This chapter contains information on both general upper secondary education, vocational training and non-tertiary vocational education. General and vocational upper secondary education have a common Core Curriculum and are often offered at the same schools.

Schools and upper secondary education and training shall be of high quality and provide the pupils/students/apprentices with necessary prerequisites for future welfare, value creation and sustainable development. All pupils are to have basic skills and feel they both master school and are challenged at school. 

A large majority of upper secondary schools in Norway are combined schools, i.e. they offer both general and vocational education. Because of this, most descriptions in chapter 6.1, 6.2 ang 6.3 cover both general and vocational upper secondary education.

The Act relating to Primary and Secondary Education (the Education Act) regulates general upper secondary education and vocational training. The county authorities are responsible for the schools and the vocational training. A large majority of the schools are public.

The Independent Schools Act regulates private upper secondary education. The Act sets out criteria that private schools must meet to be considered of equal standing to public schools and thus be eligible for public funding.

In Norwegian upper secondary education, students have the flexibility to choose between general education and vocational education, and there are pathways that allow them to switch between these tracks. In vocational education, students can switch to general education by completing a bridging course (Påbygging til generell studiekompetanse). This course typically lasts one year and covers the necessary academic subjects to qualify for higher education. Also, students in general education can switch to vocational education, often by joining the second year (Vg2) of a vocational program, depending on their previous coursework and the specific requirements of the vocational program.

Higher vocational education (‘fagskoler’) exists at both ISCED levels 5 and 6 in Norway. Post-secondary non-tertiary education is higher vocational education at ISCED level 5, scheduled to last less than two years, and gives less than 120 credit points (which is not the same as ECTS). Higher vocational education at ISCED level 6, on the other hand, is scheduled to last two years and gives 120 credit points. 

Higher vocational education in Norway, both post-secondary non-tertiary education at ISCED level 5 and vocational colleges at ISCED level 6, is regulated by the Vocational Education Act (Lov om høyere yrkesfaglig utdanning). These sorts of education consist of short, career-oriented educational programs. There is a variety of providers offering higher vocational education, resulting in a wide range of educational opportunities. Programs are offered in fields such as health and social care, natural sciences, and technical subjects. Such education is meant to be practical and meet the need for qualified labour in society.