2026

No reforms have been completed. 

2025

Working group on reform of vocational training 

In January 2025, the Government announced the establishment of a working group to propose a new model for vocational training, with the aim of improving the quality and effectiveness of this system in Portugal. The initiative, formalised through an Order issued by the Secretary of State for Labour, stipulates that the group is to present a proposal for revising the model in the near future. 

The reform of vocational training is considered a priority of the Government Programme, which has identified the need to modernise the system and make it more effective, aligning it with the current needs of the labour market and with technological and social changes.

This initiative aims to create a more flexible and inclusive model, adapted to the demands of a constantly changing market, strengthening the link between businesses, training centres and educational institutions. The Government intends for the training offered to meet the new skills required by the productive sectors, ensuring greater employability for trainees and increased productivity for businesses.

Methodology for updating and designing the qualifications in the National Qualifications Catalogue

As part of the thorough process of improvement of the National Qualifications Catalogue (NQC) the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI) has been carrying out, in early September the methodology for updating and designing qualifications in the NQC was published. This publication presents the methodology for updating the NQC and the design of qualifications in more detail, adopting European recommendations in the field of education and training, which are essential for the transparency and recognition of qualifications at European and international levels.

These changes fulfil the NQC's objectives since its creation, by structuring qualifications into units of competence, which are based on and described in terms of learning outcomes. The units of competence do not have associated time workload. They rather establish learning outcomes that need to be developed and/or demonstrated, as well as performance criteria that serve the purpose of standardising the assessment of these competences. The main feature of this methodology is that it establishes the competency framework as the core element for structuring qualifications in their technological component.

Both the training provided, and the Recognition, Validation and Certification of Competencies (RVCC) are now based on the same competency framework. For greater clarification and demonstration of the content of this methodology, examples are included regarding the design of competency frameworks and the tools for assessing competencies in RVCC.

2024

There have been no reforms in this area in 2024.