Vocational education and training (VET) is a component of the national education system, provided by VET institutions as stipulated by the Law on Vocational Education and Training (Закон України ‘Про професійну (професійно-технічну) освіту’).
The main goalof VET is the formation and development of a person's professional competences required for specific occupations in different sectors. It aims to ensure competitiveness on the labour market, promote mobility and provide opportunities for lifelong career development. VET enables learners to acquire a profession that corresponds to their vocation, interests and abilities. It also provides pre-professional training, retraining and opportunities to improve qualifications.
The State Standard for Vocational Education and Training (Державний стандарт професійної (професійно-технічної) освіти) defines the requirements for learning outcomes for each level. Society's demand for qualified workers shapes the content of VET, which is specified in the state standard for each profession listed in the State List of Professions (Державний перелік професій з підготовки кваліфікованих робітників у професійно-технічних навчальних закладах). The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) approves state educational standards for specific professions developed on the basis of the State Standard for Vocational Education and Training.
The state finances free vocational education in state and municipal VET institutions. Learners can also enrol free of charge in accredited higher vocational schools and VET centres under a state and/or regional order on a competitive basis.
VET is accessible after completion of either basic or complete general secondary education. For learners entering VET after basic secondary education, programmes combine vocational training with specialised secondary education, leading to a certificate of completion of general secondary education. In addition, VET institutions may train specialists in certain professions without providing complete general secondary education.
VET can be pursued through the following forms:
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Institutional: full-time (day or evening), part-time, distance, network;
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Individual: external, at the workplace (on-the-job training);
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Dual: as defined by the Law on Education (Закон України ‘Про освіту’).
The Law on Vocational Education and Training introduced a number of changes to address the challenges during martial law, with a focus on reducing unemployment and enabling rapid retraining for those who lost their jobs. VET institutions now provide expanded lifelong learning opportunities. Key legislative provisions include:
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The possibility of pursuing VET without obtaining a complete general secondary education;
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Free access to a second working profession three years after obtaining the first, provided that a person has insurance experience and there are available places in VET institutions;
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State-funded education in a new profession, even without a confirmed insurance record, if a person is unable to work in their previous profession due to health reasons. This applies also to meet urgent state or regional needs for skilled workers;
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Enrolment in VET institutions regardless of registration address, allowing internally displaced persons to train for a profession in their temporary place of residence.
Types of institutions
VET comprises three levels (Постанова Кабінету Міністрів України ‘Положення про ступеневу професійно-технічну освіту’). The structure of vocational education for citizens is determined by VET institutions based on qualification levels, the complexity of professions and educational qualification levels.
Each VET level includes both theoretical and practical studies. Graduates of VET institutions receive a working qualification in accordance with the acquired professional knowledge, skills and abilities.
The VET system has three levels of certification. MESU assigns the certification level to VET institutions following the established procedure.
The first level of certification includes:
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Training courses of a certain professional direction;
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Vocational schools;
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Training and course complexes;
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Automotive training centres;
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Other equivalent educational institutions.
The first VET level does not require the learner to have a basic or complete general secondary education. Learners study according to curricula and educational programmes approved by the relevant local governing body of the VET institution.
The standard period of study is determined by the curricula and educational programmes, but should not exceed one year. Learners who successfully pass the qualification certification receive the qualification of a skilled worker in the acquired profession and a certificate, which the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approves.
The second level of certification includes:
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Vocational schools of the relevant profile;
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Vocational and art schools;
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Artistic vocational schools;
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Vocational agricultural schools (agricultural firms);
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Schools-factories;
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Training and production centres;
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Training centres;
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Other similar educational institutions.
A VET institution at the second certification level can organise the educational process according to curricula and educational programmes for both the second and the first certification level. Training at these institutions generally requires learners to have basic general secondary education. The programmes follow the State Standard for Vocational Education and Training. The duration of study depends on the learner's educational background:
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1.5 years for those with complete general secondary education;
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2 years for those with basic secondary education but without a complete general secondary education;
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4 years for those with basic secondary education who are also pursuing a complete general secondary education.
Learners who complete the second-level certification programmes and successfully pass the qualification assessment receive the qualification of a skilled worker in their chosen profession within the relevant category. They also receive a diploma approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
VET institutions at the third certification level include:
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Higher vocational schools;
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Higher vocational art schools;
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Higher agricultural schools (agricultural firms);
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Vocational training centres;
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Centres for training and retraining of workers;
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Other similar educational institutions.
A VET institution at the third certification level is responsible for providing education according to the curricula and educational programmes for the third, second and first levels of VET.
Training at VET institutions at the third certification level requires that the learner has a complete general secondary education, which is provided by the relevant state standard. The typical duration of training must not exceed two years. After completing the training and successfully passing the qualification certification, graduates receive the qualification of skilled workers in the acquired profession (qualification of Junior Specialist). They also receive diplomas approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
Geographical accessibility
The network of VET institutions is developed in line with the socio-economic needs of the state and specific regions. These institutions must have the necessary material and technical resources, educational and methodological support, and qualified teaching staff. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine determines the need for VET institutions, while the MESU establishes the network based on proposals from ministries, central and local executive authorities.
VET institutions providing specialised secondary education operate without a fixed service area.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine regulates the process of establishing, reorganising and closing VET institutions. All VET institutions, regardless of ownership or affiliation, must obtain a licence before providing services such as training skilled workers or offering other educational services. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine defines the licensing procedures.
