Secondary school
The most direct route into the construction industry via secondary school is in the construction programme. A three-year programme focusing on theory and practice, both at school and at various companies.
Multiple specialisations
The building and construction programme is divided into five different specialisations. This website presents three of these: Building construction, Construction vehicles and Land and construction. They also include painting and tinsmithing.
Three years
Year one – You study a combination of common secondary school subjects and common programme subjects (construction theory and construction practice at school). The building and construction 1 and 2 courses common to the program provide you with knowledge and orientation in the different professions in the industry, so you can more easily choose which profession best suits you before the second year.
Year two – You focus on one of the specialisations; building construction, construction vehicles or land & construction. The programme combines theoretical and practical training in school with training at the workplace, known as workplace-based learning (WBL). Your training period must include at least 15 weeks of workplace-based learning. Workplace-based learning is mostly in years 2 and 3, but may also be part of a short introductory period in year 1, depending on the school’s programme.
Year three – You are fully focused on a specific profession and are now studying an in-depth programme based on this profession.
The education period in secondary school is called basic education.
The qualification period
The period following initial training is called the qualification period, during which you work as an apprentice in a company. The length of the qualification period varies from 24-36 months depending on the profession, after which you can apply for a professional certificate. You will receive an agreed-upon apprenticeship wage during the qualification period. You must independently apply for an apprenticeship position at a company that has either a collective agreement or a labour contract.
Secondary school apprentice
There is a possibility, at many secondary schools, to study a professional programme as a Secondary school apprentice. This means that more than half (50%) of the education is situated at a workplace.
A secondary school apprenticeship can be started in the first, second or third year of secondary school. At least half of the training is at one or more workplaces starting from the academic year in which the apprenticeship starts. A secondary school apprentice acquires the same skills as students in a school-based professional programme, but in a different learning environment.
At school, secondary apprentices study the subjects common to secondary education and potentially some of the professional subjects needed for the specific profession, just like other students. This is usually suitable for someone who is tired of studying or someone who wants to learn a specialised profession, such as stonemasonry, that the school in question does not have teachers for.
College preparatory programmes
As of august 2023, all professional programmes will be college preparatory programmes.