Types of institutions

The system of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Albania is the whole system of institution that offer qualifications and vocational skills. It is compound by the following institutions: 

• Vocational Education and Training schools [Shkolla Profesionale]. 
• Centers of Vocational Formation [Qendra për Formimin Profesional]
• Multifunctional Centers [Qendra Multifunksionale].

Professional qualifications are long term and are offered by Vocational Education and Training Schools while short terms qualifications are offered by the Centers for Vocational Formation and Multifunctional Centers. 

Vocational Education and Training Schools alongside general upper secondary offer practical and theoretical competencies in respective vocational profiles. In difference from general upper secondary education vocational education at upper secondary level might have a duration of 2 3 or 4 years. 

Geographical accessibility

In Vocational Education, there are 31 vocational high schools and 10 vocational training centers distributed throughout the territory, mainly in urban areas.

Arsimi dhe Formimi Profesional

Admission Criteria and Choice of School

Admission criteria in upper secondary vocational education institutions are similar to those posed in general education ones. Sometimes additional requirements are posed such as possessing respective average on certain subject related to the respective specialization. Such criteria are announced by respective orders of Minister of Education and Finances.

Organization of School year

Structure of the 2025–2026 school year for pre-university education: Classes began on September 8, 2025, and ended on June 12, 2026, with defined winter and spring breaks and clear exam dates for each cycle, including Matura and vocational education. Students will have two vacation periods during the year: winter breaks will be from December 22, 2025 to January 2, 2026, while spring breaks are set from March 30 to April 3, 2026. The joint order “On the approval of the structure of the 2025–2026 school year in the pre-university education system”, based on the Constitution and the legislation in force for pre-university and vocational education, precisely defines the teaching calendar, vacation periods and exam dates for students in basic, upper secondary and vocational education. The national exams for the completion of basic education will be held in the period 15–26 June 2026, marking an important stage for the further orientation of students in the secondary cycle. In upper secondary education, classes for all students also began on 8 September 2025 and end on 12 June 2026, with the exception of high school graduates, for whom classes end earlier, on 29 May 2026. Even at this level, winter breaks are unified from 22 December to 2 January. The State Matura exams, which mark the conclusion of the upper secondary cycle and open the way to higher education or the labor market, will be held throughout the month of June, from 1 to 26 June 2026. In vocational education, the structure is presented in more detail due to the variety of programs and modules followed. Meanwhile, for grades 11 and 12 in the 2+1+1 structure and grades 11 in the 2+2 structure, classes end on May 29, 2026. For high school graduates of this cycle, classes end on May 15, 2026, leaving room for exam preparations. The winter holidays in vocational education are the same as for other levels: from December 22, 2025 to January 2, 2026. The final exams for professional qualifications of levels II and III of the Albanian Qualifications Framework (AKF) will be held from June 1 to 12, 2026. As for the professional practice of level IV qualifications, the exams will be held from May 25 to 29, 2026. Graduates of this cycle will enter the State Vocational Matura exams on the same dates as high school students: from June 1 to 26. The envisaged structure aims to ensure efficient organization of the learning process, sustainable preparation for exams and a balanced distribution of vacation periods.

Organisation of the school day and week

Also, in Vocational Education classes are held from Monday to Saturday. Daily classes begin at 8:00. The teaching schedule depending on the program is determined in the school regulations.