Vocational adult education and training can be divided into upper secondary and additional vocational education and training. The education or training may be either certificate-oriented or non-formal. Upper secondary vocational education and training is certificate-oriented, whereas additional vocational training may be either.

Adults can maintain and enhance their competencies and to study for qualifications or parts of qualifications through different types of training and approaches such as (i) In-service training; (ii) Apprenticeship training; (iii) Competence test system; and (iv) Labour market training (adult employment training).

In-service training

In terms of the participation rate, in-service training is the most extensive form of adult education and training. According to studies carried out by industrial organisations, companies have started to invest more in the professional development of their personnel. In all companies, at least half of the salaried employees participate in some form of training. Financing of in-service training is mainly the responsibility of the companies.

Apprenticeship training

Apprenticeship training is one form of arranging vocational education and training, which has become popular in recent years. The provider of apprenticeship training (a local authority, joint municipal authority, registered association or foundation) is also responsible for managing apprenticeship training and supervising the apprenticeship contracts. Formal vocational education and training comprises vocational qualifications, further vocational qualifications and special vocational qualifications. Qualifications of all three levels may also be completed as apprenticeship training. Apprenticeship training is available to both adults and young people. 

The number of participants in apprenticeship training has traditionally been relatively low in Finland, but student volumes have increased considerably in recent years as a result of increased Government inputs. The number of students more than tripled during the period 1994–1999. In 2006 some 55 000 students took part in apprenticeship training.

The apprenticeship training is based on a working contract, and the practical training periods take place at the workplace in connection with ordinary work assignments. This is complemented by theoretical studies, which may be arranged at institutions providing vocational education and training, at vocational adult education centres, or at other educational institutions, where necessary.

Apprenticeship training is based on a national core curriculum or the requirements for the relevant competence-based qualification, according to which the student’s individual learning programme is formed. It is drawn up so as to allow for the needs and prerequisites of the workplace and the student.

The students’ previous education and work experience must be taken into account and accredited in the learning programme. The learning programme is drawn up by the student, the employer and the local administrative authorities in co-operation, so that it can be appended to the apprenticeship contract when the contract is approved.

In apprenticeship training, the employer pays the student a wage for the apprenticeship period. The theoretical studies of apprenticeship training are free of student fees and for the time they spend in theoretical studies, students may receive daily allowance, family allowance as well as financial support for transportation and accommodation expenses. The State is responsible for all these costs.

In terms of financing the apprenticeship system, the State is responsible for fully covering funding: the statutory government transfer accounts for 100 percent of the unit cost confirmed by the Ministry of Education.

Competence-based qualifications

Finland has been developing competence-based qualifications since 1994. This system is intended to enable working-age adults to gain qualifications without necessarily attending formal training. It is possible to take competence-based vocational qualifications, further vocational qualifications and special vocational qualifications or only parts of them through the competence test system, within which competence acquired through various ways is recognised and validated. The competence test is completed by demonstrating competence required in the profession. Although taking part in competence tests does not require formal preparation, about 95% of candidates attend some training, in which they are provided with individual learning programmes. Upper secondary vocational education and training provides preparation for upper secondary vocational qualifications and additional vocational training prepares for further and specialist vocational qualifications.

In 2007, nearly 64 000 people participated in the competence test; some 32 000 obtained their vocational qualification (all three levels of vocational upper secondary qualifications, further vocational qualifications, and specialist vocational qualifications included) through the competence-based qualifications system and nearly 15 000 a part of it.

There 53 vocational upper secondary qualifications (qualifying for jobs in the relevant field) and some 300 further vocational qualifications (providing vocational skills required of professionals in the field) and specialist vocational qualifications (those who obtain these are competent in the most demanding tasks in the field) on offer.

The requirements are outlined in the official requirements for competence-based qualification defined by the Finnish National Board of Education. The main principles regarding competence tests are as follows:

• cooperation between employers, workers, and education sector when the qualifications framework and requirements of competence-based qualification are defined and competence tests are organised and assessed;
• the independence of a qualification regardless of the way competence has been acquired;
• completing a qualification or a module demonstrating competence in a test;
• individualisation of learning and the completing of the qualification.

Labour market training

Labour market training (adult employment training) is mainly intended for unemployed people. Some training is also offered to those at risk of losing their jobs and those who are becoming excluded from the labour market. The proportion of unemployed people in the number of new participants has, however, continuously increased during the past few years.

Labour market training is financed by the labour administration and mainly intended for unemployed persons and those aged 20 or over who are threatened by unemployment.

Those participating in labour market (mainly vocational) training or employment training purchased by the labour authorities are paid either a training or employment benefit as well as compensation to cover expenses for travel, food and accommodation arising during the training. The aim of the training is to maintain the balance between labour demand and supply and prevent unemployment and labour shortage.