Further and continuing education

When you are skilled you have a foundation you can build many directions on. Some continue to develop in the workshop itself others take the step towards management teaching or further education.

§Short courses and specialization

The quickest path to more knowledge is professional courses. The industry and suppliers continuously offer courses in new engines, battery technology, diagnostic equipment and specific brands. Many of them keep you updated as technology changes — and they are often short and targeted.

• 01Brand and product courses from importers and suppliers
• 02Courses in electrical and battery technology for e-bikes and electric vehicles
• 03AMU courses within metal, transport, and service
• 04The second specialty — you can supplement if you are for example a bike mechanic and want to work with motorcycles

§Towards technician and academy level

As a skilled mechanic you have access to a range of further education within the technical field. Examples that skilled mechanics can typically build on are business academy programmes such as production technologist and auto technologist as well as operations technologist. They combine technical understanding with management planning and quality.

§All the way to engineer

If you want to go further, you can via access courses work your way toward an engineering degree, e.g. mechanical engineering. It requires more school but your practical background is an advantage: you understand what the theory is for because you have had your fingers in it.

§Master, teacher or self-employed

You can also move toward management and independence. With experience you can become a shop foreman or master, run your own workshop, or become a vocational teacher and train the next generation of mechanics. The training therefore already includes knowledge of entrepreneurship and the conditions associated with establishing your own business.

“The journeyman's certificate is a ticket — how far you travel on it is up to you.”