Vocational competence means that you are trained to practice a vocation. Choosing programme areas from among the 10 vocational education programmes will lead to different forms of vocational competence.

Vocational competence with trade or journeyman’s certificate

Training in the so-called apprentice trades leads to a trade or journeyman’s certificate after passing the trade or journeyman’s final exam.

• In crafts-related subjects we speak of the journeyman’s certificate and the journeyman’s final examination. For example, a blacksmith has a journeyman’s certificate.
• In other subjects we speak of the trade certificate and the qualifying exam. For example, an electrician has a trade certificate.

For apprentice trades, education/training take place both at school and at training establishments over a period of 4 years or more. You can read more about this under Training in training establishments .

Vocational competence without a trade or journeyman’s certificate

Training in subjects unrelated to apprentice trades leads to vocational competence without a trade or journeyman’s certificate.

• For example: a medical secretary has vocational competence without a trade or journeyman’s certificate.

Vocational education and training consists of 3 years of education at school, often with alternating periods of in-service training.

Tertiary vocational education

Within a number of subject areas, vocational competence provides a basis for tertiary vocational education. A trade or journeyman’s certificate provides the basis for advanced training leading to a master certificate.

The supplementary programme for general university admissions certification can give you general university admissions certification.