You may be able to apply to do a Revenues and Welfare Benefits Practitioner Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.

This is sometimes offered by organisations like money advice services and local councils.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

A common way into this career is to volunteer in an advice centre. You'll often start by giving general advice, then get special training in money advice once you have more experience.

It usually takes at least a year to get enough experience and knowledge to apply for paid work as a money adviser.

You can search for volunteering opportunities through organisations like:

• Do IT
• NCVO

It may be possible to apply directly to employers if you have some of the relevant skills and knowledge required for this role. It will be useful to have experience in other areas like:

• consumer advice
• welfare rights work
• debt recovery for a bank, council, utility company or similar organisation

Employers may not ask for qualifications as your experience would be the most important thing. You will need a reasonable standard of English and maths.

Your employer may ask you to do additional specialist training.

You can do a Level 3 Certificate and Diploma in Money and Debt Advice through the Chartered Institute of Credit Management.

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• knowledge of economics and accounting
• maths knowledge
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• sensitivity and understanding
• persistence and determination
• analytical thinking skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

As part of your day-to-day duties you may:

• talk to clients about their money problems
• look at income and outgoings
• carry out a benefits check and support benefit claims
• work out a sensible budget
• help put debts in order of importance
• talk with creditors to sort out a practical repayment plan
• gain the client's agreement to any repayment plan
• talk about other options like bankruptcy and what happens in court
• take the place of clients in court when asked to do so

You could work at a client's business, at a client's home or in a court.