As an apprentice, you can study for a secondary level vocational qualification or complete qualification modules of various levels. Apprenticeship training allows you to learn the profession by doing practical work and complement your skills with theory at an educational institution.
Apprenticeship training is not a service provided by the Helsinki Employment Services, but a fixed-term employment contract in which the employer undertakes to train the employee. If you participate in apprenticeship training, you are no longer an unemployed jobseeker. You will not receive unemployment benefits because the employer will pay you wages.
Apprenticeship:
- Allows you to complete an initial, further or specialist vocational qualification or parts of a qualification.
- Allows you to study through practical work. In apprenticeship training, you will receive a salary and gain work experience.
- The minimum working time in apprenticeships is, on average, 25 hours per week.
- Your employer can receive support for your employment in the form of a pay subsidy or the Helsinki benefit.
- The qualification allows you to apply for tertiary education.
A personal study path is planned and implemented for each apprentice, taking into account the student’s previous knowledge.
The duration of the studies will depend on your existing skills before your apprenticeship begins:
- Initial vocational qualification 1–3 years.
- Vocational qualifications and specialist vocational qualifications 1–1.5 years.
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Request advice on apprenticeship matters
If you need help, discuss your own interest in apprenticeship training with your specialist. You can also find out in advance whether you can receive a pay subsidy or the Helsinki benefit for the apprenticeship.
Submit a contact request via Job Market Finland(Link leads to external service)
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Find a suitable apprenticeship and employer
You can browse open apprenticeships on various job search websites or look for employers that interest you yourself.
If you find an interesting employer, you can contact them to find out if they have places available that are suitable for your apprenticeship training.
Be sure to tell them about the possibility to receive the pay subsidy or Helsinki benefit if your specialist has told you that these can be offered to your employer.
Find an apprenticeship on Job Market Finland(Link leads to external service)
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Your employer will apply for any pay subsidy
If your employer is eligible to apply for the pay subsidy or Helsinki benefit for apprenticeship training, these must be applied for before making the employment contract.
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Make a contract with the employer and educational institution
After you have found a suitable apprenticeship, sign a work agreement with your employer. Select a secondary education institution where apprenticeship training can be completed and agree on the studies with the educational institution.
Find an educational institution on oppisopimus.fi(Link leads to external service)
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Notify Employment Services of the start of the apprenticeship
Notify your specialist that you are starting apprenticeship training. This is important so that we can update your job seeking information and unemployment benefit details.
Submit a contact request via Job Market Finland(Link leads to external service)