PROFESSIONAL RECONVERSION
What is Adult Vocational Training?
Adult vocational training is an opportunity for continuous learning and personal development for individuals who wish to improve their skills and knowledge in their field of activity or acquire new competencies in another field.
This form of learning is aimed at those who are at different stages of their professional lives and seek to increase their chances of career success. It concludes with certificates of qualification or completion with national recognition and/or professional competence certificates, which can later be used with tangible benefits.
Why do we need adult vocational training: the current context
In today’s world, there is an increasing gap between the need for qualified personnel and the available education and training offerings. This discrepancy is fueled by a lack of information regarding training programs and the low confidence of adults in opportunities for improvement or qualification/requalification. Moreover, there is low participation in adult vocational training programs, even where they exist. The solution to these problems lies in coordinated collaboration between employers, training providers, and adults, with benefits for all parties involved:- Employers can communicate their competency needs more effectively;
- Training can communicate their competency needs more effectively;
- Adults can access training programs to acquire the necessary skills for current or future jobs, including coping with technological changes.
Who can benefit from adult training programs?
According to the provisions of Government Ordinance no. 129/2000 regarding adult vocational training, republished with subsequent amendments and completions, those who can benefit from adult training programs are individuals of working age.
Adult vocational training programs serve as a tool for developing the skills and qualifications necessary to meet the constantly changing demands of the labor market. They are designed to help various categories of individuals improve their skills and maximize their professional potential.
You can benefit from vocational training programs if you belong to the following categories:
- Employed persons: This group includes workers who wish to develop their skills in their current field of activity or reorient themselves professionally. As employees, these programs can help you adapt to the labor market and advance in your career.
- Unemployed persons: Those seeking a job or who are unemployed can benefit from adult vocational training programs to increase their chances of finding a suitable job. These programs provide the skills and knowledge necessary to adapt to labor market demands.
- Individuals in career transition: Sometimes, you may wish to completely change your career for various reasons. Adult vocational training programs offer the opportunity to acquire the new competencies needed to integrate into another field of activity.
- Persons with disabilities: Current legislation pays special attention to people with disabilities, recognizing the importance of integrating them into the labor market. Vocational training programs can be adapted to fit the needs and abilities of this group of beneficiaries.
- Young people leaving the education system: Graduates who leave school and do not immediately enter the labor market can benefit from adult vocational training programs to develop their skills and increase their chances of finding a job.
- Individuals on parental leave or career breaks: Those who have interrupted their careers to take care of children or other family members can use vocational training programs to refresh or change their skills and successfully return to the labor market.
What are the benefits of vocational training?
- Skill development, in line with the market or personal needs: It offers the opportunity to acquire new skills or improve existing ones, which can lead to more professional opportunities.
- Income growth: Additional skills and knowledge can lead to increased income through promotion or by accessing better-paying jobs.
- Career adaptability: In a world of rapid changes, vocational training helps you adapt to labor market demands.
- Certifications: It provides nationally recognized certificates, which can help you secure a new job or advance in your career.
- Confidence and personal satisfaction: It can make you feel more confident in your abilities and bring personal satisfaction through the achievement of learning objectives.
- Career transition: It can provide the opportunity to make a professional change to a completely new field that you may have desired for a long time.
- Unemployment prevention: It reduces the social impact of restructuring and reorganization processes by employers.
Vocational training can be carried out through:
a) Programs organized by authorized vocational training providers;
b) Programs organized by employers within their own units;
c) Internship and specialization stages in units in the country or abroad;
d) Other forms of professional training.
You can choose from a variety of authorized training programs:
- Qualification/requalification programs;
- Specialization or improvement programs, with a shorter duration, for acquiring/developing new skills;
- Programs for acquiring key competencies: digital, entrepreneurial, communication in the native language, numeracy, communication in a foreign language;
- Apprenticeship programs at the workplace.
Useful information for employers
In a constantly changing world, investing in the development and improvement of employees’ skills is essential for the organization’s success and growth. Continuous vocational training programs represent a valuable opportunity for employers to develop and maintain a qualified and motivated workforce. In this context, employers are encouraged to consider the importance and benefits of supporting employees to follow such programs. Specifically, support can take various forms:
- Financial support to participate in vocational training programs;
- Facilitating trainees’ access to the material and technical resources needed for conducting vocational training activities;
- Ensuring employees’ participation in training programs;
- Recognizing their achievements within the organization.
What are the advantages of employee vocational training for employers?
Increased productivity and competitiveness;
Improved quality of products or services;
More performant employees;
Employee motivation and loyalty to the company;
Response to challenges induced by rapid technological developments, digitalization, automation, demographic changes, and migration.
Employers can also organize apprenticeship programs at the workplace, according to Law no. 279/2005 regarding workplace apprenticeships, republished with subsequent amendments and completions, for unqualified persons, the apprenticeship contract duration being between 6 and 36 months, depending on the qualification level (levels 1, 2, 3, 4).
Employers who conclude an apprenticeship contract benefit, upon request, throughout the apprenticeship contract duration, from a sum amounting to 2,250 lei/month, granted from the unemployment insurance budget.
Useful information for vocational training program providers
How can you get authorized?
Authorizing a course is done in accordance with the provisions of OG no. 129/2000 regarding adult vocational training, with subsequent amendments and according to Order 353/5202/2003 – Methodology for authorizing adult vocational training providers, with subsequent amendments and completions.
To be subject to authorization, vocational training providers must meet the following eligibility conditions:
- a) To be legally constituted;
- b) To have vocational training activities provided for in the statute or, as the case may be, in the establishment act;
- c) To fulfill their obligations to pay taxes, fees, and contributions due, according to the legislation in force.
The steps to follow to obtain authorization for conducting vocational training courses are:
- » Preparing the authorization file;
- » Submitting the authorization file to the Technical Secretariat of the County Authorization Commission;
- » Evaluating the authorization file;
- » Obtaining the authorization.
Adult vocational training providers must have included in their Constitutive Act CAEN Code 8559 – Other forms of education.
The necessary forms for authorization can be obtained from the County Authorization Commissions.
