How you deliver care that respects the patient's wishes
From basic course to journeyman's certificate — and how school and practical training change along the way
Roofer is a vocational education. This means you learn the trade both at school and in a real company. It's not something you complete in half a year — the education spans several years where you alternate between school and working on roofs. It may sound complicated, but the structure follows a fixed pattern that's easy to understand once you know the pieces.
§The three main parts
The education consists of a basic course and a main course. The basic course is divided into two: basic course 1 and basic course 2. Each part typically lasts about half a year. Then comes the main course which is the longest part and where you really get into the trade. Altogether the education takes most people about 3 years and 9 months but the total length can vary slightly depending on your path through it.
| Part | Where | Duration (approx.) | What's happening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic course 1 | School | 6 months | Broad introduction to construction trades — for you coming directly from compulsory school |
| Basic course 2 | School | 6 months | You aim for the roofing trade and prepare to start in a business. |
| Main course | Apprenticeship + school stay | the rest of the course | You work in a roofing company and attend school in periods |
Basic course 1
Basic course 1 is for you starting while you are young and coming more or less directly from 9th or 10th grade. Here you get a broad introduction to the building and crafts sector, so you can explore whether roofing is right for you. If you are older or have been on the job market for a while, you can often skip basic course 1 and start directly in basic course 2.
Basic course 2
On basic course 2, you choose roof coating trade. Now it is about the profession's basic disciplines: working with different roofing materials, understanding the structure of a roof, and learning about safety when working at height. Basic course 2 prepares you to enter an apprenticeship with a company so you can move on to the main course.
§Main course — where you truly become a roofer
The main course is the longest and most important part. Here you are employed at a roofing company and learn the trade by performing it together with experienced craftspeople. At regular intervals, school calls you in for school periods, where you catch up on the theory and learn new techniques. This alternation between workplace and school is called block release training, and it is the very core of a vocational training: you learn in the reality you will later work in.
§Entry requirements and admission
To start the basic course you must in principle have completed 9th or 10th grade and achieved at least grade 2.0 on average in both Danish and mathematics at primary school's leaving exam. You must also be assessed as education-ready. If you don't meet the grade requirement there are other ways in — for example via an entrance exam and interview at the school.
- 01Completed 9th or 10th grade
- 02At least 2.0 on average in Danish and Mathematics
- 03Assessed education-ready
- 04Application from primary school typically occurs before March 1
- 05For the main course: a training agreement with a company (or school practice)
§Roads for adults
If you are 25, you can often take the education as an adult through a specially arranged course (euv), where your previous work experience and education count and can shorten the path. The school makes a specific assessment of what you already know and builds the course from there.
“The education ends with a journeyman exam. If you pass, you get your journeyman certificate and are now a trained roof tiler—a skilled craftsperson with a recognized professional credential in hand.”