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From basic course to qualified journeyman — the path duration and entry requirements
If you dream of a trade where you protect steel from rust and give metal a durable, attractive surface, then surface treater is a path worth looking closer at. The training is a classic alternating course: you alternate between attending vocational school and doing practical training at a company, so you both learn the theory and get your hands on the material.
If you come directly from 9th or 10th grade, you start on basic course 1. It is a broad introduction to vocational education where you find out if the craft suits you, and where you get a grip on the most basic workshop and workplace routines. Basic course 1 typically lasts about half a year.
Then comes basic course 2 which is targeted at the trade itself. Here you work with mechanical and chemical surface pretreatment learn about corrosion protection and try your hand at the techniques you must master later. If you are 25 or older or have been away from school for a while you can in some cases start directly on basic course 2.
When the basic program is completed and you have a training agreement with a company, you continue on the main program. You alternate between practice periods at the company and a series of school stays. It's on the main program that you really build your professional skills: pre-treatment, metallizing, powder coating, and wet coating.
The total qualification typically lasts from around 2½ years and up to about 3½ years. How long it precisely takes depends, among other things, on which specialty you choose and your background — adults with relevant experience can have the program shortened.
| Step | Content | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Basic course 1 | Broad introduction to the vocational trade | Vocational school |
| Basic course 2 | Professional pretreatment, corrosion, basic techniques. | Vocational school |
| Main course | Metallising, powder and wet coating, specialisation | School + internship in a company |
To be admitted you generally need to have passed the lower secondary school leaving examination with at least grade 2.0 in both Danish and mathematics. If you don't meet the requirement, there are often opportunities for entry test and interview at the school. The most important advice: reach out to guidance at a vocational school early so you know your own way in.
“The apprenticeship position is not just a formality — it is the backbone of the entire education. Start looking early.”