Wages and employment terms as apprentice and trained

One of the good things about the education is that you earn money along the way. When you have a training agreement and are taking the main course, you're employed at your training site and get apprentice wages – so you're working while you learn the trade. Training sites are typically at public hospitals, so employment usually follows a public agreement.

The principle in vocational educations is that apprentice wages rise as you progress through the program. The further you progress, the more you can, and the more you contribute to the department — and this is reflected in your wage. The specific rates are set in the collective agreement in the field and depend, among other things, on how far you are in your education. You do not need to negotiate the increases yourself; they are agreed between the parties and regulated at each collective agreement settlement.

If you are 25 when you start, you may be covered by adult apprentice wage rules. Adult apprentice pay is typically higher than ordinary apprentice pay and takes as its starting point a minimum wage level in the collective agreement. Whether you are entitled to adult apprentice pay and what it specifically amounts to depends on the collective agreement and your background — so it is worth getting clarified before you sign.

Pay and conditions are regulated by an agreement negotiated between employers and a trade union. The agreement sets, among other things, pay levels, allowances, working hours, pensions, and holidays. At hospitals there may also be allowances linked to work outside normal daytime, if you e.g. participate in investigations or monitoring at odd hours.

• 01Wages are negotiated collectively, not individually from scratch.
• 02The rates increase automatically when you advance in your education.
• 03The agreement also covers pensions, holidays and other terms.

When you are fully trained and thus skilled you go from apprentice conditions to conditions as a trained employee. You go from apprentice wages to regular wages for skilled people in the field and you get full responsibility for the tests you previously performed under training. Wages as a trained employee still depend on the collective agreement your workplace is covered by.

Pay rates and allowances change over time and vary between employers and agreements. The only sure way to know your exact terms is to ask to see the current agreement and your employment contract – and ask your trade union if anything is unclear.