Central and local executive authorities, local self-government bodies, enterprises, institutions, organisations and associations may establish VET regardless of ownership or subordination. Religious organisations whose statutes comply with Ukrainian law and individual citizens of Ukraine may also establish such institutions.
Admission requirements and choice of educational institution
Each VET institution organises its admission process according to rules based on the MESU’s standard guidelines. Institutions with special training conditions follow admission rules set by their central executive authorities, in compliance with legal requirements.
Admission to a VET institution for training financed by the state and/or local budgets is provided for:
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Basic vocational training;
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Vocational training (including retraining) in another profession(s), but not earlier than three years after completing free VET in the previously acquired profession(s). This is provided that the person has a confirmed insurance record of at least two years and vacancies remain after enrolling first-time applicants;
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Vocational training (including retraining) in another profession if, due to health reasons, the person has lost the ability to work in the previously acquired profession. A medical and social commission of experts must confirm the inability to work for health reasons. This option is available before the end of the three-year period and/or if the person does not have a confirmed insurance record of at least two years;
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Vocational training (including retraining) at the request of the state/region to urgently meet the state’s/region’s need for training qualified workers.
Individuals or organisations that privately fund VET can enrol learners in basic vocational education beyond the state/regional order, as well as in retraining, further training or advanced training.
The admissions committee, chaired by the head of the institution, manages the admissions process to VET institutions. The institution develops the admission rules for the following calendar year in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and the admission rules. The head of the institution approves these rules after consultation with the local education authorities and submits them to the Unified State Electronic Database on Education (USEDE, in Ukrainian – ЄДЕБО) by 1 December of the current year.
A VET institution informs applicants about the admission rules through the media, information boards and the institution's website. If the institution does not have its own website, the rules are published on its founder's website. The admission rules include:
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A list of professions,
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Requirements for the educational level of applicants for each profession,
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A list of entrance examinations for professions (specialities) and specialisations,
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Procedures and formats for conducting entrance examinations (interviews, subject-specific tests, assessments, exams, etc.) and systems for assessing knowledge, skills and abilities,
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Procedures for the admission of applicants with the same competition score,
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Procedures for dealing with appeals against entrance examination results, etc.
Applicants submit their applications for admission to the VET institution either in paper form (in person) or electronically (via the electronic cabinet), along with the required documents. Admission may include a competitive selection process, such as:
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A ranking list of applicants;
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The results of the interview;
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Results of the average score from the relevant document of basic or complete secondary education;
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Results of entrance examinations;
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Other selection criteria in accordance with Ukrainian law.
Admission of learners for retraining or further training is based on an initial assessment of their knowledge, skills and abilities.
Age levels and grouping of learners
VET institutions organise training in institutional formats based on their educational programmes. Learners' performance must meet the requirements of vocational education standards for the chosen profession/speciality.
Institutions independently choose the forms and methods to organise educational and practical processes. Teachers, in turn, decide how to deliver lessons and training according to pedagogical principles.
Study groups for theoretical training usually include up to 30 persons. At the third level of VET, study groups must include at least 12 learners. When training occurs beyond the state order (e.g., retraining or advanced training for workers and junior specialists), institutions may form smaller groups based on agreements with funders. These agreements also define payment terms (Положення про організацію навчально-виробничого процесу у професійно-технічних навчальних закладах).
Educational institutions form study groups for learners with relevant developmental disabilities, following class size standards set by current legislation for special general education schools.
For VET financed from the state or local budget:
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Evening study groups in state and municipal educational institutions are formed with at least 15 and no more than 30 learners;
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Part-time study groups in state and municipal educational institutions are formed with at least 12 and no more than 30 learners.
If vocational education is financed by legal or physical persons, the head of the educational institution determines the group size for both evening and part-time study groups. In private institutions, the founder determines the minimum size of such groups (Положення про інституційну форму здобуття професійної (професійно-технічної) освіти).
Organisation of the school year
The school year at VET institutions starts on 1 September. However, MESU can extend the enrolment period. For example, in the 2023/2024 school year, educational institutions accepted learners until 1 October 2023 (лист Міністерства освіти і науки України ‘Про організацію освітнього процесу у закладах професійної (професійно-технічної) освіти у 2023/2024 навчальному році’).
Learners' study time is based on accounting units linked to educational programmes of the VET. One such unit is the academic year, which lasts up to 40 academic weeks.
During pre-graduation (pre-diploma) training, industrial training and other forms of practical training, the learner's study time aligns with the working hours of the enterprise, institution or organisation, in compliance with the law.
If the study period in a VET institution exceeds 10 calendar months, learners receive holidays. The MESU is responsible for determining the duration of these holidays.
For learners with special educational needs, the VET institution determines the duration of study on the basis of its working curricula. The institution may adapt these curricula as necessary to help learners acquire knowledge, skills and abilities according to their individual curricula based on the individual development programme of such a person.
Organisation of the school day and week
Accounting units of time determine the learner's study time following the educational programmes of the VET institution. The accounting units of study time are:
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An academic hour of 45 minutes;
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A practical training lesson of no more than 6 academic hours;
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A school day of a maximum of 8 academic hours;
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A study week of a maximum of 36 academic hours, etc.
During pre-graduation (pre-diploma) training, industrial training and other forms of practical training, the learner's study time aligns with the working hours of the enterprise, institution or organisation, in compliance with the law.