Vocational training (FP) is understood as all those studies and learning aimed at insertion, reintegration and job updating "Work (economy)"),[1] whose main objective is to increase and adapt the knowledge and skills of current and future workers throughout their lives.[2] Currently in most countries it is known as Professional Education and Training, Spanish translation of Professional Education and Training.[3].
For this, and depending on the specificity of each country, there are usually four vocational training subsystems:
• - Specific or Initial Vocational Training aimed, in principle, at the group of students of the school system who decide to direct their steps towards the world of work, whose objective is job insertion.
• - Occupational Vocational Training (FPO) aimed at the group that is currently unemployed, whose objective is the person's reintegration into the workforce.[4].
• - Continuing Vocational Training (FTE) aimed at the group of active workers, whose objective is the acquisition of greater skills that allow the worker to permanently update the job they perform or opt for another, which is ultimately summarized as an increase in their employability.
• - Comprehensive Vocational Training (FPI), seeks to train good people who achieve interaction with others and with the surrounding environment, so that they themselves can be recognized and manage to obtain good jobs throughout their lives, all with the purpose of creating human resources that the country needs.
Vocational training[5] by country
Spain
In Spain, vocational training depends on the Ministry of Education, granting authority to the autonomous communities to specify the law.
Access to Specific Vocational Training is divided into three levels, which have different access requirements:
Basic vocational training cycle*: it is accessed by those students who are at least 15 years old and maximum 17 years old with up to 3rd year of ESO or even 2nd year as long as it has been proposed by the educational center's teaching team. Also for those adults who do not have an academic qualification of any kind. It consists of two academic years and 2,000 hours of duration and once passed, the title of basic professional technician is obtained, giving this title direct access to intermediate level training cycles. They will include, in a transversal way, teamwork, prevention of occupational risks, the environment and the prevention of gender violence.*.
Training and development
Introduction
Vocational training (FP) is understood as all those studies and learning aimed at insertion, reintegration and job updating "Work (economy)"),[1] whose main objective is to increase and adapt the knowledge and skills of current and future workers throughout their lives.[2] Currently in most countries it is known as Professional Education and Training, Spanish translation of Professional Education and Training.[3].
For this, and depending on the specificity of each country, there are usually four vocational training subsystems:
• - Specific or Initial Vocational Training aimed, in principle, at the group of students of the school system who decide to direct their steps towards the world of work, whose objective is job insertion.
• - Occupational Vocational Training (FPO) aimed at the group that is currently unemployed, whose objective is the person's reintegration into the workforce.[4].
• - Continuing Vocational Training (FTE) aimed at the group of active workers, whose objective is the acquisition of greater skills that allow the worker to permanently update the job they perform or opt for another, which is ultimately summarized as an increase in their employability.
• - Comprehensive Vocational Training (FPI), seeks to train good people who achieve interaction with others and with the surrounding environment, so that they themselves can be recognized and manage to obtain good jobs throughout their lives, all with the purpose of creating human resources that the country needs.
Vocational training[5] by country
Spain
In Spain, vocational training depends on the Ministry of Education, granting authority to the autonomous communities to specify the law.
Access to Specific Vocational Training is divided into three levels, which have different access requirements:
Basic vocational training cycle*: it is accessed by those students who are at least 15 years old and maximum 17 years old with up to 3rd year of ESO or even 2nd year as long as it has been proposed by the educational center's teaching team. Also for those adults who do not have an academic qualification of any kind. It consists of two academic years and 2,000 hours of duration and once passed, the title of basic professional technician is obtained, giving this title direct access to intermediate level training cycles. They will include, in a transversal way, teamwork, prevention of occupational risks, the environment and the prevention of gender violence.*.
Intermediate Level Training Cycle: can be accessed after having obtained the ESO degree or by taking a specific intermediate level access test for which you must be 17 years old. Upon completion of these studies, you obtain the technical title in the corresponding degree. It requires technical and scientific knowledge of the activity and application skills and understanding of the process.
The modules that each of the cycles is made up of depends on the chosen branch, except for Training and Career Guidance (taken during the first year of the cycle) and Business and Entrepreneurship (taken in the second year). Both subjects are completely mandatory to pass to acquire the degree.
At the end of the cycle, and having all the modules approved (both first and second year), with the exception of a failure (if the faculty decides so), the students will take the Training in Work Centers (FCT). The duration of this mandatory module will range between 380 and 410 hours in length, taking place between the months of March and June for those approved in March, and between September and December, for either those who failed in March and have to retake it in September, or for those who have failed the FCT in the ordinary period.
