Apprenticeship in Montenegro

Montenegro has no separate qualification category called apprenticeship. Its functional equivalent is provided through stručno obrazovanje, practical education with employers and dualno obrazovanje. The national framework is regulated by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation. The Centre for Vocational Education develops programmes, qualifications and quality standards, while the Examination Centre conducts external examinations and the Council for Qualifications supports qualification standards. Schools, licensed adult-education providers, employers and the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro also have defined roles. After completing primary school, a learner can enter a two-year lower vocational programme, a three-year secondary vocational programme or a four-year secondary vocational programme. An arts school generally lasts four years. Post-secondary vocational education can last two years after four-year secondary education, or after three-year vocational education together with a majorski ispit. A one-year training or professional-development pathway can lead to a vocational qualification or micro-qualification. Regular entry normally requires completion of primary education and an age of no more than 17. Applicants older than 17 generally use part-time education. Foreign citizens, people under protection and stateless people follow the same conditions, with recognition of their previous qualifications where required. Selection for three- and four-year programmes can consider primary-school grades, external assessment results, two relevant subjects and competition or award results. For the 2026/27 school year, announced places included 4,903 places in four-year vocational programmes and 2,632 in three-year programmes; the published threshold for four-year programmes was 48 points. Public calls normally appear in June or August, while adult calls may appear later. Dualno obrazovanje is used primarily in three-year programmes. The learner studies theory at school and completes practical training with an employer, or follows a school-based practical arrangement. When the employer provides the complete practical component, the employer and a parent or guardian sign an individual education agreement, and the learner must be enrolled in the programme. When practice is shared, the school and employer use an agreement for practical teaching. Practical learning may take place in school workshops and laboratories, student cooperatives, institutions, companies or businesses run by entrepreneurs. A school lesson lasts 45 minutes and an employer lesson lasts 60 minutes. Under an individual education agreement, the workload may not exceed 36 lessons per week or seven lessons per day. An employer placement lasting more than nine months provides at least eight weeks of break. Publicly funded regular and post-secondary vocational education is tuition-free. Fees for preparation and examinations in part-time education are set by the Ministry. Adult programmes included in the annual public plan do not require learner co-financing for an initial qualification, retraining, qualification upgrading, specialisation or professional development; other programmes must announce their fee, funding source, location and duration. A learner under an individual dual-education agreement receives at least 10% of the previous year’s average net salary in the first year, 15% in the second year and 20% in the third year. The Ministry funds the first and second years, and the employer funds the third year. The Fund for Support of Dual Education can support awards, transport and meals, instructor costs, equipment, health and safety measures and employer incentives. Employers must ensure attendance, pay the allowance, protect health and safety, keep attendance records, allow teacher monitoring and assign only relevant work. Learners must attend school and practical training, follow lawful instructions, protect trade secrets and comply with safety rules. They receive five additional working days for examination preparation. If an employer breaches its duties, the school must seek another employer. If no replacement is available, the learner may continue practical training at school. Grades use a scale from 1 to 5. Two-year programmes end with a practical examination, three-year programmes with a final examination and four-year programmes with a professional examination. Post-secondary programmes end with a graduation examination. A continuing learner’s professional examination is external, while a non-continuing learner’s examination is organised by the school. A majorski ispit can be taken after a three-year programme with three years of occupational experience, or after a four-year programme with two years of experience. Adult vocational education is available to people over 15 who meet the programme conditions. Licensed providers may offer formal, non-formal or informal learning, self-directed learning and workplace training. Adult programmes can differ from school programmes in volume, organisation and duration. They may lead to national vocational qualifications, micro-qualifications or key-competence outcomes. A national vocational qualification certificate can support labour-market access without requiring a particular level of general education, provided the qualification is obtained through a publicly recognised pathway. Public notices must state entry requirements, places, learning mode, duration, completion method, fees or funding and location. An employed learner may receive up to seven days of educational leave or a reduced or adjusted work schedule under labour law. Providers can adapt delivery for disability, immigration, language or social barriers. A three-year final-examination pathway can lead to an additional two-year four-year programme. A four-year professional-examination pathway can support progression to tertiary education. These transitions do not change the vocational qualification itself. In 2024/25, Montenegro recorded 1,051 completions at vocational level III and 5,055 at vocational level IV; the same period included 515 reported dual learners. The most visible practical applications are in school-employer cooperation, hospitality and tourism, trade, technical occupations, maritime work and other occupational profiles.