Teaching Certification Program for Master Craftsmen
The application deadline for the next school year is 5 June.
The University of Iceland offers a teaching qualification programme specially designed for those who are going to teach a vocational subject in an upper secondary school. This is a 60-credit undergraduate diploma programme, and upon completion, participants can apply for a teaching license from the Directorate of Education. The license is valid for preschool, primary, and upper secondary schools.
The programme is defined as a work-study programme, and it seems to suit the target group best to take 15 credits each semester for two years. Elsa says that most of those who are in the programme are adults with family responsibilities, so there needs to be a basis for being able to reconcile both. The programme is both theoretical and practical.
If an applicant comes from a certified trade, they must have a master craftsman's certificate to enrol in the programme. However, if they come from a profession that does not offer a master craftsman's certificate, i.e., a profession that concludes with a professional certification exam from an upper secondary school, then the individual must have two years of work experience. This can be quite tricky, says Elsa, and advises people to contact the faculty if questions arise.
