What is the difference between a conveyancing apprenticeship and a diploma?

A conveyancing apprenticeship is a paid job with structured training attached. You are employed by a conveyancing firm, you earn a salary, and the government funds your training. The apprenticeship combines the academic qualification (the CLC Diplomas), the practical experience (your 1,200 hours), and an end-point assessment into a single programme delivered against an approved apprenticeship standard.

A CLC diploma is the academic qualification on its own. You enrol directly, pay the tuition (or your employer does), and study the Level 4 and then Level 6 Diploma in Conveyancing Law and Practice. The diploma alone does not make you a Licensed Conveyancer: you still need 1,200 hours of supervised practice, which you arrange separately, before the CLC will issue a licence.

Put simply, the apprenticeship packages everything together and someone else pays; the diploma is the study component, which you control and fund yourself, with the work experience arranged on your own terms.

Conveyancing apprenticeship vs diploma at a glance

	Apprenticeship route	Self-funded diploma route
Who pays	Government-funded; non-levy employers pay a small co-investment, and younger apprentices are fully funded	You (or your employer) pay tuition; 0% interest instalments available
You earn	Yes, you are employed and paid a salary throughout	Optional; many students work while they study
Cost to you	Nothing out of pocket for the training	£4,230 total without exemption (£2,310 Level 4 + £1,920 Level 6)
Qualification earned	Identical CLC Level 4 and Level 6 Diplomas	Identical CLC Level 4 and Level 6 Diplomas
1,200 practical hours	Built into your job	You arrange this separately
Entry requirement	An employer willing to take you on as an apprentice	No employer needed; no degree needed
When you can start	When a suitable role and employer are in place	Today, or in 14 days
Pace and flexibility	Structured around an apprenticeship timetable and your job	You set the pace; assessments six days a week
Typical duration	Around 12 to 18 months (Level 4) and 18 months or more (Level 6)	12 to 24 months per diploma; fast-track in as little as 3 to 4 months for experienced students
Best for	School leavers and existing employees of conveyancing firms	Career-changers, self-funders, and anyone without an employer yet

Apprenticeship funding rates and durations are set by government and the CLC and can change. Always confirm the current funding band and rules on GOV.UK before you commit.

Which route is right for me?

Answer two quick questions and we will point you to the route that usually fits best. This is guidance, not a formal eligibility decision.

How much does each route cost?

This is where the two routes diverge most. The apprenticeship is funded by government, so the training costs you nothing. The diploma is paid for by you or your employer, with interest-free instalment plans to spread it out.

Apprenticeship: funded, not free to the employer

Apprenticeship training is paid for through the government apprenticeship system, not by the apprentice. Large employers that pay the apprenticeship levy draw the cost from their levy funds. Smaller, non-levy employers pay a small percentage as co-investment, and the government covers the rest. Training is fully funded for younger apprentices, and the age threshold for full funding at non-levy employers is being widened, so more apprentices pay nothing at all. None of this comes out of the apprentice's pocket.

Because the exact percentages and age bands change, check the current position on GOV.UK apprenticeship funding, or read our plain-English breakdown in Apprenticeship Funding Explained.

Diploma: £4,230 in total, spread over interest-free instalments

The self-funded route through Access Law Online costs £4,230 in total without exemption: £2,310 for the Level 4 Diploma and £1,920 for the Level 6 Diploma. That covers every module, every assessment, and full tutor support, with no module-unlock fees, no re-sit charges, and no exam-board surcharges. You can pay in full, or spread the cost over 3, 5 or 12 monthly instalments at 0% interest, from around £192.50 a month at Level 4 and £160 a month at Level 6. There is no credit check.

If you hold a relevant legal qualification, or you have years of fee-earning experience, you may pay considerably less. See the exemptions section below, and the full picture in How Much Does a CLC Qualification Cost?

How long does each route take?

The apprenticeship runs to an approved standard. The Level 4 conveyancing technician apprenticeship (standard ST1312) has a minimum duration of around 12 months and typically runs 12 to 18 months. The Level 6 Licensed Conveyancer apprenticeship (standard ST1311) has a minimum duration of about 18 months and commonly runs longer for those new to the sector. Each ends with an end-point assessment before you register with the CLC.

