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Vocational Qualification in Social and Health Care

The basic vocational qualification in social and health care provides the skills necessary to carry out meaningful work as a practical nurse with and for patients and clients. Would you like to participate in providing the vital care, education and rehabilitation to those in need? Are you interested in supporting and guiding people of all ages in different life situations?

Opiskelija työskentelee simulaatio-tilassa.

Practical nurse

Practical nurse

Within the care work, you will encounter people of different backgrounds and ages that are in need of help, care and support. As a practical nurse, you will enhance clients’ health, wellbeing, functional capacity, growth, and social participation. You can work in a variety of working environments, such as day-care facilities, child welfare, care services for the elderly, group homes for the disabled, inpatient wards, at clients’ or patients’ homes or within mental health and substance rehabilitation units.

Care assistant

The training for care assistants comprises two of the qualification units included in the vocational qualification in social and health care. This means that if you at some point wish to continue your studies and become a practical nurse, you will have already completed two of the mandatory units for the practical nurse qualification. Care assistants perform supportive tasks to facilitate the care services provided to the elderly. Care assistants work, for example, in different types of service homes or housing units, and the work is carried out together with practical nurses and registered nurses. 

Vocational qualification in social and health care

Composition of the qualification

The vocational qualification in social and health care is composed of vocational units (145 competence points) and common units (35 competence points).

Two mandatory units of the qualification are:

  • Promoting growth and participation – 25 competence points
  • Promoting wellbeing and functional capacity – 30 competence points

Competence areas offered by STEP Education:

  • Competence area of care and rehabilitation for elderly people
  • Competence area of children’s and youth education and care
  • Competence area of mental health and substance abuse work
  • Competence area of nursing and care
  • Competence area of care for the disabled

The vocational units also include optional courses worth 15 competence points.

The 35 competence points in common units include:

  • Communication and interaction competence
  • Skills in mathematics and natural sciences
  • Citizenship and working life competence

The studies alternate between theoretical learning, on-the-job learning and working together. Group discussions and the planning of different types of events are also included in the studies.

Read more on completing the qualification from this link in Finnish.

Application

There is a rolling admission procedure (link to Finnish page) for this qualification programme. Check out the information concerning our upcoming programmes (link to Finnish page).

The joint application system every spring is for those who have completed comprehensive school, upper secondary school and anyone who has not already earned a vocational qualification.  The academic year for those selected through this system begins in August. The date of the joint application round in the spring is different each year; more information can be found on the  Studyinfo.fi site. 

Applicants will be invited to take part in a selection day that is free of charge.

Apply by Finest Future Program

Costs

The qualification programme is free for the student

Higher education

A vocational qualification confers a general eligibility for higher education studies in universities and universities of applied sciences.

Student dormitory

Our campuses have their own student dormitories. The rooms are generally two-person rooms and they are primarily intended to house those students who live far away or for whom commuting is difficult. More information about the housing (in Finnish)

Ask for more information

Järvenpää

Pieksämäki

Ask for more information about apprenticeship training