Ammattitutkinto

Ammattitutkinto is a national vocational qualification in Finland that certifies a person’s professional competence in a specific field. It is part of the Finnish national qualifications framework and is recognized by employers across industries. The system is designed to be accessible to both young people completing upper secondary vocational education and adults with prior work experience, supporting career progression and labor-market mobility.

People obtain an ammattitutkinto through an education-based path provided by vocational institutions or through a competence-based path that recognizes prior work experience and learning. The final assessment is usually a näyttötutkinto, a competence demonstration in which the candidate completes workplace tasks and demonstrates required skills before an assessment panel. The process is overseen by the Finnish National Agency for Education in cooperation with the issuing training organization.

Competence requirements cover occupation-specific tasks, safety and quality standards, and workplace communication. The content is defined by qualification-specific specifications and can include on-the-job learning, theory studies, and practical projects. The duration varies by field and path, ranging from several months to a couple of years, depending on prior learning and the structure of the chosen program.

Successful completion provides a nationally recognized credential that can improve employment prospects and serve as a stepping stone to further studies. In Finland, specialist qualifications such as erikoisammattitutkinto exist for higher levels of expertise, reflecting a broader continuum of professional recognition within the vocational system.