The diploma route is more elastic because you control the pace. Most students complete each diploma in 12 to 24 months part-time. Experienced fee earners who already work in conveyancing and have study time available can move through both diplomas in as little as 3 to 4 months, because assessments are available from enrolment day with no minimum wait and exams run six days a week. Whichever route you take, the 1,200 hours of supervised practice usually run alongside Level 6 rather than after it.

For a full timeline breakdown, see How to Become a Licensed Conveyancer.

How do the initial assessment and exemptions affect each route?

Before you start, your prior learning and experience are reviewed, and that review can shorten either route. The mechanism is just named differently depending on which route you take.

Both exemption decisions are made by the CLC, not by us, but we can advise on what you are likely to qualify for. Check your position with our CLC Exemptions Calculator, and note that Access Law Online's Knowledge Mapping assessment helps you study only what you have not already covered.

Do both routes lead to the same qualification?

Yes. This is the most important point on the page. Whether you qualify through an apprenticeship or by self-funding the diplomas, you sit the same CLC Level 4 and Level 6 Diplomas, complete the same 1,200 hours, and apply to the same regulator for the same licence. An employer reading your CV cannot tell which route you took, because the qualification is identical.

On the way through, passing Level 4 lets you register with the CLC as a Conveyancing Technician and take real work under supervision. Passing Level 6 plus your 1,200 hours is what lets you apply for your First Qualifying Licence as a Licensed Conveyancer. Both routes pass through both of those milestones.

What about probate?

The same two routes exist for probate. You can qualify as a Licensed Probate Practitioner either through a probate apprenticeship (Probate Technician at Level 4, Licensed Probate Practitioner at Level 6) or by self-funding the Level 4 and Level 6 Diplomas in Probate Law and Practice. The funding, exemptions and decision logic on this page apply in exactly the same way.

So which should you choose?

Start your route with Access Law Online

Frequently asked questions

Is a conveyancing apprenticeship better than a diploma?

Neither is universally better; they suit different situations. An apprenticeship is usually the stronger choice if you have an employer, because it is government-funded, pays a salary, and bundles in your 1,200 hours of practice. The self-funded diploma is the better choice if you are a career-changer, you do not have an employer, or you want to start immediately and study at your own pace. Both lead to the identical CLC qualification and licence.

Do I need an employer to do a conveyancing apprenticeship?

Yes. An apprenticeship is a job, so you must be employed by a conveyancing firm (or secure a role with one) before you can start. If you do not have an employer, the self-funded diploma route lets you begin straight away, and many students use a Level 4 Diploma to land a Conveyancing Technician role and then move onto an apprenticeship from inside the firm.

Is the qualification the same on both routes?

Yes. Both routes deliver the same CLC Level 4 and Level 6 Diplomas in Conveyancing Law and Practice, require the same 1,200 hours of supervised experience, and lead to the same CLC licence. The qualification on your CV is identical regardless of which route you took.

How much does a conveyancing apprenticeship cost the apprentice?

Nothing. Apprenticeship training is funded through the government apprenticeship system. Levy-paying employers use their levy funds, non-levy employers pay a small co-investment, and training is fully funded for younger apprentices, with the full-funding age band being widened. The cost never falls on the apprentice. By contrast, the self-funded diploma costs £4,230 in total, or interest-free monthly instalments.

Can I get exemptions on either route?

Yes. On the apprenticeship route, an initial assessment maps your prior learning and reduces both the training plan and the funded price. On the diploma route, the CLC offers two exemption types: the Professional Experience Exemption for fee earners with at least four years' experience, and exemptions for prior legal qualifications such as an LLB or CILEx. Both can shorten the route and, on the diploma side, lower your tuition.

How long does each route take?

The Level 4 apprenticeship typically runs 12 to 18 months and the Level 6 apprenticeship around 18 months or more, each ending in an end-point assessment. The self-funded diploma is more flexible: most students take 12 to 24 months per diploma, while experienced fee earners with study time can complete both in as little as 3 to 4 months. The 1,200 hours of practice usually run alongside Level 6 on both routes.