The Master Craftsman's certificate is a diploma that authorises its holder to do business as an independent artisan and to train apprentices.

A Master Craftsman's certificate exists for all of the major craft professions. Crafts represents 121 trades in the fields of food, fashion-health-hygiene, mechanics, construction and housing, communications, multimedia, performing arts and artistic professions.

The course of study for a Master Craftsman's certificate generally takes 3 years to complete and is organised by the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts (Chambre des métiers - CDM). Obtaining a Master Craftsman's certificate confers the title of Master Craftsman in the particular trade. The Master Craftsman's certificate does not exist for professions within the purview of the Chamber of Commerce.

The training programme is module-based and usually lasts 6 years. The training takes place on evenings and weekends. It is offered as continuing adult education and is adapted to the needs of adults or young people aged 18 or above.

Who is concerned

The Master Craftsman's certificate (brevet de maîtrise) is aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as anyone who wishes to take on a position in a craft, industrial or commercial business. Holders of a Master Craftsman's certificate may go into business for themselves and may train apprentices. 

Prerequisites

Candidates for a Master Craftsman's certificate must have following diplomas:

• a DAP/CATP in any trade or profession or higher education diploma;
• a certificate of technical and vocational aptitude (certificat d'aptitude technique et professionnelle - CATP) or a vocational aptitude diploma (diplôme d'aptitude professionnelle - DAP) in the chosen craft trade;
• a technician's diploma, depending on the specialisation;
• a secondary school diploma;
• a post-secondary school diploma;
• a diploma recognised as equivalent by the Ministry of Education, Children, and Youth (Ministère de l’Education nationale, de l'Enfance et de la Jeunesse).

Equivalencies for foreign diplomas must be applied for from the Ministry of Education, Children, and Youth. To apply for equivalency to a Luxembourg diploma interested parties must submit certified copies of their diplomas along with a cover letter.

Deadlines

Enrolment for preparatory courses and exams is open each year from 15 June until 15 August. Beyond this deadline, no further enrolments will be accepted.

Course and exam enrolments must be renewed each session.

Costs

The enrolment fee for the preparatory courses for the exam is EUR 600 per academic year. The enrolment fee for the exams is EUR 300 per exam session.

How to proceed

Enrolment for courses and exams

Enrolments must be carried out online on the website of the Master Craftsman's certificate. All supporting documents have to be attached as electronic files at the time of the enrolment.

Potential candidates should fill out the online registration form and attach the following supporting documents:

• a copy of their diplomas/certificates (DAP, CATP or the diploma recognised as equivalent or higher);
• a copy of their ID card or birth certificate;
• an employment certificate or a copy of the employment contract together with the certificate of affiliation to the Joint Social Security Centre (with the exact title of the work position and the start date of the contract).

Organisation and content of the training

Preparatory courses

To ensure optimal preparation for the Master Craftsman's certificate exam, the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts offers preparatory courses in the following fields:

• business organisation and management;
• applied pedagogics;
• business theory and practises.

The training courses take place on evenings and weekends. They start in the second half of September and end by the end of March the following year.

The training programme is split into modules. Candidates are free to plan their course of study in a way that best suits their lifestyle and they can select the modules they would like to attend during the academic year at the time of their enrolment. As the maximum study period is 6 years the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts offers a standard programme that allows for steady progress but still includes a time buffer.

The business organisation and management courses, as well as the applied pedagogics courses, are common to all trades. These courses are organised in 5 modules.

Examinations

The CDM holds 2 exam sessions per year:

• a spring session (during the Easter holidays, end of March to mid-April);
• an autumn session (first half of October).

At each session, the candidates have the possibility to take the exams for each module:

• the business organisation and management and applied pedagogics courses (modules A, B, C, D, E);
• the professional theory course (Modules F, G, H).

Candidates are admitted to the theoretical examinations provided they have attended 80% of the courses in which they are registered and have paid the enrolment fees within the set deadlines.

Candidates are admitted to the practical examinations provided they have successfully passed each professional theory examination (modules F, G and H) and can provide proof of at least one year of professional experience in the profession chosen and have paid the enrolment fees within the set deadlines.

Criteria for passing exams:

Candidates have passed the examination if they have received a satisfactory grade (30 out of 60 points) in the management modules, applied pedagogy modules, technology modules and professional practice modules.

However, candidates with a grade below 20 points in one or more subjects in the same module, even if the final grade for the module is equal to or higher than 30 points, is deemed not to have passed the entire module concerned.

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