Following the release of CAO offers, students across Ireland are now considering their next best step. With a system that often favours straight to university, many students may not realise that there are several other pathways that can lead to the same career result. Further Education and Training (FET) offers one and two-year programmes offering awards at NFQ Levels 5 and 6 in a wide variety of subjects, including Multimedia Web Development and ICT, Sport, Anatomy and Nutrition, Art and Design, pre-university Science, among many others. Applied learning courses means that students apply classroom theory to real life situations, meaning that upon completion, students are ready for the world of work, or prepared for further learning.

Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses are just one of many other options available to recent school-leavers that can give students a great foundation for continuing in higher education or progressing directly to their chosen career. Many universities, colleges and Institutes of Technology have programmes in place to recognise further education and training qualifications as a route to entry. PLC courses are not accessed via the CAO; instead, interested students can apply directly to the colleges or through www.fetchcourses.ie.

In addition to PLC options, the range of apprenticeships in Ireland has expanded greatly in recent years. The “earn as you learn” model is becoming ever more popular with school leavers who want to fast-track their careers but still earn a qualification. Apprenticeships are now available in a wide variety of areas, including international financial services, recruitment, auctioneering, engineering, hospitality and insurance practice, with even more set to be announced within the coming months. In terms of qualifications, apprenticeships can take you from Leaving Certificate as far as you want to go, in some cases, all the way to NFQ Levels 9 and 10, the equivalent of a Masters and Doctoral degree.

Whatever your chosen path, Further Education and Training can take you there. For more information visit www.thisisfet.ie and www.fetchcourses.ie, and follow them on social media #thisisFET.