After three days' classroom training, the reporter was sent out to shadow other more senior carers on 16 visits.

They then have one or two weeks of classroom training followed by a written exam and a three-month probation period.

At the completion of each 20-minute classroom training period the instructors would announce 'right, smoke', and obediently we would all light up.

After the six months of classroom training students are sent to hospitals for clinical practice.

Typical apprenticeship programs emphasize hands-on work under the supervision of journeymen, but also include a substantial component of classroom training and testing.