritage conservator (degree)

Level 7 · Degree (Master’s)Creative and design 4.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship

What it involves

The Cultural Heritage Conservator degree apprenticeship trains you to examine, stabilise, and preserve objects and structures of cultural and historical significance, applying scientific knowledge and practical conservation skills. You will work on collections in museums, galleries, historic houses, and archives, developing a specialist area such as paintings, paper, metals, or built heritage. This Level 7 programme leads to Associate membership of Icon, the Institute of Conservation, and the PACR pathway towards accreditation.

On the job

What you’ll learn

Materials science and how historic materials age, deteriorate, and react to treatment
Conservation ethics and the principles of minimum intervention
Scientific analysis techniques used to investigate object composition and condition
Preventive conservation - environmental control, storage, and handling
Documentation methods for recording condition, treatment, and materials used
Legal and ethical frameworks governing cultural heritage in the UK
On the job

What you’ll do day to day

Carry out detailed condition assessments of objects or building fabric
Stabilise fragile objects using appropriate consolidants and reversible methods
Clean, repair, and restore items using proven and documented techniques
Record all conservation work photographically and in written treatment reports
Monitor environmental conditions and advise on storage improvements
Collaborate with curators, archaeologists, and scientists on complex projects
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 7 (Degree (Master’s)) - roughly Master’s-degree level. Usually needs a relevant degree or Level 6 qualification, or significant experience.
What’s next: Leads into senior and chartered professional roles.

Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.

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What it’s really like

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