Further Education and Training (FET) training courses
Introduction
Further Education and Training (FET) training courses are provided in Education and Training Board (ETB) Training Centres. If you are unemployed or redundant or if you wish to update your skills or change your career, there is a wide range of training courses available to assist you.
You are eligible to take part in a FET training course if you are unemployed, redundant or no longer in full-time education. You may also be eligible if you are getting a disability-related social welfare payment or a One-Parent Family Payment.
eCollege is temporarily offering its courses free of charge if you are aged over 18 and have a PPS number. You can find e-college courses listed on the FETCH website.
Types of training courses
There are training courses available under 2 different types of training.
The Traineeship Programme provides training and relevant work experience. If you are unemployed and looking for an opportunity to gain training, experience and a formal qualification in a particular area of work, the Traineeship Programme may suit your needs. Traineeships are full-time. The duration of the programme will depend on the area in which you choose to train. When your initial training is completed, you move back and forth between the centre and the employer's workplace, further developing your skills and gaining practical experience. When you complete your course you will receive a Qualification and Quality Ireland (QQI) award at either Certificate or Advanced Certificate level.
The range of traineeships available is likely to change so you need to keep in touch with your local employment services office or Intreo centre for up-to-date information.
Specific Skills
Training allows people who have lost their job or who are changing
job to learn new job-related skills. There are short and long day courses,
online courses, blended learning and evening courses. The courses on offer
vary from centre to centre and from year to year with different levels of
certification. The courses are run during the day and in the evenings. Priority
on daytime courses is given to unemployed people. A day course is free to all
unemployed people, even if you are not getting a social welfare payment. An
evening course is not free unless you are getting a social welfare payment.
Rates
Further Education and Training (FET) training allowances
You may be paid a FET training allowance if you take part in the Traineeship Programme or Specific Skills Training.
Apart from evening courses, all FET training courses are free and you may be paid a FET training allowance for the duration of your course. You can also claim a meal allowance, an accommodation allowance if you need to live away from home for the duration of the course or a travel allowance if you live 5 km or more from the course centre. You may also qualify for free childcare.
You can read more details in our document on FET training
allowances.
How to apply
To apply for a place on a FET training course, you should register with your local employment services office or Intreo centre. You will be interviewed to identify the course that will best suit your needs. Due to the pressure on some courses, you may not get a place immediately on the course of your choice. For more information about available training courses contact your ETB Training Centre.
You can find more information about further education and training courses on fetchcourses.ie.