Other Course and Qualifications Options

FÁS offers a number of qualification options besides the apprenticeships and general training courses , they include early school leavers programmes, training courses, online courses in the FÁS e-college, community training workshops, and vocational awards.

This section concentrates on three programmes which are very useful for young people looking to gain skills and qualifications, but who may not qualify for a post leaving certificate or university course.

Youthreach Programme

Young people who leave school early may have difficulty in finding a job in Ireland today. The Leaving Certificate at least is needed for many careers. In certain cases some individuals can also have trouble getting on a vocational training course or apprenticeship schemes. The Youthreach Programme fills these gaps in the system.

The Youthreach programme is run by FÁS and is open to everyone between 15 and 18 years old who is not in full time education, even those who may not have completed their Junior Certificate. The training, which is full time, also includes a training allowance, covers a range of vocational skills, general education and work experience. Those who finish the course get a Foundation Level Certification, which they can use to progress to further training programmes.

Youthreach is available in over 100 locations around Ireland through both a network of FÁS funded Community Training Workshops and a network of Youthreach Centres. Contact or call into any of the FÁS offices around the country to get more information.

National Traineeship Programme

The FÁS National Traineeship Programme is an occupational-skills-development training programme, designed to give people skills and training to help them find employment in Irish industry or local businesses.

The traineeships are similar in ways to the apprenticeship programme, but are also very different. They are much shorter for instance, with a typical course lasting between 24 and 40 weeks. They jobs and careers involved are also different, with a wide range of technical and machinery, service industry, administration and business, IT, sales and leisure and sport training available. Examples of jobs include security equipment installer, beauty therapist, office administrator, software developer, sales assistant and outdoor activity instructor. For a full list of what is available check out the FÁS website.

The traineeships combine a mixture of classroom-based training in a FÁS or FÁS approved centre with on the job work experience. People taking part in the traineeship are paid the FÁS training allowance. Those who complete the traineeship successfully are awarded an internationally recognised FETAC occupational qualification. Local employers and professional bodies are heavily involved in the traineeship programmes, which help the job prospects of people who complete the course.

For more information on enrolling in the National Traineeship Programme contact your local FÁS office.

eCollege

The FÁS eCollege provides online courses for distance learning for those who wish to upgrade or acquire new skills. A variety of subjects are available in the following categories for studying from the comfort of your own home:

Business
Soft Skills/Personal Development
Web Design/Multimedia
Programming
Office Applications
Networking
Database
Operating Systems & Technical Support
Network Security
Health & Safety
Apprenticeship

Many courses are industry certified by the likes of Microsoft, CIW, ECDL, Comptia and Cisco Systems; although students should be aware that current Business and Soft Skills/Personal Development courses are not certified.
For more information please visit www.ecollege.ie

These are just some of the options available through FÁS. Other ideas are available if you check out their website (www.fas.ie) or call into to one of the many centres located all around Ireland. FÁS are there to help people to gain the qualifications they need to get a decent job, so there should be some options available to suit everyone.