Post-secondary non-tertiary VET in Finland is available for specialist vocational qualifications, which are considered competence-based qualifications (see 8.4). Specialist vocational qualifications are primarily intended for adults – mainly for people skilled in different fields – to demonstrate their practical competence and vocational skills in competence tests. Specialist vocational qualifications enable adults to improve their position in the labour market.

The majority of students participate in preparatory training in order to complete the competence tests. Preparatory training is organised by adult education centres and vocational institutions, for example.