The main providers of post-secondary, initial vocational training are the  Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK). 

Pursuant l. 4763/2020 on the national system for  Vocational Education, Training and Lifelong learning and  l. 5082/2024 on the enhancement of VET, higher vocational training schools operate in the context of formal education leading to certificates recognised at national level by the public authorities.

Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK) aim at:

1. providing initial vocational training to graduates of non-compulsory secondary education, ie general upper secondary schools (GEL) and vocational upper secondary schools (EPAL), as well as to holders of equivalent degrees and
2. providing corresponding qualifications to the trainees, with the teaching of scientific, technical, professional and practical knowledge and the cultivation of appropriate skills, in order to facilitate their professional integration and to ensure their adaptation to the changing needs of the production process.

Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK) operate as flexible bodies for the continuous provision, adjustment and modernization of the qualifications of the human resources. Their mission is to provide essential and standard professional knowledge tools and qualifications in order to facilitate the mobility of employees, while strengthening economy and contributing to the growth of productivity. 

Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK) may be public or private.  Attendance at public Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK) is free of charge. 

Public Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK) encompassing responsibilities, positions, personnel and infrastructure, constitute decentralised services of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports.Τhey fall under the authority of the General Secretariat for Vocational Education, Training and Lifelong Learning, which exercises their supervision.

Specialised Vocational Training Schools for people with disabilities may be established, based on the development of specialised studies proposed by the Central Scientific Committee of the General Secretariat for Vocational Education, Training and Lifelong Learning. 

Furthermore, ten (10) Experimental and five (5) Thematic Higher Vocational Training Schools have been established. 

The mission of the Experimental SAEK is to promote the development and trial implementation of an innovative operational model, based on specific requirements, with a focus on educational methodology, teaching staff, targeted specialties, modern teaching aids, infrastructure, laboratory equipment and quality management system.

The specific mission of each Thematic SAEK is the pilot development and promotion of specialised vocational training specialties, corresponding to targeted growth sectors of the economy,  through the implementation of innovative operational methods and the adoption of best international practices.

One hundred and twenty-four (124) public SAEK operate in the largest cities of the country, offering specialties and organising departments corresponding to the needs of the economy at both national and regional level, as well as to the recommendations of the competent educational authorities and involved stakeholders. Additionally, SAEK operate in two correctional facilities of the country.

Specifically, public SAEK may operate with an annual total number of students/trainees not exceeding one hundred (100) in remote, insular, border regions, as well as in regional units with a population of fewer than fifty thousand (50,000) inhabitants.

Post-secondary year – apprenticeship class

The Post Secondary year/Apprenticeship Class, which is optional, is part of the post-upper secondary vocational training level. The apprenticeship class constitutes an education path that, upon completion and relevant certification exams leads to level 5 of the National Vocational Education and Training System (ESEEK).

In the Post-secondary year/Apprenticeship class the apprenticeship methodology is applied, which includes: 

1. work-based learning period for at least fifty percent (50%) of the total duration of the program
2. specialty laboratory courses which are conducted at the School Laboratories of the vocational upper secondary schools (EPAL) or at Laboratory Centers (EK). 

The vocational upper secondary school (EPAL) is responsible for the implementation of the Post Secondary year/Apprenticeship class.

The purposes of the Post-Secondary Year - Apprenticeship Class are, among others, the following:

1. the provision of initial vocational training services to graduates of non-compulsory secondary vocational education, as well as to holders of equivalent qualifications, who possess a basic level of knowledge, skills and competences,
2. the upgrading of the professional qualifications of the graduates of the non-compulsory secondary vocational education, through a learning path that utilizes the existing professional knowledge, skills and abilities,
3. the further enhancement of the opportunities for the integration of the graduates of the non-compulsory secondary vocational education in the labor market, through the acquisition of work experience utilizing the apprenticeship methodology.

Colleges

Post-secondary non-tertiary education includes Colleges. Colleges are private institutions and provide non-formal post-secondary education and training services. Study programmes are based on validation and franchising agreements with higher education institutions located abroad and recognised by the respective authorities of their country. The progammes they offer lead to bachelor degrees, which last at least 3 years, or master degrees. 

In the category of colleges are also included providers of non-formal post-secondary education and training services, whose study programs lead to a postgraduate/master degree, provided that these specific programs have been accredited by international accreditation organizations.
 

Pursuant to l. 4093/2012 and l. 4111/2013,  degrees, qualifications, credentials, certificates and any other documentation administered by colleges are professional equivalent to higher education qualifications gained through the formal Greek education system. 
 

Admission requirements and choice of school

Higher Vocational Training Schools

Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK) can be attended by graduates of upper secondary school, General or Vocational or by holders of equivalent qualifications. Vocational training at the Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK) begins either in the winter or spring semester, lasts a minimum of four (4) and may not exceed a total of six (6) semesters, in accordance with the Training Guides of the specialty, including the period of internship or apprenticeship.

The training of graduates from secondary vocational education, as well as holders of equivalent vocational education qualifications, lasts from two (2) to three (3) semesters at the Vocational Training Institutes (SAEK), including a period of internship or apprenticeship, provided that the qualification concerns a specialty within the vocational sector from which they graduated from the EPAL or an equivalent secondary vocational education institution.

Graduates of public and private SAEK and graduates of the Post-Secondary Year – Apprenticeship Class of EPAL may be admitted to related specialties of SAEK, with exemption from courses they have already attended. Each trainee may attend only one specialty at one SAEK throughout the duration of the training, including the interniship or apprenticeship. Trainees are not allowed to enroll in and attend other institutions of secondary or post-secondary education and training simultaneously. For trainees from EU countries or third countries, knowledge of the Greek language at a minimum level of B1 is required.

