Further and continuing education — what can you build on?
Ways forward from qualified worker to technician manager or completely new trades
One of the good things about starting with a vocational education is that it doesn't close doors — it opens them. When you have your journeyman certificate, you can choose to stay in the trade or build further in several different directions, depending on what pulls you.
§Specialize in the trade
The most direct path forward is to become even better at what you already do. With experience you can become the person others ask for advice — the expert in a particular mixing console, in rigging, in lighting control or in video technology. Many technical suppliers and manufacturers offer courses in their exact equipment, and the industry values that kind of specialized knowledge highly.
§Shorter further education and courses
- 01Manufacturer and equipment courses on specific desks, light and sound systems
- 02Courses in rigging and safety at a higher level
- 03First aid and workplace environment courses that keep your certificates up to date
- 04Courses in new technologies such as network management and LED video
§Towards a leadership role
With experience you can take responsibility for the entire technical side of production — as technical manager production manager or the one who plans and coordinates an entire team's work. It requires that beyond the technique you also become good at planning leading and talking with customers. Many learn it by taking more responsibility little by little.
§Higher education
If you want to go deeper into theory, a professional background can be a good starting point for higher technical education. Depending on your direction and prerequisites, it can for example be within technology, media or management. Some first build further with qualifying subjects and then apply to a short higher education.
§You are never locked in
Part of choosing a vocational apprenticeship is the security that you can always change course or build on it later. You can start in the trade, find out what you are passionate about and then pursue your further education when you know what you want to use it for. It is often a stronger path than deciding everything on day one.
“A journeyman's certificate is a launch ramp — not a final station.”