PREPARATORY INSTRUCTION AND GUIDANCE

PREPARATORY
INSTRUCTION
AND GUIDANCE

Preparatory instruction and guidance
Preparatory instruction helps students to improve their studying skills and prepares them for taking a vocational
qualification. It takes place between basic education and upper secondary vocational education and
training. Preparatory instruction is organised in connection with other upper secondary education and training,
but the students do not obtain a qualification. A certificate is issued for completed instruction.
Preparatory instruction is implemented according to the National Core Curriculum confirmed by the National
Board of Education, but the application of the curriculum has scope for individualisation and flexibility. The
basis for determining a student’s personal goals and the guidance and support he/she needs is recognition of
competence. The aim of accreditation for prior learning, on the other hand, is to avoid overlapping studies.
Students who have completed preparatory instruction are awarded additional points in the joint application
system. Any vocational studies taken during preparatory instruction and guidance can be recognized and accredited
as part of a vocational qualification obtained later.
Preparatory instruction does not give the student general eligibility for studies in higher education, however,
as the requirement for eligibility is obtaining a vocational qualification.
Preparatory instruction and guidance
• preparatory instruction and guidance for vocational education and training
• home economics instruction
• preparatory education for immigrants
• rehabilitative instruction and guidance for the disabled

Preparatory instruction
and guidance for
vocational education and
training (Ammattistartti)
Aim of the instruction:
The aim of this instruction is to improve the
student’s capacity to obtain a place in vocational
upper secondary education and training
and to get acquainted with a wide range
of various fields of education, vocations and
jobs. He/she may improve his/her capacities
for studying and build the knowledge
base needed in the studies. The instruction
helps the students with their career choices
and plans, and guides them to develop into
active members of society. After the instruction,
the students will have plans for where
to go next.
For whom is the instruction suitable
Ammattistartti is aimed at those young people
who have completed comprehensive
school and who
• have not yet made a decision about their
career choice
• want to try out various fields of upper
secondary vocational education and
training before making a final decision
• want to improve their studying skills
• need to expand their knowledge base
• have been left without a place in further
studies.
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The instruction is primarily intended for
those coming directly from basic education,
but persons who have dropped out of vocational
or general upper secondary studies
in an early phase may also be accepted as
students.
Scope of the instruction:
The scope of this instruction is 20-40 credits,
and it takes from six months to a year. The
majority of students study for 40 credits.
Contents of the instruction:
As compulsory studies (15–40 credits), Ammattistartti
teaches studying and life skills,
builds basic knowledge and skills (if they
wish, the students can improve the grades
of their basic education certificate) and
career choice and planning skills (getting
acquainted with vocations, education and
training and working life, training for on-thejob
learning). Optional studies (0-15 credits)
comprise vocational and other optional studies.
Essential principles of implementing
the instruction include
• individuality: each student draws up an
individual study plan with his/her teacher
and receives plenty of guidance and
support
• flexibility: the student may apply for and
change over to education and training
leading to a qualification in the middle
of the academic term, should a place be
offered
• practical and activity-oriented studies
• vocational orientation: the instruction is
oriented towards vocational education
and training, and it can be more specifically
focused on certain fields or qualifications;
it is possible to take vocational
studies in the course of the instruction
that can later be accredited as part of a
vocational qualification.
Opportunities for Further Study
The aim is for the student to have a plan for continuing
his/her studies after Ammattistartti. A student
who has completed this instruction can apply for a
place in vocational upper secondary education and
training (as a competence-based qualification or
apprenticeship training) or go on to other types of
education or training.
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Home economics
instruction
Aim of the instruction:
This instruction imparts practical information
and skills for managing your everyday
life and your household. It teaches the students
to plan and manage their households
economically, ecologically and ethically. In
addition, the instruction promotes wellbeing
and teaches the students to ensure the
safety and health of their environment and
to make it attractive.
For whom is the instruction suitable
The instruction is suitable for all those interested
in managing a household as well
as adults and young people in various life
stages and situations. The instruction also
coaches the students in applying for further
studies.
Scope of the instruction:
The scope of the home economics instruction
is 20 credits.
Contents of the instruction:
The instruction consists of compulsory
studies (15 credits) and optional studies (5
credits). The compulsory studies cover issues
relevant to keeping a house and the
student’s living environment, preparing
home-made meals and maintaining a home.
Optional studies can be individually selected,
and they may include areas such as
child care, exercise, plantscaping, organising
parties, languages or career choice issues.
The studies may also incorporate content
from other preparatory instruction and training
or vocational upper secondary education
and training.
The studies are practical and activity-oriented.
The instruction can be focused on a
specific field.
Opportunities for Further Study
After this instruction, the student will
be able to move on to vocational upper
secondary education or training or
other further studies. The candidates are
awarded additional points for completing
household economics studies when applying
for education and training leading
to a vocational qualification. The instruction
also provides a good foundation for
education and training in the tourism and
catering sector and social services and
health care. The instruction may also facilitate
finding employment as an au pair
or in other assisting tasks.

