DevOps Engineer Apprenticeship Level 4

Combining software development and IT operations helps to shorten the development lifecycle and ensure continuous delivery in your organisation.

With a focus on infrastructure, automation, rapid development, and deployment at its heart, a Kaplan DevOps Engineer apprenticeship is anything but standard.

Your apprentice will develop the technical skills to build, test, and maintain the infrastructure and tools for the speedy development and release of software, giving you the ability to drive business technology forward.

Who's it for?

Ideal for new talent in the organisation with an interest in software development or existing staff taking on a DevOps role.

If you’re seeking to maximise the benefit of time used as part of off-the-job training and develop technical capability coupled with sector relevant skills that can be directly applied to the role, this apprenticeship might be the right option for you.

Job roles

Individuals on this programme are employed in a variety of roles, ranging from Automation engineer, Build and release engineer, Deployment engineer, Devops engineer, Full stack developer, Infrastructure engineer, Platform engineer, Reliability engineer, Site reliability engineer - but this list isn’t exhaustive.

One of the key things to success is that the job role and Line Manager provide the opportunities, support and relevant work based projects to be able to contextualise and apply the apprentice’s learning back in the workplace, to gain real competency in that area.

Career progression

An apprentice’s journey doesn’t end when their apprenticeship has finished. This is just their first step to becoming a DevOps professional. The next steps could be to progress to a level 6 or 7 Apprenticeship, or undertake product-specific vendor training.

Eligibility

Regardless of age or prior attainment, anyone can do an apprenticeship provided they’re learning new skills and are employed in England, in a relevant role. Kaplan will support you to assess the job role suitability as part of your application.

To do this apprenticeship employers may specify that candidates must have at least a grade 4/C GCSE (or equivalent) in Maths and English. If apprentices don’t have this level of Maths and English, Kaplan offers free resources and support to make sure they develop their understanding of the subjects and application by the end of their apprenticeship.

Apprentices on this standard must be working in a full-time DevOps environment where they will implement and support software, (such as operating systems, middleware and applications) and supporting components such as databases.

Apprentices typically have one of the following:

2 A Levels or International Baccalaureate or any other Level 3 qualification such as a BTEC Extended Diploma
A Level 3 Apprenticeship
12 months of work experience in the last 24 months if they do not have any other Level 3 qualifications

Level

Level 4

Apprenticeship

DevOps Engineer

21 months with Gateway at 18 months

Costs / funding band

£17,000
Free for learners

Optional qualifications

Optional: PCEP – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer Certification, Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals, AWS Cloud Practitioner, HashiCorp Infrastructure Automation Certification, BCS Foundation Level Certificate in DevOps

Looking to recruit or upskill existing staff?

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About the programme

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Keep your business future proof

The DevOps philosophy aims to replace siloed Development and Operations by creating multidisciplinary teams that work together with shared and efficient practices and tools.

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Learn skills and technologies that are in high demand

Including Linux, Microsoft Azure, AWS, kubernetes, docker, PowerShell, Cmd, Jenkins, and Terraform.

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Work with stakeholders and across teams

A DevOps Engineer apprentice will work alongside other members of agile development teams, IT and business departments, as well as third-party suppliers. They will ensure that valuable working software gets to users frequently and safely, reducing time to market, and improving the quality of digital services.

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Support for apprentices

Each learner has regular 1:1 contact and progress reviews to keep them on track, review their portfolio, and get them fully prepared for their final assessments.

The logos of AWS, Kubernetes, Linux, Docker, Google Cloud, GIT, Powershell, Jenkins, Terraform, Microsoft Azure and Windows 10

Included in this apprenticeship

Our DevOps Engineer apprenticeship programme integrates seven modules of technical training with work based projects. This ensures that learning and skills are directly applied to the apprentice’s role, and maximises the time used as part of off-the-job training.

For each module, learners benefit from attending small, scheduled Live Online classes taught by a subject matter specialist, combined with additional online learning that can be completed at their own pace. Each of our live classes are interactive and discursive, giving apprentices quality time with tutors and sector peers to support the development of their knowledge and skills and bring new perspectives to their thinking. Learners also get practical lab time to hone their skills and practice using real data in a safe but simulated environment.

5 days

DevOps Introduction

This module introduces DevOps concepts, including:

Origins
Benefits
Culture and teams
Automation
Lean
Measurement
Sharing
Common roles
Practices and techniques
Methods and approaches for team.

Apprentices will be able to take the optional BCS Foundation Level Certificate in DevOps (not included as part of their core apprenticeship).

5 days

Python Programming Fundamentals

Python will be used as the main language for training. Apprentices will be able to use their learning to pick up other programming languages they may need to use in the workplace.

Introduction to Python and computer programming
Data types, variables, basic input-output operations, basic operators
Boolean values, conditional execution, loops, lists and list processing, logical and bitwise operations
Functions, tuples, dictionaries, and data processing.

