The education's structure from basic course to education certificate.
How school and apprenticeship work together throughout the programme
The path to becoming a hospital technical assistant is structured as an alternating program: you alternate between school and training at a hospital ward or clinic until you hold a qualification certificate. This gives you both the theoretical foundation and the practical routine you'll need when you yourself examine patients with technical equipment.
§Basic course 1 and 2
If you come more or less directly from 9th or 10th grade, you start on the basic course at a vocational school. The 1st part of the basic course is broad and typically lasts about 20 weeks, where you get a general subject foundation. The 2nd part of the basic course is aimed at the hospital technical assistant education and also lasts about 20 weeks – it ends with an exam.
If you are 25 or have relevant work experience, parts of the basic course can be shortened because your existing knowledge is assessed. For some there is also an extra preparatory option (basic course plus) if you need to strengthen your subject foundation before moving on.
§Main course – alternation between school and training
The main course is the long part of the training. It alternates between school periods, where you are in the classroom, and training periods, where you are at a hospital department or in a clinic. School instruction in the main course fills approximately 25 weeks spread over at least three school periods, while the actual training comprises approximately two-thirds of the main course. So most of the learning really happens at the department.
| Phase. | What's happening | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Basic course 1 | Broad professional foundation approx. 20 weeks | Vocational school. |
| Basic course 2 | Targets the trade, approx. 20 weeks, ends with an exam | Vocational school. |
| Main course | Alternation: approx. 25 weeks of school over min. three periods + training (approx. 2/3) | School + hospital/clinic |
| Conclusion | Final test and diploma | School + professional committee |
§Entry requirements and admission
To enter you must in principle have completed primary school with at least 2.0 on average in both Danish and mathematics – or something equivalent. If you already have a signed training agreement with an employer you can also enter that way. If you are a student your application is usually made via optagelse.dk.
§The final test
The course is rounded off with a final exam, which typically takes a patient case as its starting point covering the subjects in your speciality. You receive preparation time and then present orally. When the exam is passed and your training provider has confirmed that you have completed your training, the professional committee issues your training certificate.
“School teaches you the theory. Training makes it routine. Only when the two work together can you stand alone with a patient and a device.”