Vocational training
Courses that support you in your work
Vocational training
Efling offers vocational training in cooperation with accredited education providers. The courses are free of charge for members working in the relevant fields who have acquired rights through an education fund. You can check your status on your personal page under “My Pages” on Efling’s website.
Care - vocational courses I and II
Vocational courses in care are intended for staff working in care roles, for example assisting older people, people with disabilities, or individuals with health conditions, either in private homes or in institutional settings. The courses are practical and based on tasks that are directly relevant to the job.
About the courses
The courses cover, among other things:
- Assistance with activities of daily living
- Communication and personal development
- Workplace culture
- Kitchen work and cleaning
- First aid and manual handling
The courses support participants in developing their professional skills and approaching their work with greater confidence.
Structure of the programme
The vocational courses for care work consist of two courses:
Care I - 95 hours
Care II - 95 hours
Samtals eru námskeiðin 190 klukkustundir og þarf að ljúka fyrra námskeiðinu áður en farið er á það seinna.
Fagnámskeiðin eru undanfari náms í
félagsliðagátt / félagsliðabrú.
Teaching
Teaching takes place at Mími, Höfðabakka 9.
Classes are held on active afternoons (12:40–16:00) and assessment is based on attendance and activity in the lessons. It is necessary to 80% attendance to complete the course.
Cost
Efling pays the course fee for members who work for public payers. It is important that the payment code is entered efling15 and click on “Add payment code to application”.
Registration
Upcoming courses are listed at the bottom of the page in Efling’s event calendar. Click on a course to view further details and register.
Hildur Rós Guðnadóttir
“Taking part in this kind of course benefits you in many ways. It keeps you engaged and improves your understanding of the work and the people you support. You gain knowledge, develop professionally, and may also receive a pay increase. I encourage all union representatives to motivate their colleagues to take this course.”
Gitana Ambrazunaite:
“I found everything about this course interesting. As someone coming from another country, it was both enjoyable and very useful to learn how care is approached in Iceland. It is often different from how things are done where I come from. Different cultures have different approaches to human interaction, which is important to understand when working in care for vulnerable groups.”
Preschool employees - vocational courses I and II
Vocational courses for preschool staff are intended for those working in preschools who want to strengthen their knowledge and skills in working with children. The courses are particularly aimed at staff who have not completed upper secondary education.
About the courses
The courses focus on both personal skills and professional knowledge in working with children. Topics include:
- Personal development and communication
- Study skills and competence portfolios
- Early childhood education
- Child development
- Creative work with children
- Multicultural preschools
The courses support participants in their work and encourage further study.
Structure of the programme
The vocational courses for preschool staff consist of two courses:
- Course I - 70 hours
- Course II - 70 hours
Participants must
complete the previous course before they attend the later one.
The courses are a prerequisite for the course in preschool staff and support representative bridge.
Teaching
Teaching takes place at Mímir, Höfðabakki 9.
Classes are held on weekdays from 8:30-15:30 and assessment is based on attendance and class participation. 80% attendance is required to complete the course.
The courses are taught in Icelandic.
Cost
The courses are fully paid for by Efling members who work in kindergartens. It is important when applying that you enter the payment code efling15 and click on "Add payment code to application"
Registration
Upcoming courses are listed at the bottom of the page in Efling’s event calendar. Click on a course to view further details and register.
Kolbrún Ólína Diego
“The course was very informative and I learned so many things that I really enjoyed. The first aid course was excellent, I learned a lot there. It was also interesting to learn about different approaches to education, and we visited other preschools as well. You learn a lot by seeing how others do things. I decided to continue and train as a preschool assistant.”
Anna Radyszkiewicz
“I really enjoyed the course and learned a great deal. I met great people who work in the same field as I do, and the teachers were excellent. I found it especially interesting to learn about bilingual children and how we, as preschool staff, can support them and help them settle in. I return to work tomorrow after the summer break and look forward to applying what I have learned.”
Kitchen and catering - vocational courses I, II and III
Vocational courses in kitchen and catering are intended for staff working in food preparation or service in kitchens and catering settings. The aim of the courses is to strengthen professional knowledge and skills and to create opportunities for further education in the food and hospitality sector.
About the courses
The courses provide both theoretical and practical learning that is directly applicable to everyday work in kitchens and catering settings.
Courses I and II cover, among other things:
- Communication and customer service
- Basic computer skills
- Hygiene and food safety
- Nutrition
- Preparation of vegetarian meals
Course III places particular emphasis on:
- Menu planning
- Cooking for vegetarians and vegans
- Cooking for people with allergies and intolerances
The training and further education opportunities
The training courses are credited towards units in studies in the food and catering fields, among others in the study food science and food technology.
Teaching
Teaching takes place at the Kópavogur High School.
The courses are taught in Icelandic and participants are provided with Icelandic support, where vocabulary related to the course material is reviewed each time.
Teaching hours are usually 16:30-19:30, but when practical teaching takes place, teaching hours can last until 20:00.
Cost
The courses are intended for Efling members working in kitchens and catering, and Efling covers the course fee for its members.
Registration
Upcoming courses are listed at the bottom of the page in Efling’s event calendar. Click on a course to view further details and register.
Hólmfríður Erla Hestnes
"What perhaps surprised me most is how easy it is to make vegetarian food. I thought it would be a lot more trouble, but it's just a different ingredient and the same work!
The courses are intended for Efling members who work in kitchens and cafeterias and are free of charge to them."
Bouncer course
The bouncer course is a job-related course for individuals working as bouncers or those intending to work in this role. It is also suitable for staff in hotels and restaurants, for example those working night shifts. The aim of the course is to strengthen participants’ skills and knowledge in their work.