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Preparatory education for
immigrants
Aim of the instruction:
The aim of the instruction is to improve
language and other skills needed for moving
on to vocational upper secondary studies.
The student receives basic capacities to
study in vocational upper secondary education
and training, becomes acquainted with
the Finnish education and working culture,
and builds his/her capacities to attend to
teaching and cope with vocational upper
secondary education and training leading to
a qualification.
For whom is the instruction suitable
This instruction is suitable for immigrants
or persons with an immigrant background
whose basic linguistic skills in Finnish/
Swedish correspond with the description of
language skills level A2.2 (developing basic
linguistic skills) before preparatory instruction.
Scope of the instruction:
The scope of this instruction is 20-40 credits,
and it takes from six months to a year. The
majority of providers offer this instruction in
the scope of 40 credits.
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Contents of the instruction:
The students study Finnish or Swedish,
mathematics, information technology, natural
sciences, civics and cultural knowledge,
and they build up skills in studying and
making career choices. The studies include
optional studies and getting acquainted with
various vocations and vocational studies.
The skills in studying and making career
choices also include training for on-the-job
learning. The instruction prepares the students
for all vocational upper secondary
education and training in general, but it can
be focused on specific fields.
Level B1.2 (fluent basic linguistic skills) in
the description of language skills mainly describes
the student’s Finnish/Swedish skills
at the end of the instruction.
Opportunities for Further Study
A person having completed this instruction
may apply for vocational upper secondary
education and training directed
at both young people and adults and for
apprenticeship training and, depending
on his/her prior studies and work experience,
through individualisation for
education and training in preparation for
further and specialist vocational qualifications.
Students who have completed this
instruction are awarded additional points
in the joint application system.
General:
The students are eligible to receive normal
student financial aid and a school transport
subsidy. If preparatory instruction is part of
an immigrant’s integration plan, he/she may
receive immigration assistance instead of
student financial aid. The instruction is not
part of the joint application system. In other
words, applications are addressed directly to
the institutes of learning.
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Preparatory and
rehabilitative education
and guidance for
disabled students
Aim of the instruction:
This instruction and guidance builds capacities
for vocational upper secondary education
and training, working and independent
living, and provides help in clarifying future
plans. It also supports the re-training of
adult students who have become ill or disabled
and supports their return to working
life or education.
For whom is the instruction suitable
The instruction is suitable for a young
person or adult needing particular support
who, because of disability, illness or other
reason, needs plenty of special support in
his/her studies.
Scope of the instruction:
The scope of rehabilitative instruction and
guidance aiming at vocational upper secondary
education and training is mainly
20-40 credits.
The scope of instruction and guidance
preparing for working and independent living
and rehabilitation is 40-120 credits. The
scope of the instruction is determined by
the student’s individual goals and needs.
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Contents of the instruction:
The studies of the student are composed
based on his/her individual education plan,
which starts from individual goals, needs
and competence.
Rehabilitative instruction and guidance aiming
at vocational upper secondary education
and training normally includes studies
promoting capacities for studying and the
ability to function, those supporting career
choices and working life capacities and
optional studies. In addition, the studies may
contain field specific studies preparing the
student for vocational studies or working
life.
Rehabilitative instruction and guidance
aimed at working and independent living
usually build up the student’s capacities for
studying, the ability to function and working
life capacities, and the student also takes
optional studies.
General:
The aims of the instruction and the studies
are flexibly determined by the student’s
individual resources and his/her life situation.
The teaching covers vocational special
needs education. The student is supported
in his/her studies by versatile and flexible
teaching techniques, operating methods and
learning environments. The studies are also
supported by an exchange of information in
the intersections of education, networking
cooperation, making use of multiprofessional
skills and co-operation between the home
and the educational institutions. Rehabilitation
is integrated in the studies, and it is
implemented flexibly as part of the student’s
learning and daily studies.
Opportunities for Further Study
Those who have completed this instruction
mainly apply for vocational education
and training with the aim of taking
a qualification. Depending on their individual
capacities, life situations and resources,
the students may also continue
their studies at other levels and forms of
education, or the student can move on to
working life after completing the studies.
The aim is that after the instruction, the
student will have as realistic an idea as
possible of working life, various professions
and education and training options.
He/she will also have formed a picture of
his/her capacities and needs for support,
based on which he/she can assess and
make up his/her own further vocational
plans.
For more information, visit:
www.oph.fi
www.koulutusnetti.fi
www.ammattiosaaja.fi
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Finnish National Board
of Education
P.O. Box 380
FI-00531 Helsinki
Finland
www.oph.fi/english
Information Materials 2011:53 Photos: Olli Häkämies, Reima Virkkala, Antero Aaltonen & Färiborz Firuzabadi Layout: Matias Heinonen