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Basic courses 1 and 2, main course, alternation between school and apprenticeship, duration and entry requirements
If you are considering becoming a butcher, it helps to know the route before you start. Butcher is a vocational education, and it is — like most vocational educations — built up of a basic course at a vocational school and a main course where you alternate between school stays and work in a company. Here you get to go through the entire course so you know what awaits and in what order.
§The large parts of the education
The first thing you encounter is the basic course, which is divided in two. Basic course 1 is for you who come more or less directly from primary school. Here you get a broad taste of the whole subject area before you make your final choice. Basic course 2 is aimed at the butcher trade itself and prepares you to be able to function in an apprenticeship. Then comes the main course, which is the longest and most professional part, where you truly become a butcher.
| Part 1 · The trunk | Where does it take place | Main content |
|---|---|---|
| Basic course 1 | Vocational school | Broad introduction to the field — typically for you coming from compulsory school |
| Basic course 2 | Vocational school | The butchery trade specifically; prepare you for an apprenticeship |
| Main course | Læreplads + skoleophold | The actual craftsmanship, specialization, and journeyman exam |
Should you start basic course 1 or 2?
Where you start depends especially on how far you are from lower secondary school, and on your age. If you come in natural succession from grade 9 or 10, you usually start on basic course 1. If more than a year has passed, or if you have a different background, you can in many cases go directly into basic course 2. If you are 25 years old, you are assessed under the rules for adults, where some of the course can be shortened based on what you already know.
§Alternation between school and apprenticeship
What's special about a vocational education is that you don't just sit at school. In the main program you alternate between school sessions where you learn theory and technique and periods at an apprenticeship where you work at a real company. That way you can constantly take what you learned at school out into practice — and conversely take questions from everyday life back to school. It is at the apprenticeship that the majority of the time in the main program is spent.
§How long does it take?
The total duration is not a single fixed number because it depends on which specialization you choose and your background when you start. As a rule of thumb, a full slaughter qualification lies in the range of a couple of years to around three and a half years, including the basic course. If you choose to build more specialization on top, it pulls upward; if you have prior experience or relevant schooling, some can be shortened.
§Entry requirements you should be aware of
To enter the basic course you normally must have passed primary school's leaving exam and meet a grade requirement in Danish and mathematics. If you don't meet the requirement on paper, there is often an opportunity for an entrance exam and interview at the school that assesses whether you are ready to get started.
- 01Passed final exam from primary school with grade requirement in Danish and maths
- 02Alternatively: entrance exam and admission interview at the vocational college
- 03Adults over 25 are assessed according to special rules where parts of the course can be shortened
- 04You apply via optagelse.dk.
If you are unsure about which basic course you belong to, or what is specifically required in your case, call the guidance at the vocational school you are aiming for. It is free and they are used to helping people from exactly where you stand.