Further and continuing education – what can you build on?

When you are done as an electronics operator the door is far from closed. A trade in hand is a strong starting point and whether you want deeper into electronics broader into production or completely further to studies there is a path.

§Professional update and AMU courses.

The most direct form of further education is shorter courses that keep your skills sharp. There is professional updating aimed specifically at skilled electronics operators working or who have worked in electronics production and need to update their knowledge. It's a good way to keep up when technology changes.

§Towards technician level

If you want deeper into electronics and work more independently with troubleshooting, repairs and development, an education at technician level can be the path. Here you build on what you already know and move from operating and quality assurance toward understanding, troubleshooting and designing at a higher level. There is demand for skilled people at that level in, among others, the military, research and IT industries, the electronics industry and machinery manufacturing.

§Towards academy and engineer level

If you get a taste for reading more, a skilled background combined with gymnasium subjects can give access to further education. It can be short further educations at academy level or, with the right entry, an engineering education. Many find that practical experience from production makes them strong students because they understand what theory should be used for.

• 01Short courses and professional updating — keep skills sharp
• 02Technician education – deeper troubleshooting and independent work
• 03Academy education – higher level education with practical angle
• 04Engineer – if you supplement with qualifying subjects

§Specialization on the job

You don't need to go back to school to develop. In the workplace you can specialise in particular processes, particular equipment or quality management and become the one colleagues ask for advice. Many employers are happy to pay for relevant courses because they themselves benefit from your new knowledge.

§Make a plan

The most important thing is that you think ahead. Talk to your employer a study adviser or your trade union about your options and make a plan that suits where you want to go. A journeyman's certificate as an electronics operator is not an endpoint – it's a starting block.

“Skilled is not a ceiling. It's the foundation you can build as high as you can manage.”