Post-secondary year – apprenticeship class

In the Post-secondary- Apprenticeship Class, students are enrolled in the following order of priority.

a) holders of a diploma and a degree from vocational upper secondary schools (EPAL) and the Unified Special Vocational secondary and upper secondary school (ENEEGY-L), as well as holders of equivalent degrees in related specialties.

b) holders of a general upper secondary school (GEL)  graduation certificate and of a degree from vocational upper secondary school  (EPAL) in related specialties.

Age levels and classification of trainees

Higher Vocational Training Schools

Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK) are attended by secondary level graduates who usually are 18 years or older.  

Aiming at the uninterrupted monitoring and completion of the training in public (SAEK) under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, it is possible to grant scholarships to trainees based on social and economic criteria.

By decision of the General Secretary of  Vocational Education, Training and  Lifelong Learning alignment of specialties between vocational upper secondary  schools (EPAL) and SAEK may be determined for enrollment in  SAEK.

Post-secondary year – apprenticeship class

According to l. 4763/2020, the Post-Secondary Year - Apprenticeship Class is addressed to the graduates of the secondary technical education of non-compulsory formal education, using a scoring process defined by the relevant Regulation. The age of the apprentices is, therefore, from 18 years and over.

Graduates of SAEK and the Post-Secondary Apprenticeship Year, who, upon successful completion of the initial vocational training certification exam, hold a Level 5 Vocational Qualification Diploma of the National Qualifications Framework or an equivalent title,may be admitted to Departments/Single-Department Schools of Higher Education Institutions in a specialty related to that of the aforementioned diploma.

Organisation of the school year

Higher Vocational Training Schools

The Operating Regulation of the  SAEK (Κ5/160259/15-12-2021)  regulates matters related to the organization and operation of student life, the procedure and criteria for enrollment, transfers, and mobility between specialties, as well as issues related to the theoretical and practical aspects of the courses.

According to the above-mentioned Regulation, the teaching year in Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK) starts on the first Monday of October, and ends on 30 June. It includes two semesters.

Enrollments are completed by the last working day of September while trainees' applications for Transfers  are submitted twice a year:

for the winter semester from the 1st to the 30^th September

for the spring semester, after the publication of the study results of the winter training semester and before the beginning of the spring semester courses. Special   transfer procedures and deadlines are provided for trainees attending courses in detention facilities.

Dates and deadlines differ for Private SAEK according to their Regulation.

Mobility procedures (classification and change of specialty) are also foreseen, based on the specialties' curricula Trainees are not allowed to attend   classes and complete their  internship at the same time.

In case one or more (SAEK) scheduled teaching hours are not completed, teaching hours will be covered either by increasing the hours of the weekly program (Decision of  SAEK Administration) or by semester extension decided by the competent General Secretary.

Training and possible training procedures do not take place during Christmas and Easter holidays, official public holidays and summer holidays, as well as on the days of local holidays due to religious festivities or anniversaries.

Pursuant to law 4763/2020, the study at SAEK is determined by the following:

• Vocational training begins during the winter or spring semester, lasts at least four (4) and may not exceed five (5) semesters in total, according to the Specialty Training Guides, including those of the internship or apprenticeship period.
• The trainees of SAEK carry out the internship or apprenticeship, under the responsibility of the SAEK in which they study.
• The internship period may be continuous or partial, after the successful completion of the theoretical and laboratory training of the fourth semester, unless otherwise specified in the Training Guides, and must be completed, in any case, within twenty-four (24) months from the end of the last semester of theoretical and laboratory training. Intership can be subsidized.
• The training of the graduates of the upper secondary vocational education (EPAL), as well as of the holders of equivalent vocational education degrees, after registered in SAEK, lasts from two (2) to three (3) semesters, including an internship or apprenticeship period, provided that the degree is in a specialty of the professional field from which they graduated from upper secondary vocational school (EPAL) or equivalent institution of secondary vocational education.

The Post-Secondary Year - Apprenticeship program starts on September 1st of each year and ends on August 31st of the following year. The period of providing the specialty laboratory courses may start on October 1st. The work-based learning period can take place from October 1st of each year to August  31st of the following year. The program is considered complete upon the fulfillment of the hours for the specialty's laboratory course and the  duration of workplace learning, as  specified in the Specialty's Training Guide.

Teaching in SAEK takes place 5 days a week, Monday through Friday, while the weekly training timetable is set by the specialty training guides.

The teaching is organised according to specialties.  Each specialty has its own, unique and comprehensive set of courses, organised in specific teaching hours per week.  

Training in public higher vocational training schools takes place mainly in the evenings, while the duration of the teaching session for all subjects is 45 minutes.  
SAEKs are housed on the premises of secondary education institutions, although other buildings may as well be used, provided they fulfil the relevant requirements.

The programme for the post-secondary year – apprenticeship class includes: 

1. laboratory subjects of specialty classes that last 203 hours.  Lab classes take place one day per week for 7 hours in laboratory centres and/or at the school laboratories of upper secondary vocational schools (EPAL).
2. Work-based education of 32 hours/4 days duration per week. The work-based training programme has a duration of 11 months.   The workplace training programme is carried out in public sector organizations,  in private legal entities or businesses or  in fields corresponding to the specialties being advertised.