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By Niamh Dwyer, Guidance Counsellor

Much media attention focuses on CAO applications and the points required for various courses in Higher Education Institutions. It is essential that students and adults consider the multiple options available to them through the further education and training sector as entry to these courses is not based on Leaving Certificate points. The varied opportunities can be explored under three categories – Post Leaving Cert Courses (PLCs), Traineeships and Apprenticeships.

Post Leaving Cert Courses prepare school-leavers, or adults returning to education, for direct employment and also can be used as a progression route for entry to higher education. Once students have completed a one year (Level 5) or two year (Level 6) PLC they can continue directly into the workplace and also have the option of applying for a huge variety of CAO courses using the points achieved in their QQI qualification. There are hundreds of PLCs offered by Colleges of Further Education all over the country. Further details are available on www.fetchcourses.ie, and an extensive range of courses for progression are offered by Kerry College of Further Education (KCFE), see www.kerrycollege.ie. Killarney Community College also offers a very successful and long-running PLC course locally in Office Administration, see www.killarneycc.ie.

Traineeships are programmes of structured training which combines learning in an education and training setting and in a workplace, aiming to improve employment outcomes for participants by giving them the opportunity to develop cutting edge skills and knowledge on-the-job, making them more skilled, more employable and enhancing their career options. Trainees can be school leavers, mature learners, people in employment and out of employment. Currently, there are over 70 traineeship programmes available around the country with new traineeships being developed on an ongoing basis across a range of industries and sectors in response to identified skill needs. For further details see www.traineeship.ie and for details of programmes currently open for registration see www.fetchcourses.ie.

Apprenticeships are programmes which alternate learning in the workplace with learning in an education or training centre by blending a combination of on-the-job employer-based training and off-the-job training which prepares participants for a specific occupation and leads to a recognised qualification. See www.apprencticeship.ie for details. The craft apprenticeships such as Engineering, Electrical, Motor and Construction lead to the QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft. Since 2016, a wide range of new apprenticeships have been developed in areas as varied as Computers and ICT, MedTech, Insurance, Finance, Accountancy, Logistics and Hospitality. For details of employers that are currently seeking to take on apprentices see www.apprenticeshipjobs.ie.

Kerry College of Further Education and Training is holding an Open Week from March 2 to 6 giving the opportunity to school leavers, jobseekers or those looking to upskill or change career to visit their campuses at Clash Road, Monavalley and Listowel. All details are available on www.kerrycollege.ie/openweek/.

Niamh Dwyer is a Guidance Counsellor in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra and is PRO of the Kerry Branch of IGC. Email – careerfocusnow@gmail.com