In the United Kingdom:
Regulated courses leading to qualifications accredited as National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) or, in Scotland, accredited as Scottish Vocational Qualifications, at levels 3 and 4 of the United Kingdom National Framework of Vocational Qualifications.
These levels are defined as follows:
— Level 3: competence in a broad range of varied work activities performed in a wide variety of contexts and most of which are complex and non-routine. There is considerable responsibility and autonomy, and control or guidance of others is often required.
— Level 4: competence in a broad range of complex, technical or professional work activities performed in a wide variety of contexts and with a substantial degree of personal responsibility and autonomy. Responsibility for the work of others and the allocation of resources is often present.
In Germany:
The following regulated courses:
— Regulated courses preparatory to the pursuit of the professions of technical assistant (technische(r) Assistent(in)), commercial assistant (kaufmännische(r) Assistent(in)), social professions (soziale Berufe) and the profession of State-certified respiration and elocution instructor (staatlich geprüfte(r) Atem-, Sprech- und Stimmlehrer(in)), of a total duration of at least 13 years, which require successful completion of the secondary course of education (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss) and which comprise:
(i) at least three years (29) of vocational training at a specialised school (Fachschule) culminating in an examination and, where applicable, supplemented by a one- or two-year specialisation course also culminating in an examination; or
(ii) at least two and a half years at a specialised school (Fachschule) culminating in an examination and supplemented by work experience of a duration of not less than six months or a traineeship of not less than six months in an approved establishment; or
(iii) at least two years at a specialised school (Fachschule) culminating in an examination and supplemented by work experience of a duration of not less than one year or a traineeship of not less than one year in an approved establishment.
— Regulated courses for the professions of State-certified (staatlich geprüfte(r)) technician (Techniker(in)), business economist (Betriebswirt(in)), designer (Gestalter(in)) and family assistant (Familienpfleger(in)), of a total duration of not less than 16 years, a prerequisite of which is successful completion of compulsory schooling or equivalent education and training (of a duration of not less than nine years) and successful completion of a course at a trade school (Berufsschule) of a duration of not less than three years and comprising, upon completion of at least two years of work experience, full-time education and training of a duration of not less than two years or part-time education and training of equivalent duration.
— Regulated courses and regulated in-service training, of a total duration of not less than 15 years, a prerequisite of which is, generally speaking, successful completion of compulsory schooling (of a duration of not less than nine years) and of vocational training (normally three years) and which generally comprise at least two years of work experience (three years in most cases) and an examination in the context of in service training preparation for which generally comprises a training course which is either concurrent with the work experience (at least 1 000 hours) or is attended on a full-time basis (at least one year).
The German authorities shall send to the Commission and to the other Member States a list of the training courses covered by this Annex.
In the Netherlands:
Regulated training courses which correspond to qualification level 3 or 4 of the national register of professional training courses, established by the Act on education and professional training, or older training courses of an equivalent level.
Levels 3 and 4 of the qualification structure are described as follows:
— Level 3: Responsibility for the application and combination of standardised procedures. Combining or designing procedures according to work organisation and preparation activities. Ability to justify these activities to one's colleagues (no hierarchical link). Hierarchical responsibility for monitoring and supporting the application using other routine standardised or automated procedures. This level relates mainly to professional competence and knowledge.
— Level 4: Responsibility for performing the assigned tasks and also for combining or designing new procedures. Ability to justify these activities to one's colleagues (no hierarchical link). Explicit hierarchical responsibility for planning and/or administration and/or the organisation and/or development of the entire production cycle. This level relates to competence and knowledge which is specialised and/or not inherent to the profession.
The two levels correspond to regulated courses of study of a total duration of at least 15 years which require the successful completion of eight years of elementary education followed by four years of intermediate preparatory vocational education (VMBO), and which require at least three years' level 3 or 4 training at a college for intermediate vocational training (MBO), culminating in an examination. (The average duration of vocational training may be reduced from three to two years where the student has a qualification required to enter university (14 years of prior training) or to enter higher vocational education (13 years of prior training)).
The Netherlands authorities will send to the Commission and to the other Member States a list of the training courses covered by this Annex.
In Austria:
— Courses at higher vocational schools (Berufsbildende Höhere Schulen) and higher education establishments for agriculture and forestry (Höhere Land- und Forstwirtschaftliche Lehranstalten), including special types (einschließlich der Sonderformen), the structure and level of which are determined by law, regulations and administrative provisions.
— These courses have a total length of not less than 13 years and comprise five years of vocational training, which culminate in a final examination, the passing of which is a proof of professional competence.
— Courses at master schools (Meisterschulen), master classes (Meisterklassen), industrial master schools (Werkmeisterschulen) or building craftsmen schools (Bauhandwerkerschulen), the structure and level of which are determined by law, regulations and administrative provisions.
— These courses have a total length of not less than 13 years, comprising nine years of compulsory education, followed by either at least three years of vocational training at a specialized school or at least three years of training in a firm and in parallel at a vocational training school (Berufsschule), both of which culminate in an examination, and are supplemented by successful completion of at least a one-year training course at a master school (Meisterschule), master classes (Meisterklassen), industrial master school (Werkmeisterschule) or a building craftsmen school (Bauhandwerkerschule). In most cases the total duration is at least 15 years, comprising periods of work experience, which either precede the training courses at these establishments or are accompanied by part-time courses (at least 960 hours).
The Austrian authorities shall send to the Commission and to the other Member States a list of the training courses covered by this Annex.