The Luxembourg education system offers courses to adults not having been able to complete their original schooling to prepare for the same diplomas and certificates as those issued in regular education. This type of continuing training for adults who wish to complete their education, called 2^nd qualification pathway, is specially suited to the needs of adults and covers the lower-, intermediate- and upper-level courses of technical secondary education (EST, from the French).

The purpose of continuing vocational training is to:

• help people with professional qualifications to adapt them to technological advances and the shifting needs of the economy, and supplement or extend them;
• provide people who perform a professional activity, whether salaried or freelance, or the unemployed, with the opportunity to prepare for EST diplomas and certificates and obtain a professional qualification in an accelerated training system;
• support and supplement practical work-based learning.

Who is concerned

The information given here applies to anyone who is at least 18 years of age who wants to complete their studies; including people registered as jobseekers with the National Employment Agency (Agence pour le développement de l'emploi - ADEM).

Applicants can take 9^th class (lower EST) courses as well as various vocational and technical training courses (10^th-13^th classes). As with the initial training, a secondary school technical diploma is awarded if the technical courses (10^th-13^th classes) are successfully completed. Similarly, vocational courses (10^th-12^th classes) lead to a vocational diploma (DAP) or certificate of vocational ability (CCP) and can be attended as evening or work-study courses (adult learning).

How to proceed

9^th classes and technical system training (baccalauréat technique)

Courses for the 9^th class are offered to adults in the evening at staggered times from Monday to Friday:

• at the Lycée Technique du Centre de Luxembourg (LTC);
• at the Lycée Technique d’Esch-sur-Alzette (LTE);
• at the Lycée du Nord in Wiltz.

Courses for the 10^th to 13^th classes of the administrative and commercial division, Management section, for a secondary school technical diploma (technical baccalauréat) are organised as evening courses at the Lycée Technique Ecole de Commerce et de Gestion (LTECG – Business and Management Technical School).

A 10^th-class course in the healthcare division is offered at the Lycée Technique du Centre (LTC).

Registration procedure

Candidates interested in a 9^th-class course or technical courses must be at least 18 years old and have been out of the school system for at least one year. Prior to registering, they must contact the secretary of the lycée of their choice for a pre-registration form and information on the registration deadlines and procedure.

The following documents must be attached to all applications:

• any certificates and/or diplomas;
• transcripts for the last successful school year;
• a copy of the applicant's identity card;
• a CV.

Candidates will be informed by post if they are admitted to their chosen course of study.

Instruction is free, but students must pay for textbooks and course materials. No financial aid is provided.

Apprenticeships for adults (CCP, DAP)

Apprenticeships for adults provide professional training to adult learners through a work-study apprenticeship system in order to obtain a diploma from the EST professional system.

This training path is intended for:

• adults under employment contracts;
• jobseekers registered with the ADEM.

In both cases, the ADEM's Vocational Guidance Department will assist candidates in their procedural efforts and possible placement.

The following training is offered through adult apprenticeships:

• the vocational aptitude diploma (DAP);
• the certificate of vocational ability (CCP);
• the technician's diploma (DT).

Unlike initial apprenticeship training, adult apprentices are paid the social minimum wage by their employers.

Apprenticeship procedure

The theoretical part of training takes place in the evening in technical colleges or at the National Centre for Continuing Vocational Training (Centre National de Formation Professionnelle Continue - CNFPC). The practical part is acquired under an apprenticeship contract with a company authorised to train apprentices.

The terms and conditions for an initial apprenticeship (apprenticeship and end-of-apprenticeship exam) are also applicable to adult apprenticeships.

Conditions for admission

Certain conditions must be met before an adult can sign an apprenticeship contract. The applicant must:

1. be at least 18 years old;
2. have been out of the initial schooling system, and not under an initial apprenticeship contract, for at least one year at the time of application;
3. have been registered with the Joint Social Security Centre (Centre Commun de la Sécurité Sociale - CCSS) for at least 12 months (continuous or otherwise) and for at least 20 hours per week;
4. meet the same academic conditions of access as those stated for the initial apprenticeship (for applicants who cannot produce the necessary school documents, an aptitude test is mandatory to determine the level of education. In addition, candidates who have demonstrated prior professional practice that can be validated may be exempted from normal eligibility requirements);
5. prospective jobseekers must have been registered with the ADEM for at least one month.

There are, however, some exceptions to items 2 and 3:

• it is possible to make a written request for suspension of the requirement of at least 12 months registration with the CCSS;
• for people who wish to acquire another professional qualification, an exemption may be granted by the consultative commission on the basis of a reasoned request:
  • for CCM/CCP holders who wish to acquire an additional qualification;
  • for CITP holders who are directly eligible to prepare for the DAP for the same speciality, on the basis of the opinion from the class guidance session;
  • for holders of a DAP/CATP or a technician's diploma who wish to acquire a DAP for an additional qualification.

Registration

Individuals who want to start an apprenticeship for adults must submit their application in person before the beginning of September to the ADEM vocational guidance department.

The application file must include:

• a copy of the registration card from the CCSS;
• a CCSS registration certificate (validity limited to 1 month);
• a copy of an ID card or passport;
• copies of school transcripts or diplomas or certificates or school transcript, diploma and certificate equivalents issued by the Department for the recognition of diplomas of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth;
• a CV.

A commission approves or denies the admission of candidates who have submitted a complete application file. They will be informed of the commission's decision by post.

In the event of acceptance, an adult apprentice who has found a training company contacts the ADEM vocational guidance department to obtain the necessary documents for the apprenticeship placement. The adult apprenticeship contract must be registered between 15 July at the earliest and 1 November of the year of the apprenticeship at the latest.

Colleges offering training leading to a EST diploma in evening or work-study courses

Who to contact