With the Leaving Cert complete for another year, you or your child may be considering all available options after school. The Leaving Cert Next Steps Guide can help with this.
CAO Change of Mind deadline is approaching on the 1st July! There are so many educational pathways available and it is important to remember that the CAO route is not the only option available. A route which is becoming more and more popular is the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) option along with other Further Education and Training (FET) options such as Apprenticeships and Traineeships.
To add to these, back in 2023, Tertiary Education programmes were also introduced.
What are Tertiary Education programmes?
Students can enrol in a further education institution before progressing to a higher education institution to complete their fully-accredited degree.
The individual institutions involved have created each course in line with their local context and so there is variation the structure of the courses. But they have been developed with the guidance and co-operation of the National Tertiary Office (NTO) and have common features distinguishing them from existing further education to higher education pathways, such as:
Guaranteed progression
Tertiary programmes have guaranteed progression between the further and higher education element of the programme, as long as the learner reaches a required academic standard.
Step-back awards
Step-back awards are built into the programmes' design, meaning that if a learner leaves the programme before completing the final award, they have formal recognition of the learning they have already completed.
You can find a list of Tertiary Education courses here.
PLC and FET
PLC and FET courses offer many opportunities for school leavers and adult learners alike. These programmes are often more practical and industry-focused in nature and frequently present students with a good foundation on their chosen career path. They also offer an excellent gateway into a college or university course in the same field to continue their studies.
While the CAO and Higher Education are suited to some students, there are also many other options that thousands of other students choose to explore. It is important to remember that no two students are the same, so it is illogical for everyone to follow the same path.
Everyone has their own career needs and aspirations and, by considering all of the options available, you can find the one that suits you best. Many students opt to pursue Higher Education directly after completing their Leaving Certificate, while others explore routes outside of the CAO system.
Further Education and Training courses can be very attractive to those who are not yet ready to commit to a three or four-year degree course, and many of these options offer great progression links to Higher Education institutions and also directly to the world of work.
PLC courses are generally one-year programmes (there are also a number of two-year courses) which combine classroom learning with applied practical learning. Courses typically consist of eight modules and all include a work placement as part of the programme.
Students are assessed on the basis of assignments (both practical & written), research, placement and end-of-year exams. A full, searchable database of PLC courses is available here.
The chart below outlines the different QQI levels and the courses which correspond to those levels. PLC courses are found at Levels 5 and 6, and tend to be 1-2 years in duration.
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
The Higher Education Links Scheme offers students in PLC and other QQI courses the opportunity to progress to Higher Education using their awards. Almost all PLC courses provide pathways into Higher Education institutions. Some high-demand degree courses may look for specific PLC courses for entry (for example Nursing requires a pre-nursing PLC) however, there is a wide variety of degree courses that will accept ANY full PLC award for entry.
Applicants apply through the CAO and progression requires a full Level 5 or Level 6 Major Award, with at least 120 credits. Components (Minor Awards), or achievement of fewer than 120 credits, will not suffice for progression under the HELS.
Find out more about the Higher Education Links Scheme here. You can easily see which courses have QQI links on our PLC CourseFinder
How to Apply to a PLC Course
Applications to PLC programmes are still open in many cases and can be made directly to the college/host institution. Some PLC colleges are also holding open days and interviewing prospective candidates, while other colleges are offering places to all qualifying candidates.
It is advisable to contact your chosen college and apply for the course you are interested in as soon as possible.
PLC Courses
A Post Leaving Cert course is a great way of continuing education after secondary school, and these courses can often bridge the gap between second-level and Higher Education with direct progression routes available from many courses to higher education colleges both here and abroad.
Many of these courses are also very useful if you are considering pursuing an apprenticeship and should really stand to you when you are applying for an apprenticeship work contract. The courses also offer qualifications in their own right, offering awards at QQI Levels 5-6. They are fully accredited and recognised by colleges and employers. They also offer a direct route into employment, with certain qualifications being a prerequisite for many jobs in areas such as Care Assistant or in Childcare for example.
Additionally, the compulsory Work Experience module provides a great opportunity for students to gain experience in their field, an advantage that many CAO courses do not offer.
Traineeships
Traineeships are employment-focused courses delivered by Education & Training Boards (ETBs) in partnership with employers. They are usually 6-20 months in duration in areas identified to have skills shortages, such as Business, Construction, Engineering, Fashion and Beauty, Finance, Hospitality, ICT, Manufacturing, Media, Logistics, Retail, Sports and Leisure.
Traineeships will all have at least 30% on-the-job learning. This gives participants the opportunity to develop cutting-edge skills and knowledge, making them more employable and thus enhancing their career options. They are ideal for those not yet ready to commit to a course or job who would like to try something out for a short period of time. The employability of those completing these programmes is very high.
You can search Traineeships on www.fetchcourses.ie or click here for more information.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeship programmes can be particularly enticing to school leavers as they present the opportunity to earn and learn simultaneously.
The programme consists of on-the-job training with the employer and off-the-job training at the educational provider. This structure allows apprentices to earn a salary and gain industry experience, while also working towards a well-recognised QQI qualification. To learn more about apprenticeships, click here.
There are many different types of apprenticeships available. The traditional craft apprenticeships are very popular among school leavers and include those in the Construction, Electrical, Engineering and Motor sectors.
In addition to these, a good number of occupational/degree level apprenticeships have been launched over the last number of years, including those in the Insurance, ICT, MedTech, Accountancy, and Finance sectors.
Entry requirements, training structure and length of programme can vary a lot between apprenticeships. To see details for each apprenticeship, see Apprenticeship Types in our Apprenticeship section here.
For everything you need on courses and what to do next, check out the Leaving Cert Next Steps Guide.