Programmes offered under VTOS are education-led, vocationally-oriented and progression-focussed.

The programmes give participants the opportunity of:
- raising their education levels
- gaining certification within the national framework of qualifications
- developing knowledge and skills relevant to the workplace
- progressing to employment or to further education or training leading to employment.

The range of learning opportunities provided by VTOS centres includes:
- Junior Certificate
- Leaving Certificate
- Courses leading to a FETAC award at Level 3 on the National Framework of Qualifications
- Courses leading to a FETAC award at Level 4 on the National Framework of Qualifications
- Courses leading to a FETAC award at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications

A variety of subject areas is offered at Junior and Leaving Certificate levels. Courses leading to a FETAC award cover a wide range of learning areas including art/craft/design, business studies, childcare, communications, drama, fashion design and performing arts. Depending on its location and size, each VTOS centre will provide a different combination of learning opportunities.
 

Further information on the Junior Certificate and the Leaving Certificate - www.examinations.ie 

Further information on FETAC (Further Education and Training Awards Council) - www.fetac.ie 

Further information on the National Framework of Qualifications - www.nfq.ie 

Participation in VTOS is in two modes as follows:
- as a ‘core’ VTOS student participating in a group of up to twenty other VTOS students in a VTOS Centre or Adult Education Centre
- as a ‘dispersed’ VTOS student participating in a group of students some of whom may be VTOS students and some of whom will be studying through other schemes/programmes. ‘Dispersed’ VTOS students generally attend a Further Education College or a Post-Leaving Certificate College.

In all cases the learning centre or college will be under the management of the local VEC (Vocational Education Committee).

To get information on learning opportunities under VTOS a VTOS-eligible person (FAQs) should, as a first step, contact the VTOS co-ordinator at her/his local VTOS centre/college. The VTOS co-ordinator’s name and contact details are provided for each VTOS centre/college.

Click here to view VTOS Progression Statistics  (This file is in Adobe PDF format)