Earning a technical secondary diploma through evening classes or a work-study programme

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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, called 2nd qualification pathway, is specially suited to the needs of adults and covers the lower-, intermediate-, and upper-level courses of technical secondary education (enseignement secondaire technique - EST).

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.

Second qualification pathway courses also prepare learners for general secondary school examinations. Evening classes to prepare for the secondary school leaving examination are organised at the Athénée de Luxembourg and the École nationale pour adultes for classes from grades 4e to 1re moderne, section G (humanities and social sciences). Classes take place every weekday evening at the Athénée, or during the day at the École nationale pour adultes (which only offers classes from grades 4e to 2e).

Who is concerned

Anyone who is at least 18 years old (including those registered as jobseekers with ADEM) who wish to complete their studies.

Applicants can take 9th class (lower EST) courses as well as various vocational and technical training courses (10th-13th classes). As with the initial training, a secondary school technical diploma is awarded if the technical courses (10th-13th classes) are successfully completed. Similarly, vocational courses (10th-12th 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

9th classes and technical system training (baccalauréat technique)

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

Courses for the 10th to 13th grades of the administrative and commercial division, Management section, for a secondary school technical diploma (technical baccalaureate) are organised as evening courses at the Ecole de Commerce et de Gestion (ECG).

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

Registration procedure

Candidates interested in a 9th-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:

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

Any person engaged in working life can also acquire a DAP or CCP through accreditation of prior and experiential learning.

Apprenticeship procedure

The theoretical part of training takes place in the evening in technical secondary education establishments 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 lists of apprenticeship professions and trades in which a vocational aptitude diploma or certificate of vocational ability can be obtained is available at lifelong-learning.lu.

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.

Secondary education establishments offering training leading to a EST diploma in evening or work-study courses

Type of training courses offered by secondary education establishments
  Place of training Description of training
9th classes Lycée Technique du Centre Luxembourg (LTC)
Lycée Guillaume Kroll (LGK)
Lycée du Nord		 These schools offer adult evening courses that correspond to practical, general and technical 9th grade courses.
10th to 13th grade courses of the administrative and commercial division,
Management section		 École de commerce et de gestion Luxembourg (ECG) Evening classes corresponding to 10th to 13th grade technical courses of the administrative and commercial division, management section, are organised at the ECG to obtain the technical secondary school leaving diploma.
10th grade healthcare professions division Lycée Technique du Centre Luxembourg (LTC)
École nationale pour adultes (ENAD)		 Evening classes corresponding to the 10th and 11th grade courses of the health and social service professions division are offered at the LTC and are offered as day classes at the École nationale pour adultes.
DAP/CATP in general
(fashion, health, hygiene, car mechanics, construction, housing, commerce, carpentry, etc., depending on year and demand)		 Lycée Technique du Centre Luxembourg (LTC) The theoretical part is taught in the evening, either at a technical secondary education establishment or the Centre national de formation professionnelle continue (CNFPC).
The practical part is acquired through employment in a company.
CATP for building trades
(bricklayer, tiler, chimney sweep, stonemason, marble worker, plasterer and framer)		 Lycée Technique Josy Barthel Mamer (LJBM) The theoretical part is taught in the evening, either at a technical secondary education establishment or the Centre national de formation professionnelle continue (CNFPC).
The practical part is acquired through employment in a company.
CATP for the professions of butcher, baker, chef Lycée Technique de Bonnevoie (LTB) The theoretical part is taught during the day or in the evening, either at a technical secondary education establishment or the Centre national de formation professionnelle continue (CNFPC).
The practical part is acquired through employment in a company.
DAP in horticulture Lycée Technique Agricole (LTA) The theoretical part is taught in the evening, either at the technical secondary education establishment or the Centre national de formation professionnelle continue (CNFPC).
The practical part is acquired through employment in a company.

Who to contact

  • Ministry of Education, Children and Youth Department of Adult Education

    Address:
    15, rue Léon Hengen L-1745 Luxembourg Luxembourg
    L-2926 Luxembourg
    Phone:
    (+352) 8002 4488
    Email address:
    sfa@men.lu
    Website:
    http://www.men.public.lu
    Closed ⋅ Opens Monday at 8.00
    Saturday:
    Closed
    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.30
    Tuesday:
    8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.30
    Wednesday:
    8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.30
    Thursday:
    8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.30
    Friday:
    8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.30

  • Ministry of Education, Children and Youth Department of Vocational Training

    Address:
    29, rue Aldringen Luxembourg Luxembourg
    L-2926 Luxembourg
    Phone:
    (+352) 247 852 39
    Email address:
    info@spf.lu
    Website:
    http://www.men.public.lu
    Closed ⋅ Opens Monday at 8.30
    Saturday:
    Closed
    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    8.30 to 11.30 , 14.00 to 17.00
    Tuesday:
    8.30 to 11.30 , 14.00 to 17.00
    Wednesday:
    8.30 to 11.30 , 14.00 to 17.00
    Thursday:
    8.30 to 11.30 , 14.00 to 17.00
    Friday:
    8.30 to 11.30 , 14.00 to 17.00

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