How you choose between glass types and frames
From basic course to journeyman's certificate — and how school and training alternate
Introduction
The greenkeeper apprenticeship is a vocational apprenticeship where you alternate between school and apprenticeship at a workplace. This means that you always keep the theory and practice connected, and you earn a salary as soon as you have signed an apprenticeship contract. In this article we take a close look at how the course is structured from start to finish.
Two specialisations: greenkeeper and groundsman
The programme has two specialisations. The greenkeeper looks after golf courses, and the groundsman looks after football pitches and other sports grounds. From 1 August 2026 the purpose is to be able to «plan, establish and maintain green areas at sports grounds and golf courses with a focus on sustainable solutions» (Executive Order 156/2026 § 1).
The basic course — your first school periods
If you come directly from 9th or 10th grade, you start the first part of the basic course, which lasts about half a school year. Here you get the broad, basic competencies that apply to the whole green area, and you find out if the subject suits you. Then you continue to the second part of the basic course, which typically also spans about half a year and is more focused on the subject itself. If you left school more than a couple of years ago, you can in some cases start directly on the second part.
On the basic course, you work project-oriented and practically. You get into the workshop and the fields, learn about plants, soil, and machinery, and build the foundation you will stand on when you move on.
Parts 1 and 2 of the basic course last 20 weeks each (Executive Order 156/2026 § 2(1)). If you have taken the basic course for landscape gardener, gardener or forestry and nature technician, you also have access to the greenkeeper main programme (§ 3(6)).
Main course — school and training in rhythm
When the basic course is completed and you have a training agreement, you begin the main programme. This is where you really become a greenkeeper. The main programme alternates between school periods and longer periods of on-the-job training in a company — it could be a golf club, a stadium or a sports facility, and the training can in some cases take place abroad. During the school periods you pull together the threads from your on-the-job training and build new professional knowledge on top.
| Phase | What's happening | Approximate duration |
|---|---|---|
| Basic course 1 | Broad, basic competencies for the green area | A half school year |
| Basic course 2 | Trade-targeted teaching pointing toward greenkeeper craft. | A half school year |
| Main course | Alternation between school stays and company training | The rest of the course |
The main programme in figures
| Vej | Duration | School instruction |
|---|---|---|
| The entire education | 4 years – 4 years 6 months incl. parts 1 and 2 of the basic course | — |
| Young people (EUD), main programme | 3 years – 3 years 6 months | 30 weeks spread over at least 6 school periods |
| Adults (EUV) | 2 years 11 months – 3 years 5 months | 27 weeks |
The figures are in Executive Order 156/2026 § 2. As an adult, the programme can be shortened because the school assesses what you already know.
What you need before the main programme
To be admitted to the school teaching in the main programme, you must have at least 02 in the programme-specific subject from the basic course (§ 3(2)). You must also have five certificates:
- 01A valid driving licence, at least for a tractor.
- 02First aid in vocational education, incl. traffic-related first aid.
- 03Basic firefighting.
- 04«The road as a workplace».
- 05«Behaviour and well-being at the workplace» — new from 1 August 2026.
The journeyman's exam
- 01Theory: an oral exam of 30 minutes incl. assessment. It is individual.
- 02Practical: a practical task of 84 hours for greenkeepers and 56 hours for groundsmen. It is done as a group exam with 3 or 4 apprentices, but each gets their own grade.
- 03The task is a case that you draw by lot.
- 04The theory counts for one third and the practical for two thirds.
- 05The trade committee can add a distinction to the journeyman's certificate: «Passed with praise», «Bronze» or «Silver».
Entry requirements and admission
To enter you must have completed primary school and in principle have at least 2.0 on average in both Danish and mathematics at the leaving exam. If you don't meet the grade requirement you can come to an entrance interview and test at the school. If you apply directly from primary school there is an application deadline in spring so it is a good idea to be in good time.
Adult path
If you are 25, you can take the education as a vocational education for adults. Here your competencies are assessed first, so the course can be shortened based on what you already know and have experience with. This makes the path shorter and more flexible if you come with work experience in your background.
“A vocational apprenticeship is designed to interweave theory and practice — you learn it at school and use it on the job.”