Specialties and career as a service assistant
Cleaning technician, hospital service, business service and the way forward
Introduction
One of the strengths of the service assistant profession is that it is both broad and can be tailored. With specials, you can choose a direction, and because the need for service and hygiene exists everywhere, there are good job opportunities.
The specialties – choose your direction
The programme has two stages. Stage 1 is the cleaning technician specialisation (professional cleaning in e.g. offices, institutions and companies) — everyone takes it, and it gives access to stage 2. At stage 2 you choose hospital service (cleaning and hygiene in hospitals, often with patient transport and meal distribution) or company service (internal service in a workplace). The specialisation determines which tasks you get closest to.
| Specialty | Typical content |
|---|---|
| Cleaning technician (stage 1) | Professional cleaning in offices, institutions and companies |
| Hospital service (stage 2) | Cleaning and hygiene in hospitals; often patient transport and meal distribution |
| Company service (stage 2) | Internal service and practical tasks at a workplace |
The subjects in your specialisation at stage 2
Level 2 lasts 6 months beyond level 1 and has 12 school weeks. The compulsory subjects in the specialisation take up 45 school days, and on top of that come optional specialist subjects:
| Hospital service | School days |
|---|---|
| Transport, positioning and transfer | 17 |
| Dialogue and interaction with patients, citizens and relatives | 8 |
| Digital solutions in hospital service | 8 |
| Infection hygiene | 7 |
| Sustainability in food service and meal production | 5 |
| Company service | School days |
|---|---|
| Good Hosting | 15 |
| Food and service | 15 |
| Indoor climate and sustainable service | 10 |
| English and digital tools | 5 |
Who takes the programme?
The service assistant programme is an adult programme. Of the 625 who started in 2025, 577 were at least 25 years old, and 377 were 40 or older. Three out of four were women (468 of 625), and half were immigrants (313 of 625). Many have worked as cleaning assistants, porters or household assistants before they take the programme as EUV.
Pay as a student
With a training agreement you get an apprentice wage. The service collective agreement between 3F and DI sets the hourly wage, and the student's normal working hours are at least 30 hours a week.
| Hourly pay | From 15-05-2025 | From 15-03-2026 | From 15-03-2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | DKK 87.91 | DKK 90.99 | DKK 94.17 |
| Year 2 | DKK 98.03 | DKK 101.46 | DKK 105.01 |
Where can you work?
Service assistants are in demand in many places: hospitals care homes schools offices hotels transport and manufacturing companies. Because cleaning hygiene and internal service are necessary everywhere and cannot be dispensed with job security is generally good.
More responsibility and further education
With experience you can take more responsibility — e.g. as the one who trains new people plans the work or supervises quality (e.g. quality control per DS/INSTA 800). You can take further education (e.g. AMU courses) in hygiene cleaning technique chemistry working environment or management and you can build towards e.g. service manager or other directions within service and cleaning.
Hygiene is only becoming more important
Focus on hygiene and infection prevention has increased especially in healthcare. It makes the service assistant's skills more central: a skilled service assistant in a hospital is a direct part of patient safety. The one who understands the why of hygiene not just cleaning becomes more valuable.
Green and efficient service
Future cleaning uses less water and chemistry, more microfiber and environmentally labeled products. This relates to Sinner's circle — that more mechanics can replace more chemistry — and to the desire for a better indoor climate. As a service assistant you are close to the consumption of resources and can contribute to a more gentle service.