Career paths as CNC technician: from journeyman exam to specialist

CNC technician training leads to a trade with solid demand: the metal industry lacks skilled workers who can program and operate computer-controlled machines. The training is under the Metal Industry Training Committee and is regulated in its own regulation. It is structured in two levels so you can finish earlier as an assistant or go all the way to technician — and afterward there are several paths forward if you want to specialize or study more.

§Two steps: assistant and technician

After the basic course you can finish level 1 as a CNC assistant, where the focus is on setting up, operating, and quality checking CNC machines. If you choose to continue to level 2, you become a CNC technician, and here the actual programming with CAD/CAM comes in as what takes you from operator to programmer. Level 2 typically lasts about a year longer. Most people who want to work independently with programming and setup go for level 2.

§The journeyman's exam at tier 2

The journeyman's exam is held in the final school period and consists of several parts. There is a project-oriented exam, where you can participate in a project group of up to four participants, and two individual manufacturing tasks — a turning task and a milling task — as well as a theory exam. The theory exam is intended to uncover your technical knowledge. Together, the journeyman's exam should show that you can both plan, programme, manufacture and document an item from drawing to finished, measured part.

§Where do you work?

As fully trained you can work broadly in the metal and machinery industry: with subcontractors making precision parts in large manufacturing companies at tool and machine factories or in companies within wind turbines medical devices defence and energy. Job functions range from pure machine operation over CAM programming and setup to quality work production planning and training of new staff. With experience many become CNC programmers metrologists or production managers.

§Ways forward

The education is not a dead end. Through AMU courses you can further your education in for example advanced CAD/CAM 5-axis machining robot operation and measurement techniques. If you want to study further a vocational education with the right background gives you access to further technical educations — for example production technologist machine master or diploma and professional bachelor programmes in machinery and production. If you combine your journeyman certificate with an EUX you also have gymnasial access to engineering studies.

• 01Step 1: CNC assistant — setup operation quality control
• 02Step 2: CNC technician — CAD/CAM programming on top
• 03Journeyman's exam: project, turning task, milling task and theory
• 04Jobs throughout the metal and machinery industry, often with a shortage of skilled workers
• 05Further via AMU, production technologist, machine master or EUX to engineer

“Your journeyman certificate is not the end of education — it's the ticket to choose your next direction.”