Applicants in the first instance must secure a placement with a SOLAS approved employer and must meet the minimum standard under one of the following criteria:



Additional requirements

All applicants must pass the Ishihara Colour Vision test (24 Plate addition) prior to registering on the programme.

The programme is delivered through English. In the event that an applicant has English as a second language, a CEFR Level C1 of proficiency in the English language is required. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide official evidence demonstrating English language competence at C1 level.

Further information is also available from the coordinating provider for this apprenticeship:

CM ETB Programme Manager
Monaghan Institute Education Campus
Armagh Road
Monaghan Town
Co. Monaghan
H18 FY94

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 087 4587344

An enquiry or application for the OEM Engineer Apprenticeship can be made on the OEM Apprenticeship website.

This is a three year programme delivered as follows:



The modules delivered on this apprenticeship are:

• Health and Safety
• Engineering Drawings
• OEM Practices
• Electrical and Electronic Technology
• Mechatronics
• Testing and Measurement of Electronic Systems
• OEM Operations
• Analytics and Problem Solving
• Industrial Robotics and PLC’s
• Team Leadership
• Communications
• Applied Engineering
• Capstone Work-based Project

The training is provided by the following institutions:

• Monaghan Institute
• Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board.

An enquiry or application for the OEM Engineer Apprenticeship can be made on the OEM Apprenticeship website.

At the end of the Apprenticeship, the OEM Engineering Technician will be able to demonstrate competence in the following:

Core Skills

• Equipment assembly using testing procedures, interpretation of technical drawings, schematics, data and relevant OEM standards in a manufacturing environment
• Installation, use, testing and troubleshooting of hydraulic, electro mechanical, pneumatic, electrical wiring and automated control systems in a manufacturing environment

Specialist Skills

• Fault diagnosis and rectification within OEM products across engine driven systems, electrical wiring systems, battery powered systems, hydraulics systems, pneumatic systems and control systems
• Installation, use, testing and troubleshooting of robotics systems, battery powered systems, diesel and gas engines
• Manufacture, installation and commissioning of OEM products
• Customer service and support around the correct use and maintenance of OEM products

Common Skills

• Health and safety procedures, including the selection, safe use of and storage of craft-related tools, plant, equipment, components and materials
• Engineering workshop techniques and practice
• Fitting and torqing of various fasteners, e.g nuts, bolts, hydraulic fittings, electrical connections etc.
• Manufacturing efficiency (LEAN) principles to the OEM workplace
• Mathematical calculations/principles during installation, use, testing and fault diagnosis associated with OEM products
• Use of common computer applications

Personal Skills

• Communications
• Customer service and support
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to work independently
• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Time management/planning
• Information gathering Report writing

While common engineering skills will be developed over the duration of the programme, the OEM Engineering technician, uniquely, will cultivate the skills necessary to assemble, install, test, commission and electronically control engine-driven (diesel and gas) and battery powered systems.

The OEM Engineering Technician will have the necessary skills to analyse these systems together with electrical wiring systems, hydraulics systems, pneumatic systems and robotics systems to identify specific faults encountered in OEM products. OEM Engineering Technicians will possess the expertise to provide support to customers around the use and maintenance of the products they manufacture.

The OEM Engineering Technician will be required to interpret technical data and use calibration, torquing, and testing instruments for effective product assembly, fault diagnosis and rectification. They will also be responsible for the installation and calibration of sensors and transmitting and controlling devices.

The OEM Engineering Technician will be a key member of cross functional teams such as research and development, assembly, manufacturing, testing, customer support, service & installation, product management and marketing/sales.

Upon completion of the programme, successful applicants will graduate with an Advanced Certificate in Original Equipment Manufacturing.
This is a Major Award at NFQ Level 6, awarded by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).

Graduates of this apprenticeship programme will have the opportunity to progress into supervisory and management roles.

Graduates are also eligible to apply to a range of degree programmes in the third level sector.

For further information on progression routes, please contact the CMETB Programme Manager.

Career Progression Useful Links: Educational 

These qualifications can help you to progress to a wide range of engineering roles including Engineering Operative; Engineering Maintenance Technician; Mechanical Engineering Technician; Sheet Metal Worker; Toolmaker/Machine Programmer; Field Service Technicians; Supervisor; Team Leader; Training Instructor; Engineering Management.

Academic Progress - With or without Recognised Prior Learning obtained through experience, completion of the apprenticeship programme will provide numerous opportunities to progress to Levels 7 and 8 engineering programmes.

Other opportunities will arise in Engineering and Teaching degrees - such opportunities include Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Energy Systems Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Bachelor of Technology (Education) in Materials and Engineering Technology.

Depending on your skills, knowledge and experience some of the opportunities below might be appropriate to help develop your Career pathway.   

• Springboard & conversion courses  
• Skillnet Sector learning network courses
• Skills to advance Local ETB Board
• Further education training centres Fetchcourses
• Post graduate education Search Post Graduate options

Enterprise and Self-Employment Support:

On completion of anapprenticeship if you feel you have the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience you may decide to set up your own business. The links below might be useful to support you:

• Local Enterprise Offices, For profit Local enterprise support
• Local Area partnerships For profit enterprise support
• Social entrepreneurs: Not-for-profit enterprise support
• Franchising: Developing your business under an established franchise

To become an apprentice in Ireland you must be hired by an employer. Apprenticeship employers are formally approved by SOLAS in advance of employing apprentices. Apprentices get a formal contract of employment as part of their apprenticeship.

To find an apprenticeship, you can search apprenticeship vacancies and a list of currently approved apprentice employers on the Apprenticeship Jobs & Employers Portal. You can search for vacancies by location, and employers in each apprenticeship.

Use this link to explore a list of Approved Employers by Region and by Apprenticeship type.

This apprenticeship is managed by Cavan and Monaghan ETB (CM ETB). If you are interested in an OEM Engineer Apprenticeship you should make contact with CMETB via the contact details below.

You can express an interest by visiting OEM Apprenticeship website

Full eligibility criteria for this apprenticeship are available in the OEM Engineer Apprenticeship brochure.

Please note: To become an OEM engineer apprentice you must pass the Ishihara Colour Vision Test (24 Plate Edition).

For further information, contact your local Education and Training Board.

Finding an employer and securing your apprenticeship

Finding an employer or registering your interest with an official Coordinating Provider is one of the first things you need to do to start an apprenticeship.

Opportunities for this apprenticeship may be available from the following organisations:

• Combilift
• Intel

Opportunities for this apprenticeship may be available from the following organisations:

• McHale Engineering
• Irish Rail

Online Jobsites

Here are some direct links to employment websites that frequently list apprenticeship vacancies.

Note: These websites may include vacancies that are not QQI accredited Apprenticeships.

As an apprentice, you earn while you learn. The employer pays you a salary while you are being trained on-the-job and off-the-job. The rate of pay is agreed between you and your employer.

Apprentices are not required to pay a student contribution for this apprenticeship.

OEM Apprenticeship FAQs