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
The courses total 190 hours and the first course must be completed before taking the second.
The professional courses are a precursor to studies in the social network portal / social network bridge.
Teaching
Teaching takes place at Mímir, Höfðabakki 9.
Classes are held on weekdays in the afternoon (12:40–16:00) and assessment is based on attendance and class participation. 80% attendance to complete the course.
Cost
Efling pays the course fee for members who work for public employers. 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.
Hildur Ros Gudnadottir
“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 attending the next one.
The courses are a precursor to studying for a preschool team and support officer 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 to complete the course.
The courses are taught in Icelandic.
Cost
The courses are fully paid for by Efling 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 study and further opportunities
Studying in the professional courses is assessed for credits in studies in the food and catering industries, including in the studies of caterers and food technicians.
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.
Classes are generally held from 16:30–19:30, but may run until 20:00 on days with practical sessions.
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!"
“What surprised me most was how easy it is to prepare vegetarian food. I thought it would be much more complicated, but it’s really just different ingredients with the same methods.”
The courses are intended for Efling members working in kitchens and catering and are free of charge for participants.
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.
The course covers, among other things:
- 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 old
- have no drug or violent offenses on their 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 programme
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 Mím is equivalent to 86 high school credits.
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 programme combines online and in-person learning.
Each phase is taught for 4 weeks.
- Mandatory attendance at the beginning and end of each module
- Teaching sessions and workshops on Teams
- Online lectures and assignments
Students receive regular feedback on assignments and progress.
The program is taught in Icelandic.
Cost
The program is fully funded for Efling who work in caregiving. It is important to enter the payment code efling15 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 for Upper Secondary Schools. Upon completion, participants graduate as preschool staff and support officers.
About the programme
Students develop the knowledge and skills needed to work with children and young people in both learning and play. The programme focuses on areas such as:
- Education studies
- Psychology
- Creative work
- The importance of play in children’s learning and development
Duration
The program consists of 66 upper secondary school credits and is taught over four semesters.
Entry requirements
The programme is intended for participants who 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
Previous experience and knowledge can be assessed through practical skills assessment.
Teaching
The programme is delivered through a combination of distance learning and on-site study, with support from experienced teachers.
- One Saturday per month, 09:00–15:00, at Mímir, Höfðabakki 9
- Two to three Monday evenings per month, 17:00–21:00, on Teams
Students attend lectures online, take part in discussions and complete assignments between sessions.
Cost
Efling pays for the program for members who work in preschools and elementary schools. It is important to enter the payment code efling15 and click on "Add payment code to application"
Registration
Registration takes place through
the Mímis website. Mímis staff will answer questions about the application process and provide further information.
Advanced course for social and health care assistants - Dementia
This advanced course for social and health care assistants focuses on dementia and is intended for those who want to deepen their knowledge of supporting and caring for individuals with dementia.
About the programme
The course covers 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 types of dementia
- Communication with individuals with dementia
- Communication with family members
- The role and services of advocacy organisations
- Site visits and work-related assignments
Teaching is based on lectures, discussions, videos and other materials provided by 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
Upcoming courses will be listed at the bottom of the page in Efling’s event calendar.
Advanced course for social and health care assistants – disability and mental health
This advanced course for social and health care assistants focuses on disability and mental health and is intended for those who want to strengthen their knowledge of supporting individuals with different impairments and mental health challenges.
About the programme
The course aims to deepen understanding of the circumstances and needs of people with disabilities and mental health conditions, and to strengthen professional skills in practice.
Course components include:
- Characteristics and prevalence of disabilities and mental health conditions
- Communication with service users and their families
- advocacy for the rights of people with disabilities
- The role and services of advocacy organisations
- Structured working methods and visual scheduling
- Use of assistive devices and computers
- An introduction to the NPA service model (user-directed personal assistance)
The course also includes site visits and assignments linked to participants’ work.
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
Upcoming courses will be listed at the bottom of the page in Efling’s event calendar.
You can apply for an education grant for other studies
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