Helsearbeiderutdanningen

Helsearbeiderutdanningen is a vocational education path in Norway designed to train health care workers, traditionally leading to the qualification of helsefagarbeider. The program is part of videregående opplæring (upper secondary education) and is offered at vocational schools as a track within the health and care sector. It prepares graduates for frontline roles in municipalities, care homes, home-based services and other health and social care settings.

The curriculum combines classroom learning with substantial practical training. Key topics typically include basic health and care, nutrition, hygiene and infection control, safety, documentation and digital systems, communication and ethics, teamwork with families and other professionals, and elements of rehabilitation and palliative care. Practical training is conducted in supervised placements in health and care services, often integrated with the school year.

Admission requirements and program structure can vary by county and school, but generally require completion of primary and lower secondary education, with local regulations shaping the exact entry criteria and practicum arrangements. The duration is commonly two years in upper secondary education, culminating in a fagbrev (craft certificate) as helsefagarbeider.

Career possibilities for graduates include employment in municipal health and care services, including home care, nursing homes, and hospital wards in support roles. The qualification also provides a foundation for further studies and specializations within the health sector, or pathways toward more advanced healthcare education with additional training.