In Finland, employers have a statutory obligation to ensure that their employees possess the necessary skills and to support the development of those skills. This obligation is based on the Occupational Safety and Health Act (738/2002), which requires employers to ensure that employees have sufficient competence to perform their duties safely and effectively. For teachers, this includes the continuous professional development. 

Organisational aspects

Similarly, in-service training for teachers is governed by above mentioned general occupational safety legislation. The primary responsibility for teacher CPD lies with the employer, typically the education provider such as municipalities or schools.  

There is no separate, specific law regulating teacher CPD (Continuing Professional Development); instead, it is based on collective agreements and other regulations. Teachers have the right to participate in CPD for 1 to 5 days per year while keeping their full salary. The number of CPD days depends on decisions made by the employer, the terms of the collective agreement for teaching staff, local practices, and the content of each relevant in-service training.

Employers furthermore have the right to assign all full-time teachers to in-service training. 

Self-motivated professional development has become increasingly common, and teachers themselves now bear more responsibility for maintaining and developing their expertise. Local authorities support this within their financial means. Employers also decide which education programs are recognized as CPD under the collective agreement.

In early childhood education and care (ECEC), the obligation to provide CPD is based on legislation. According to the Act on ECEC (540/2018), ECEC providers must ensure that staff participate sufficiently in in-service training that maintains and develops their professional skills. This applies to staff in both daycare centres and family daycare.

Organisation of in-service training

Teacher in-service training is provided by various institutions, including:

• University continuing education units
• Higher education institutions for vocational teacher education
• University departments of teacher education and teacher training schools
• Summer universities
• Private training organizations

The availability of in-service training is largely based on supply and demand. Both teachers and employers share responsibility for continuing education. Teachers especially value training that helps them update their expertise in their own subject and responsibility area.

Incentives, supporting measures and funding for participation in continuing professional development (CPD) activities

Participation in continuing professional development activities does not provide teachers with formal benefits, such as salary increases or promotions. Part of the CPD is compulsory, but studies show that teachers participate in CPD much more than are formally required. Thus, the main motivation is professional development, updating and renewing one’s own knowledge and competences as well as professional well-being. 

Employer-funded CPD is funded by the employer and takes place during working hours. This type of CPD can be targeted at individual teachers or the entire teaching staff within a school or municipality.