Higher Level Training Cycle: can be accessed after having obtained the Baccalaureate degree. Another option is to take a specific test to access a higher degree for which you must be 19 years old, or be 18 years old if you have an intermediate degree related to the one you wish to access. Possession of a mid-level Training Cycle title does not allow direct access to a higher level.[6] Upon completion of these studies, the title of Higher Technician is obtained in the corresponding degree. Completing these studies allows access to the university without having to take the university entrance test "Selectivity (exam)") and validating credits in the different careers.
Higher-level training cycles belong to tertiary education in Spain, therefore, they are higher studies.[7][8].
In both cases, the age must be at the end of the calendar year.
The law that currently governs Vocational Training in Spain is: Organic Law 3/2022, of March 31, on the organization and integration of Vocational Training.
This legislation aims to adapt training to the needs of the current labor market, increase the employability of students and promote a greater connection between education and employment.[9].
Since 2024 with the approval of the new decree, the training of Middle Level and Higher Level training cycles,[10] is carried out through the dual system, in two modalities, general and intensive, where the student begins their practical training in companies from the first year of training.
Mexico
In Mexico, the training systems that exist in upper secondary education and in universities have not been able to maintain a pace in line with technology because it advances too quickly. Which the study plans have had to be adapted to the current needs of the students in order to train them in an adequate way.[11].
Argentina
Officially, at the end of the 1970s, a first official approach to Vocational Training was inaugurated under the framework of a technical school in the Barracas neighborhood, it was called ENET No. 43, today it is Vocational Training Center No. 1; Many pioneers of Vocational Training in Argentina have begun their activity there.
In Argentina, this training is the main competitiveness strategy through the training of technicians (Tecnicaturas), it is part of non-University Higher Education (University College), it is regulated by law 26058.
Chili
In Chile it is called Vocational Technical Training. Vocational Technical Training (FTP) is divided into: Intermediate technical-vocational training, Higher technical-vocational training and Job training (workers and unemployed).
Colombia
It is offered by the Sena and the Training Institutions for Work and Human Development. They train in Technical programs according to the labor competence standards issued by the sectoral tables that comprise it, mainly the productive sector.
Peru
In Peru it has become one of the main tools to combat youth unemployment, it is regulated through Law 28518 of 2005.
El Salvador
Legislative Decree No. 554, dated June 2, 1993, published in the Official Gazette on July 29 of the same year, issued the Vocational Training Law, which created the Vocational Training Institute, as an Autonomous institution of public law and with legal personality; in order to satisfy the needs of qualified human resources required by the economic and social development of the country and to promote the improvement of the living conditions of the worker and his family group.
Dominican Republic
In this country there is the National Institute of Professional Technical Training (INFOTEP). Autonomous entity, in charge of carrying out technical and professional training policies.
INFOTEP, the governing body of the national technical-vocational training system of the Dominican Republic, is an autonomous organization of the State, vested with legal personality, non-profit in nature and its own assets, created by Law 116, of January 16, 1980, and regulated by regulation 1894, of August 11 of the same year. It is directed by a board of directors, with a tripartite structure, made up of the official, business and labor sectors, and administered by a general direction.
Panama
The National Institute of Vocational Training and Training for Human Development INADEH, the State's governing body in matters of vocational training, job training and business management training; that promotes a culture of training for life and work.
It was created in accordance with DECREE LAW No. 8 (of February 15, 2006) in its first article, the National Institute of Vocational Training (INAFORP), created by Law 18 of 1983, is restructured, under the name of National Institute of Vocational Training and Training for Human Development (INADEH).
[9] ↑ II, CES Juan Pablo (18 de julio de 2024). «Nueva Ley de Formación Profesional en España: Cambios Clave para los Alumnos de CES Juan Pablo II». CES Juan Pablo II. Consultado el 18 de julio de 2024.: https://www.cesjuanpablosegundo.es/nueva_ley_fp/
[10] ↑ «Formación Profesional España». https://uniscopio.com/. Consultado el 31 de enero de 2025.: https://uniscopio.com/fp/
[11] ↑ «Perspectivas para la formación profesional en México y el mercado laboral. Dudas razonables». educacion.nexos.com.mx. Consultado el 21 de mayo de 2020.: https://educacion.nexos.com.mx/?p=1582
Intermediate Level Training Cycle: can be accessed after having obtained the ESO degree or by taking a specific intermediate level access test for which you must be 17 years old. Upon completion of these studies, you obtain the technical title in the corresponding degree. It requires technical and scientific knowledge of the activity and application skills and understanding of the process.
The modules that each of the cycles is made up of depends on the chosen branch, except for Training and Career Guidance (taken during the first year of the cycle) and Business and Entrepreneurship (taken in the second year). Both subjects are completely mandatory to pass to acquire the degree.
