Professionals must have a Master Craftsman's certificate to set up a business in the craft sector in a self-employed capacity and to train apprentices.

The Master Craftsman's certificate exists for all the main craft trades. This includes 121 craft trades in the fields of food, fashion, health and hygiene, mechanics, construction, communications, multimedia and performing arts, as well as the various skilled crafts.

Preparatory courses for a Master Craftsman's certificate generally take 3 years to complete and are 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 that are under the purview of the Chamber of Commerce.

The courses are structured in modules. The maximum time in which to pass all of the modules is 6 years. Classes are generally held on weeknights and weekends. Courses are offered as continuing adult education and are adapted to the needs of adults and young people aged 18 or above.

Who is concerned

Preparatory courses for a Master Craftsman's certificate are intended for future entrepreneurs, as well as for anyone wishing to hold a position of authority at a company in a craft trade, industry or sales.

Holders of a Master Craftsman's certificate may go into business for themselves and train apprentices. 

Prerequisites

To gain access to the training course leading to the Master Craftsman's certificate, it is necessary to have obtained a diploma which is deemed higher or equal to a vocational skills certificate (certificat d'aptitude technique et professionnelle - CATP) or a vocational aptitude diploma (diplôme d'aptitude professionnelle - DAP).

Any other higher education diploma or certificate will be subject to the Minister's approval.

Please note: a foreign diploma must be recognised as equivalent by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth (MENEJ).

Recognition of equivalence of foreign diplomas must be requested 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.

Candidates who do not satisfy these requirements may send an application for registration to the practical examinations to the director of vocational training, duly justified and accompanied by the required supporting documents.

Deadlines

The annual registration period for preparatory courses and exams runs from 15 June to 15 August of each year. It is not possible to register after this date.

Registration for courses and exams must be renewed for each session.

Costs

Registration fees for the preparatory courses are EUR 600 per year. Registration fees for exams are EUR 300 per exam session.

How to proceed

Enrolment for courses and exams

Potential candidates must register online on the Website of the Master Craftsman's certificate. Supporting documents should be submitted as file attachments to the online registration form.

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

• a copy of the certificate of study (DAP, CATP or recognised equivalent or higher diploma);
• a copy of the ID card or birth certificate;
• an employment certificate, or a copy of the employment contract together with a printout from the Department of Social Security (certificat d’affiliation) showing the relevant job title and contract start date.

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 pedagogy;
• professional theory and practice.

Classes are generally held on week nights and weekends. They begin in early to mid-September, and end in late March of the following year.

The courses are structured in modules. Candidates can follow the courses at their own pace and may, at the time of registration, select the modules they wish to take that year. 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.

Organisation of the management and applied pedagogy courses into 5 modules

Exams

The CDM organises two exam sessions per year:

• one in spring (during the Easter break, from end of March to mid-April);
• one in autumn (first half of October).

During each session, candidates may sit the exams for each module:

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

Candidates may only sit theory exams for their registered modules if they have attended 80% of the classes and have paid their registration fees on time.

Candidates may only sit the practical exams if they have passed all the professional theory exams (modules F, G and H), can prove they have completed at least one year of work experience in the trade for which they are registered, and have paid their registration fees on time.

Criteria for passing exams

To pass, candidates must obtain a satisfactory mark overall (30 out of 60 points) for each module in management, applied pedagogy, technology and professional practice.

However, if a candidate obtains a mark lower than 20 points in one or more subjects in a combined module, that module will be considered failed, even if the final mark for the module is 30 points or higher.

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