3 days

Cloud Services

Apprentices will gain an understanding of the foundational business and technical elements for cloud and cloud-based services. They will learn how cloud services are provided with Microsoft Azure and AWS Cloud.

Cloud concepts
Azure services
AWS services
Core solutions and management tools on Azure
General security and network security features
Identity, governance, privacy, and compliance features
Azure cost management and Service Level Agreements
Basic global infrastructure of the AWS Cloud
Appropriate solution using AWS Cloud services with various use cases
AWS Well-Architected Framework.

Apprentices will be able to take the Azure Fundamentals or AWS Cloud Practitioner exams (not included as part of their core apprenticeship).

5 days

Infrastructure and Security

This module covers the fundamentals of Network Infrastructure and Security.

Understand IPv4 and IPv6
Set up and configure DNS, DHCP and other Networking services
Differentiate between wired and wireless networks
Using Monitoring Tools
Principles of Information Security
Penetration Testing Principles
Threat modelling and Vulnerability Scanning
Security risks
Infrastructure as Code.

5 days

DevOps Tooling

This module introduces various DevOps Tooling including:

Containerisation concepts using Kubernetes and Docker
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) vs bespoke vs enterprise tooling
Using CI/CD processes using Jenkins
Server automation using Ansible
Using Configuration Management Tools
Linux command line.

3 days

Scripting and Automation

This module covers the use of basic scripting to execute IT tasks. Apprentices will learn how common tasks can be automated and how automation allows control of manual, error-prone processes by running scripts. It will build on the previous DevOps tooling module.

Using PowerShell to automate tasks
Using Windows Command line to troubleshoot problems
Major components of the Linux operating system
Linux command line
Understanding of security and administration related topics such as user/group management, working on the command line, and permissions.

2 days

EPA Readiness Training

This two-day workshop will take the apprentice through a practical application of a DevOps project.

Apprentices will be provided with a practical project structure which will involve working through coding and deploying activities. This will include being given a requirement specification to create functioning software, testing and deploying this.

The EPA Readiness Training will help support the apprentice in preparing them for their End Point Assessment giving them an opportunity to build their programming skills in an immersive exercise getting real time feedback as they hone their skills.

Optional

Generative AI course

A one-day online course during which apprentices will learn about AI, discuss the theories and practice behind it, and leave with an action plan for further development. Bring significant value to your organisation with our Generative AI course.

Optional

Online development sessions

Our Data Analyst Apprenticeship programme also includes optional online development sessions in Time Management, Personal Impact, and Presentation Skills. These interactive sessions focus on key Skills and Behaviours that will benefit your learners' development.

Skills development

To complement the technical training, apprentices will develop sector relevant skills at the right time for their job role.

Throughout the programme, the Talent Coach will support the apprentice and their line manager to identify opportunities to apply their new learning through work activities and projects. This provides a framework for the apprentice to develop and demonstrate the skills and behaviours required in a holistic way. The skills and behaviours are contextualised enabling evidence of competency to come from real-work that contributes to their business.

View all modules

date_range Timetables

Programmes are running regularly throughout the year. View our timetables for scheduled Live Online sessions to see when the next one is running.

View timetables

Why choose Kaplan to do a DevOps Engineer apprenticeship?

Industry tailored

Our DevOps Engineer apprenticeship programme is flexible, future facing, and can be tailored to industry.

Leading partners

Underpinned by specialist content and learning labs co-created with leaders in their field: Linux, Microsoft Azure, AWS, kubernetes, docker, PowerShell, Cmd, Jenkins, and Terraform, developing your skills in a range of technologies and platforms, not just one.

Comprehensive learning

Learners attend scheduled, interactive Live Online classes involving lots of practical discussion and application, and combine this with additional online learning that can be completed at their own pace.

Expert teaching

Our tutors are all subject matter experts, with real world experience, and teach groups of diverse learners from organisations across the UK.

Support for employers:

Named client solutions point of contact to support you at every stage
Recruitment service to help you hire an apprentice for a new vacancy
Transparency throughout the application and onboarding process for your learners
Sector expert tutors and talent coaches delivering relevant training and development
Learning that is applied to your organisation through work based experience
Accurate, timely and accessible tracking for each learner
Line Manager visibility of your learner’s portfolio dashboards

Support for learners:

Tutor contact via email outside of scheduled classes
Regular 1:1 contact and progress reviews with their line manager and a named, industry experienced talent coach to keep them on track, review their portfolio and get them fully prepared for their End Point Assessment.
Peer to peer contacts from across the industry as part of a small cohort - creating opportunities to spark new ideas and get new perspectives
Apprenticeship ePortfolio to track their progress, capture off-the-job activity and hours, manage and capture progress reviews, upload evidence, as well as communication with their Talent Coach
Interactive lab environment to practise and put learning to the test
Student Service support available 362 days a year
Work based projects and support from a line manager to be able to contextualise and apply their learning back in the workplace