At the end of the cycle, and having all the modules approved (both first and second year), with the exception of a failure (if the faculty decides so), the students will take the Training in Work Centers (FCT). The duration of this mandatory module will range between 380 and 410 hours in length, taking place between the months of March and June for those approved in March, and between September and December, for either those who failed in March and have to retake it in September, or for those who have failed the FCT in the ordinary period.
Higher Level Training Cycle: can be accessed after having obtained the Baccalaureate degree. Another option is to take a specific test to access a higher degree for which you must be 19 years old, or be 18 years old if you have an intermediate degree related to the one you wish to access. Possession of a mid-level Training Cycle title does not allow direct access to a higher level.[6] Upon completion of these studies, the title of Higher Technician is obtained in the corresponding degree. Completing these studies allows access to the university without having to take the university entrance test "Selectivity (exam)") and validating credits in the different careers.
Higher-level training cycles belong to tertiary education in Spain, therefore, they are higher studies.[7][8].
In both cases, the age must be at the end of the calendar year.
The law that currently governs Vocational Training in Spain is: Organic Law 3/2022, of March 31, on the organization and integration of Vocational Training.
This legislation aims to adapt training to the needs of the current labor market, increase the employability of students and promote a greater connection between education and employment.[9].
Since 2024 with the approval of the new decree, the training of Middle Level and Higher Level training cycles,[10] is carried out through the dual system, in two modalities, general and intensive, where the student begins their practical training in companies from the first year of training.
Mexico
In Mexico, the training systems that exist in upper secondary education and in universities have not been able to maintain a pace in line with technology because it advances too quickly. Which the study plans have had to be adapted to the current needs of the students in order to train them in an adequate way.[11].
Argentina
Officially, at the end of the 1970s, a first official approach to Vocational Training was inaugurated under the framework of a technical school in the Barracas neighborhood, it was called ENET No. 43, today it is Vocational Training Center No. 1; Many pioneers of Vocational Training in Argentina have begun their activity there.
In Argentina, this training is the main competitiveness strategy through the training of technicians (Tecnicaturas), it is part of non-University Higher Education (University College), it is regulated by law 26058.
Chili
In Chile it is called Vocational Technical Training. Vocational Technical Training (FTP) is divided into: Intermediate technical-vocational training, Higher technical-vocational training and Job training (workers and unemployed).
Colombia
It is offered by the Sena and the Training Institutions for Work and Human Development. They train in Technical programs according to the labor competence standards issued by the sectoral tables that comprise it, mainly the productive sector.
Peru
In Peru it has become one of the main tools to combat youth unemployment, it is regulated through Law 28518 of 2005.
El Salvador
Legislative Decree No. 554, dated June 2, 1993, published in the Official Gazette on July 29 of the same year, issued the Vocational Training Law, which created the Vocational Training Institute, as an Autonomous institution of public law and with legal personality; in order to satisfy the needs of qualified human resources required by the economic and social development of the country and to promote the improvement of the living conditions of the worker and his family group.
Dominican Republic
In this country there is the National Institute of Professional Technical Training (INFOTEP). Autonomous entity, in charge of carrying out technical and professional training policies.
INFOTEP, the governing body of the national technical-vocational training system of the Dominican Republic, is an autonomous organization of the State, vested with legal personality, non-profit in nature and its own assets, created by Law 116, of January 16, 1980, and regulated by regulation 1894, of August 11 of the same year. It is directed by a board of directors, with a tripartite structure, made up of the official, business and labor sectors, and administered by a general direction.
Panama
The National Institute of Vocational Training and Training for Human Development INADEH, the State's governing body in matters of vocational training, job training and business management training; that promotes a culture of training for life and work.
It was created in accordance with DECREE LAW No. 8 (of February 15, 2006) in its first article, the National Institute of Vocational Training (INAFORP), created by Law 18 of 1983, is restructured, under the name of National Institute of Vocational Training and Training for Human Development (INADEH).
[9] ↑ II, CES Juan Pablo (18 de julio de 2024). «Nueva Ley de Formación Profesional en España: Cambios Clave para los Alumnos de CES Juan Pablo II». CES Juan Pablo II. Consultado el 18 de julio de 2024.: https://www.cesjuanpablosegundo.es/nueva_ley_fp/
[10] ↑ «Formación Profesional España». https://uniscopio.com/. Consultado el 31 de enero de 2025.: https://uniscopio.com/fp/
[11] ↑ «Perspectivas para la formación profesional en México y el mercado laboral. Dudas razonables». educacion.nexos.com.mx. Consultado el 21 de mayo de 2020.: https://educacion.nexos.com.mx/?p=1582