Programmes in Austria

Apprenticeship Training programmes

The Austrian apprenticeship system offers a wide range of vocational qualifications and study programmes. As of September 2022, there were 227 different apprenticeship trades (212 apprenticeship occupations in trade, commerce and in industry sectors and 15 apprenticeship occupations in agriculture and forestry) available for all young people seeking an apprenticeship placement.

These are set up as individual, group, special-focus, or modular apprenticeships. All apprenticeship trades are laid down in the list of apprenticeships (http://lehrberufsliste.m-services.at), which specifies the apprenticeship periods and relationships to other apprenticeship trades including credits awarded for already completed apprenticeship periods.

The knowledge and skills required for an apprenticeship trade are specified in training regulations based on labour market requirements. In this respect, the ability to practise an occupation is predominant. Training in an apprenticeship aims to qualify graduates to take up their chosen occupation immediately upon completion of training. Training regulations specify the minimum requirements for the training content that should be imparted by the training enterprise. A consistent training level for the individual apprenticeship trade is therefore also ensured.

Since 2020, a modernisation and introduction of 60 apprenticeship regulations has been conducted and/or newly created in six apprenticeship packages.

Examples

2021: The special module “Additive Manufacturing” (3D printing) was introduced in the apprenticeship occupation mechatronics.

2020: The special module “Electromobility Drives” was established in Vehicle Technology apprenticeship module after its introduction as a test-phase training in the area of electromobility in 2015.

In the apprenticeship training system, the two places of learning are the training company and the part-time vocational school. The apprentice is in a training relationship with their training company in addition to being a student at a part-time vocational school, at the same time. The company-based part of training makes up a major part of the apprenticeship period (80%).

• Supra-company training

Young people who do not find a company-based apprenticeship post have the option to complete an apprenticeship within the framework of supra-company training (Überbetriebliche Ausbildung, ÜBA).

• Berufsmatura

Since autumn 2008 all Austrian apprentices have had the possibility to complete the Berufsmatura in parallel to their apprenticeship training. Matura is the Austrian general university entrance exam that can be passed at the end of the general or vocational upper secondary schools. The Berufsmatura is the “vocational” version in the framework of apprenticeship training. Three out of four subjects can be completed via an exam before the final apprenticeship examination. To be admitted to the fourth and final subject examination, the apprentice must have finished their apprenticeship by passing the final apprenticeship examination and also have reached the age of 19. The Berufsmatura offers the possibility to pass most aspects of the Berufsreifeprüfung within the time of the apprenticeship training.