Programmes in Luxembourg

The Luxembourgish VET system leads to three officially recognized qualifications: The vocational capacity certificate (CCP), the vocational aptitude diploma (DAP) and the technician’s diploma (DT). All three qualifications enable a direct access to the labour market. Moreover, the DAP and the DT offer the possibility to access higher education after the successful completion of optional preparatory modules in languages and mathematics followed either during or after completion of the initial training.

Vocational programmes - CCP (ISCED 353 – EQF 2)

All CCP programmes are provided under apprenticeship contract. The normal duration of the programme leading to the Vocational capacity certificate (Certificat de capacité professionnelle, CCP) is 3 years (classes 10 to 12). The programmes prepare learners for the labour market and give access to the minimum salary for qualified workers after 5 years of working experience in the field. They are organised in modules where each module is assessed individually.

Apprenticeship in a training company is at the core of the CCP. In accordance with the amended law of 2008 on the reform of VET, an apprenticeship leading to CCP includes:

• practical training under the guidance of a tutor in a training company or in a public training centre;
• general education and professional theory courses in a school setting;
• pedagogical support aimed at the development of the social competences of the apprentice required for his social and professional integration.

CCP programmes are designed for learners who do not have access to the Vocational aptitude diploma (Diplôme d’aptitude professionnelle, DAP) or the Technician’s diploma (Diplôme de technicien, DT). After completion of the CCP, the student can continue education in a Vocational aptitude diploma programme (DAP) in the same specialty field.

Vocational programmes - DAP (ISCED 353 – EQF 3)

The Vocational programmes leading to the Vocational aptitude diploma (Diplôme d’aptitude professionnelle – DAP) prepare learners for entry into the labour market as a qualified worker and accordingly gives access to the minimum salary for qualified workers. The normal duration of the programme is 3 years (classes 10 to 12). The programme gives the opportunity to follow further studies to become a master craftsperson (Brevet de maîtrise, ISCED 453) or to get access to higher education studies (études techniques supérieures, ISCED 550 or 650) on successful completion of supplementary preparatory modules in languages and mathematics, which can be followed after the completion of the VET programme.

Vocational programmes leading to a DAP always alternate periods of school-based and work-based learning. However, different forms of organisation exist according to the VET programme:

• in dual track (filière concomitante) VET programmes, part of the competences is acquired in a technical secondary school and the other part is acquired in a training company under an apprenticeship contract. Learners normally spend one or more days per week in school while the other days of the week are spent in a training company;
• mixed tracks (filière mixte) are organised for some professions and usually offer full-time training in school for the first year of the programme, while the following years are organised as dual track schemes with an apprenticeship contract. There, part of the training takes place in a technical secondary school while the learner spents the rest of the time in a training company;
• in full-time school tracks (filière de plein exercice), training occurs in a technical secondary school and includes internships in companies, totalling at least 12 weeks over the whole training period.

Technician’s programmes – DT (ISCED 354 – EQF 4)

The Technician’s programme (Régime de la formation de technicien) covers classes 10 to 13 (4 years) and prepares learners for the Technician’s diploma (Diplôme de technicien, DT). Technician’s programmes focus on training enabling access to the labour market with a high and diverse profile of competences. Learners in DT programmes can also acquire access to higher education upon successful completion of optional preparatory modules in languages and mathematics which can be followed either during or after completion of the VET programme. The Technician’s programmes are mostly organised as full-time school tracks with internship periods in companies, totalling a minimum of 12 weeks over the whole training period. Some Technician’s programmes are organised as dual or mixed tracks and the government is aiming to increase the number of programmes organised as such. In 2019, six tracks were offered under apprenticeship: administration and commerce, logistics, mechatronics, aircraft mechatronics, commercial market gardening, sales and management.

Apart from the regular dual apprenticeship, two complementary schemes are linked to the apprenticeship scheme:

Practical training provided by public training centres

If learners are unable to find an in-company apprenticeship contract, work-based learning can alternatively take place at a public training centre. This option is not subject to an apprenticeship contract but to a training convention, hence learners are defined as “apprentice pupils” according to the amended Vocational Training Act of 2019, Art. 2, 12. This option leads to the same formal qualifications as the regular apprenticeship scheme.

In 2019, 419 learners participated in CCP and DAP tracks in public training centres (school years 2018/19 and 2019/2020) (on top of the 3477 under regular apprenticeship). 68 learners attended a “preparatory employer’s training”, a one-year training programme that aims at adjusting the level of professional and social skills and enable learners switch to the 2nd year of regular in-company training in the private sector. This option is meant to avoid school dropout and help CCP learners with specific training needs, in particular basic and social skills, to prepare for labour market integration. As the system is based on modules, every module that is successfully passed during this year is valid for lifetime, independently whether it was passed in a public training centre or training company.

Cross-border apprenticeships

A legal basis has also been established for cross-border apprenticeships, easing the mobility of apprentices, especially for specific qualifications defined by Grand-Ducal Regulation for which theoretical training is not available in Luxembourg schools due to the small number of participants. In the cross-border apprenticeship scheme, the practical component is carried out in a training company located in Luxembourg. The school-based training is provided by a school in a neighbouring country.

Luxembourg is committed to promoting and facilitating outgoing and incoming mobility for learners, teachers and workers, especially with neighbouring regions in Germany, Belgium and France. In 2019, a total of 186 learners participated in cross-border apprenticeships, of which 36 Luxembourgish residents.