Further and continuing education
What you can build on your journeyman certificate
When you have your journeyman certificate you are skilled – but you are far from done learning. One of the strong sides of vocational educations is that they are a springboard: you can stay in the craft and become even sharper or you can use the journeyman certificate as your ticket to further education. Here are some of the paths.
§Keep your skills up to date
The craft and its tools develop, and short courses keep you current. It might be courses in new machines, techniques, or materials, or renewal of the mandatory certificates you need in daily work. The AMU system (labor market training) offers short, targeted courses for adults that you can take alongside work.
§Specialize in the craft
You can also choose to go deeper into a niche of the trade. Restoration of heritage buildings, figurative sculpture, or special stone types are areas where you can build expertise that makes you sought after. Specialization often happens through experience and training from skilled colleagues, combined with relevant courses.
§Higher educations to aim for
With a journeyman's certificate — and especially with EUX — you can apply to business academy and professional bachelor educations where your craft is a strong foundation. Several are close to construction and stone work.
- 01Building constructor — design and management of construction projects a natural next step for those who want to work with construction at a higher level
- 02Building technician — a shorter higher education programme focusing on construction techniques
- 03The conservator/restoration field — for those who want to work professionally with the preservation of cultural heritage
- 04Other technical academy educations where material understanding and practical experience are an advantage
The requirements for admission vary from education to education, and some require you to supplement with specific subjects if you have taken the standard EUD without EUX. Always check the current admission requirements for the education you are aiming for.
§Entrepreneur and master
If you want to stand at the head of a company yourself, you can supplement the craft with knowledge of economics, management and operations. There are courses and programs aimed at craftspeople who want to be self-employed or masters — so you master not only the stone but also the business around it.
“Your journeyman certificate is not a finish line, but a starting line — now you choose how far you want to go.”