About the course
The course is delivered in cooperation with Mímir, the Reykjavik Metropolitan Police and the City of Reykjavík.
Among other things, the course covers:
- The responsibilities and role of bouncers
- Fire safety
- First aid
- Multicultural awareness
- An introduction to the emergency reception for victims of sexual violence
- Self-defence
Bouncer certificate
Participants who complete the course can apply for a license to work as a bouncer issued by the Capital Area Police. The licence is valid for three years.
To obtain a licence, participants must also meet the following requirements:
- be at least 20 years
- have neither drug offenses nor violent crimes on the criminal record in the last 5 years
Teaching
Teaching takes place at Mímir, Höfðabakki 9.
Classes are held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 4:30 PM–9:30 PM.
To complete the course, you must achieve at least 80% attendance.
Cost
Efling members can apply for a grant from Efling’s Education Fund to cover the course fee.
Registration
Upcoming courses are listed at the bottom of the page in Efling’s event calendar.
Bridge programme to become a social care worker
This bridge programme is intended for people working in care roles, for example in nursing homes, home care services or home-based care. The programme carries upper secondary credits and is delivered in accordance with the national curriculum.
About the study
The aim of the programme is to strengthen the knowledge, skills and professional competence of those supporting individuals who need assistance with activities of daily living or specialised services.
Social and health care assistants are involved in areas such as:
- Social rehabilitation
- Activity-based support services
- Supporting individuals due to illness, ageing or disability
Duration
At Mímir, students complete four out of six semesters.
To qualify as social and health care assistant, students complete the final two semesters at an upper secondary school.
The program at Mímir is equivalent to 86 secondary school units.
Entry requirements
The program is intended for individuals who:
- have reached the age of 22
- have at least 3 years of work experience in care
- have completed 190 hours of work-related courses, for example, professional courses I and II in care
Part of the study can be assessed through practical skills assessment.
Teaching
The teaching is a mix of distance and on-site learning.
Each phase is taught for 4 weeks.
- mandatory attendance at the beginning and end of the semester
- teaching and workshops on Teams
- online project work and lectures
Students receive regular feedback on assignments and learning progress.
The program is taught in Icelandic.
Cost
The program is fully funded for Efling members who work in caregiving. It is important to enter the payment code efling15 when applying and click on "Add payment code to application"
Registration
Registration takes place on the Mími website. Mími staff will answer questions about the application process.
Early Years Educator and Support Worker Bridge
The Preschool Staff and Support Officer Bridge is for staff in preschools and primary schools who want to enhance their professional knowledge in working with children. The program is credit-bearing and taught according to the National Curriculum Guide for Upper Secondary Schools. Upon completion, participants graduate as preschool staff and support officers.
About the study
In the program, students gain knowledge and skills to work with children and adolescents in learning and play. Emphasis is placed on, among other things:
- pedagogy
- psychology
- creative work
- the importance of play in children's learning and development
Duration of study
The program consists of 66 upper secondary school credits and is taught over four semesters.
Entry requirements
The bridge program is designed for participants to have:
- at least 3 years of work experience in a preschool or elementary school
- about 140 hours of work-related courses, for example, vocational courses I and II
It is possible to obtain prior experience and knowledge assessed through
real assessment.
Teaching
The program takes place in a blended distance and on-site learning environment with the support of experienced teachers.
- 1 Saturday a month 9 am–3 pm at Mímir, Höfðabakki 9
- 2–3 Monday evenings per month from 5–9 pm on Teams
Students listen to lectures at home, participate in online discussions, and work on assignments between classes.
Cost
Efling pays for the program for members who work in preschools and elementary schools. It is important to enter the payment code efling15 when applying and click on "Add payment code to application"
Registration
Registration is done through the website Mímis. Mímis staff will answer questions about the application process and provide further information.
Advanced course for social and health care assistants - Dementia
The advanced training program for members on dementia is intended for members who want to deepen their knowledge of supporting and caring for individuals with dementia.
About the study
The program discusses the needs and circumstances of individuals with dementia and how best to support them in daily life.
Course components include:
- symptoms and prevalence of different dementia diseases
- communication with individuals with dementia
- communication with family members
- The role and services of interest groups
- field trips and work-related projects
The teaching is based on lectures, discussions, videos, and other learning materials from the instructor.
Teaching
Teaching takes place at Mímir, Höfðabakki 9.
The program consists of 38 lessons and is taught in a classroom setting.
Cost
The course is intended for members within Efling and Efling pays the course fee for its members. It is important when applying that you enter the payment code efling15 and click on "Add payment code to application"
Registration
The next courses will be advertised at the bottom of the page in Efling's events bar.
Advanced course for social and health care assistants – disability and mental health
The advanced training for club members on disabilities and mental disorders is intended for club members who want to enhance their knowledge of supporting individuals with various impairments and mental challenges.
About the study
The program emphasizes increasing understanding of the circumstances and needs of individuals with disabilities and mental disorders and strengthening professional skills in the workplace.
Course components include:
- characteristics and prevalence of disabilities and mental disorders
- communication with service users and relatives
- advocacy for the rights of people with disabilities
- The role and services of interest groups
- structured work methods and visual daily planning
- use of switchgear and computers
- introduction to the NPA service form
Field trips are taken and projects related to the participants' work are worked on.
Teaching
Teaching takes place at Mímir, Höfðabakki 9.
The program consists of 38 lessons and is taught in a classroom setting.
Cost
The course is intended for members within Efling and Efling pays the course fee for its members. It is important when applying that you enter the payment code efling15 and click on "Add payment code to application"
Registration
The next courses will be advertised at the bottom of the page in Efling's events bar.
You can apply for an education grant for other studies
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