Career Options that don’t rely on Points
This week Leaving Cert and LCA students were asked to register on the Online Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades Portal so now it is a waiting game for all of you until results are issued, which is expected to be mid-August in line with previous years. Many of you are currently re-examining your course choices on your CAO application which must be finalised by July 1 st at 5.15pm. Many more of you are looking at alternatives to CAO which will allow you to progress in your education, develop sector-specific and more general employability skills while also gaining invaluable work experience. A key factor with these options is that they are open to students from the Established Leaving Certificate and from LCA as well as young people from other educational settings and adults wishing to return to education and the good news is admission is not based on Leaving Cert points.
Courses for Progression
Also referred to as Post Leaving Cert Courses (PLCs) these courses offer a great way of continuing your education after second-level to gain QQI Level 5 and Level 6 qualifications which mean that you can go directly into employment or progress on Higher Education through the many progression routes offered into courses in universities and Institutes of Technology here in Ireland and abroad. For those of you who are unlucky enough not to get the points you need, then opting for a course progression is great alternative to repeating. There is a strong tradition in recent years of students who for many reasons did not flourish in the Leaving Cert taking up a place in a College of Further Education and progressing onto complete Level 7/8 degrees and indeed postgraduate studies. On completion of the QQI level 5 or level 6 qualification you can apply to CAO and instead of using your Leaving Cert points you can use your FETAC/QQI points to progress onto your chosen course in Higher Education. While there aren’t links to all third level courses, a broad variety of courses of progression exist in Colleges of Further Education nationally. Typically the courses range from one to two years duration and combine classroom teaching, independent learning & project work, practical work and compulsory work experience. Lots of detailed information on the courses themselves, progression routes and the application process can be found on www.fetchcourses.ie and further education college websites themselves.
Courses for Employment
Courses for Employment (also known as traineeships) combine learning in an education and training setting and in the workplace and provide you with the opportunity to develop cutting edge skills and on-the-job knowledge. Typically they last from 6 to 20 months in duration, have at least 30% of learning on-the-job and are supported by the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and industry. Qualifications can be gained from Levels 4-6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. Over 75 courses from employment currently exist nationally in a range of industries including healthcare support, hair and beauty, fibre installation, overhead lines operative, heavy goods vehicle driving as well as many more. Applications for courses from employment are interviewed to as to check your suitability. Further details can be found on https://www.solas.ie/programmes/traineeship/
Apprenticeships
Prior to the current economic downturn as a result of Covid-19 there were huge shortages in the apprenticeship sector. The current restrictions have certainly impacted on the potential of students to gain the required backing of an employer to facilitate the On-the-Job aspect of the training. However it is not as bleak as people may think. Keep an eye on www.apprenticeshipjobs.ie , on recruitment sites such as www.indeed.ie and the media in your own area. For students who may not now be able to secure an employer it is well worth considering applying for a pre-apprenticeship course in a college of further education. It is important to remember that the range of apprenticeships available now go far beyond areas like construction and mechanics and apprenticeship programmes ranging from Accounting Technician, ICT Cyber security, Insurance Practitioner, Commi Chef and many more are nationally. For further information see www.apprenticeship.ie
Agricultural, Horticultural & Forestry Courses
Teagasc is the organisation with responsibility for providing education and training in the areas of agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry sectors. While some courses are offered through CAO in the Higher Education Institutions many more are offered as Level 5 and Level 6 Further Education Courses in agricultural colleges and other settings around the country. Further details on all of the courses on offer can be found on www.teagasc.ie/education/courses and applications can be made online.
So although a lot of uncertainty still exists in society in the short to medium term it is important to remember that the future is bright and by focusing on progressing in your education and training now, it will put you in a very strong place in relation to employment as the economy starts to improve.