How you diagnose problems — systematically
Basic course, main course and alternation between school and apprenticeship
Building joinery is a vocational education and it is built on the same basic model as the other craftspeople educations: a basic course at school followed by a main course where you alternate between attending school and working in a company. It all ends with a journeyman examination and a journeyman certificate. If you understand the structure from the start it is easier to see where you are headed and what is expected of you along the way.
§Basic course 1 and basic course 2
If you come directly from 9th or 10th grade, you start on basic course 1. Here the teaching is broad and tests several specializations so you can be sure of your choice before specializing. Basic course 2 is aimed at the subject itself — here you work with the carpenter's basic tools, materials and working methods and prepare to enter a company.
Has it been more than approximately two years since you completed primary school or 10th grade, in many cases you can begin directly on basic course 2 and skip basic course 1. This typically applies if you are a bit older or have done something else before applying.
§Main course — school and practical work alternating
When you have an apprenticeship agreement with a company you begin the main course. It's the longest part of the education and you alternate between school periods and practical work. School periods come in several separate blocks — not one long stretch — and between them you work in the company applying what you've learned to real tasks.
§Total duration
The total qualification spans several years when you count basic and main program together. The exact length depends, among other things, on where you start and whether you choose an ordinary path or EUX. If you choose EUX, you add upper secondary subjects on top of the skilled knowledge, and then the program is typically longer.
§Entry requirements and admission
To begin the basic course you must have passed elementary school's final exam or equivalent exam and you should as a rule have at least 2.0 on average in both Danish and math from the final exam. If you don't meet the grade requirement there are other ways in — for example via entrance conversation and exam at school.
A completely central point is the apprenticeship: the education presupposes that at some point you get a training agreement with a company. You can start the school part before you have an agreement but the main course requires that you have started practical training. Therefore it is a good idea to start looking for an apprenticeship early.