The Queensland Government Career Start and career boost programs works in conjunction with the Commonwealth Australian Apprenticeships System under which apprentices and trainees enter into a legally binding training contract with their employers and receive structured training to receive a nationally recognised qualification. The qualifications funded by the Queensland Government are linked to priority skills areas and are determined from national and state data in conjunction with industry input, and are reviewed annually.

It is a requirement of the programs that a co-contribution fee is paid towards the cost of the training. These tuition fees are determined by the government and are payable at a unit of competency level, based on the nominal hours of training. They may be paid by the student, employer or third party, but cannot be waived. Fee exemptions apply.