Upper secondary education in Montenegro is implemented as upper secondary general education (gymnasium education), vocational upper secondary education, post-secondary non-tertiary vocational education 

Vocational upper secondary education is provided in accordance with provisions of the General Law on Education and provisions of the Law on Vocational Education. In line with the legal provisions, vocational education in Montenegro can be provided as: 
- Lower vocational education in the duration of two years, the completion of which results in the acquisition of a lower vocational education qualification; 
- Secondary vocational education in the duration of three years, the completion of which results in acquisition of a three-year secondary vocational education qualification; 
- Secondary vocational education in the duration of four years, the completion of which results in acquisition of a four-year secondary vocational education qualification;
- Post-secondary non-tertiary vocational education in the duration of two years, as continued secondary vocational education, the completion of which results in the acquisition of a higher vocational education qualification. 

The master craftsman's exam is also a post-secondary vocational education (one year). 

Lower vocational education is completed once a student takes and passes the practical exam. 

A three year secondary vocational education programme is completed once a student takes and passes the final exam. 

The vocational exam is taken at the end of a four-year vocational education programme. The Vocational exam can be external and internal. The external vocational exam is a precondition for the continuation of education in higher education institutions.

Post-secondary non-tertiary vocational education is completed once a student takes and passes the graduate exam.

The objective of vocational education is to enable students to acquire knowledge and develop skills, as well as vocational and key competences that can respond to the demands of the modern society and market economy, and allow them to participate as equals in the labour market. Vocational education is also aimed at enabling young people and adults to acquire knowledge and skills necessary for life and work, professional development of personality, further education, as well as raising awareness about the necessity of lifelong learning, etc.

General upper secondary education - gymnasium education, is aimed at enabling students to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, competences and habits that are based on the accomplishments of science, technology, culture and art, in order to continue their education, develop critical opinions, independence, responsibility, support understanding, tolerance, solidarity and respecting differences, etc.

Institutions at which qualifications of upper secondary education are acquired can be established as either public or private. A public institution may be founded by the Government, municipality, capital or royal capital. A private institution may be founded by a national or foreign legal entity or natural person, in accordance with the General Law on Education.

Upper secondary education can be acquired at the: gymnasium, mixed secondary school and educational centre. In Montenegro, secondary education is carried out in 56 schools. Public institutions make 50 of them, 1 is public-private and 5 are private. 

Education of children with special educational needs is carried out by schools providing secondary education and resource centres, in accordance with the Law on Education of Children with Special Educational Needs. For students with special educational needs an Individual Transition Plan has been developed which provides a smooth transition from primary to secondary school programmes. This Plan applies to employment and enrollment in tertiary education.

Educational work at upper secondary education institutions is carried out by teachers of individual subjects, professional associates and other educators, whose level of education and educational profile is prescribed by the Law on Gymnasium, Law on Vocational Education and the relevant curriculum.

Quality assurance and the improvement of educational work is conducted by institutions (self-evaluation) every year for certain areas, and every two years altogether. Quality assurance and the improvement of educational work of institutions is conducted by Centre for Vocational Education and Bureau for Education Services (evaluation), at least every four years. The Methodology for quality assurance and improvement of educational work at an institution (self-evaluation and evaluation) is prescribed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation following the proposal of Bureau for Education Services and the Centre for Vocational Education.

Upper secondary education is not compulsory. Education at public institutions is free of charge.