Apprentice BasicsUpdated July 2026

Your apprentice logbook explained

Quick answer

Your training record (logbook, profiling record or e-profiling card) is the running evidence that you have actually done and mastered the on-the-job work in your training plan. Your employer and RTO sign it off as you go. In licensed trades it is also the evidence behind your licence, and signed-off competencies can move you to the next pay level early, so keeping it current is about money and your ticket, not just paperwork.

Every apprentice gets a training record alongside their training plan. It might be a paper logbook, an online portal, or an e-profiling app you fill in from your phone. It looks like just another form, but it is the one document that proves you were trained properly, can drive your pay progression, and in licensed trades it gates your capstone and your licence.

placeholder

Sources and official links

Straight from the source. These open in a new tab.

Keep reading: Apprentice Basics

See all →

Your first day as an apprenticeTurn up early with steel caps, your white card if you are in a construction trade, your paperwork (tax file number declaration, super choice form, bank details) and your own food and water. Expect the day to be about inductions, meeting the crew and learning how the site or workshop runs, not proving yourself on the tools. Watch, listen and ask questions instead of guessing.What to wear on your first dayWear certified steel-cap boots, sturdy long work pants and a hi-vis or collared shirt, plus sun protection if you are outdoors. Bring your White Card if you are heading to a construction site, because you cannot legally start without it. Ring your employer (or your GTO if you are group-trained) before day one: under the Building and Construction Award they must reimburse required steel-cap boots and protective clothing, so do not spend big before you ask.How to survive your first week on siteSort your white card before day one, turn up 15 minutes early, listen more than you talk, and treat every task (even sweeping up) as part of the job. Ask before you touch anything you have not been shown, and know your basics: the employer must induct you, supply your PPE, and pay you correctly from your very first payslip.How to ask questions on site without looking cluelessHave a crack at working it out first, then ask a clear, specific question at a sensible moment, not mid swing of a hammer. On anything safety related, skip all that and ask straight away. And remember, apprentice supervision is legally regulated in every state, so your supervisor being available to answer you is a requirement of the system, not a favour they're doing you.

Still stuck? Ask a tradie

Got a question? Ask it anonymously. We publish the best ones with answers from qualified tradies.

General guidance only

Answers here are general guidance to point you in the right direction - always check official sources and ask your supervisor for your specific situation.