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Algeria has a robust system of vocational training and education, which is separate from the general academic education system. These studies are overseen by the Ministry of Vocational Training and Education, which includes studies at the lower secondary, upper secondary, and post-secondary levels as well as intermediate education in between secondary and post-secondary.
Vocational training, which is also known as professional training, is offered across approximately two dozen branches with hundreds of specialties. The branches include fields such as agriculture, graphic arts, construction, electricity, clothing, hospitality, computers, mechanics, and business.
The vocational training and education sector is divided into five distinct levels that can be pursued alongside, in addition to, or instead of academic study.
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Level 1: Ouvriers Specialises (Specialized Workers): this 12 month program is available to those who have completed at least the second year of middle school education (7th grade). Successful completion of the program leads to the شهادة التكوين المهني المتخصص /Certificat de Formation Professionnelle Specialisee/CFPS (Specialized Vocational Training Certificate/STC)
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Level 2: Ouvriers et Agents Qualifies (Qualified Workers and Assistants). This 12- or 18-month program requires completion of the fourth year of middle school (9th grade). This leads to the شهادة الكفاءة المهنية/Certificat d’Aptitude Professionnelle/CAP (Certificate of Professional Competence/CPC).
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Level 3: Ouvriers et Agents Hautement Qualifies (Highly Qualified Workers and Assistants). Level 3 lasts of 18 months/1.5 years and requires completion of the first year of secondary education (grade 10) in either the general academic or technological streams or have completed the CAP. Successfully completing this program leads to theشهادة التحكم المهني/Certificat de Maitrise Professionnelle/CMP (Professional Mastery Certificate or Professional Control Certificate/PCC).
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Level 4: Techniciens (Technicians). The Level 4 program also requires completion of the first year of secondary education (grade 10) but lasts for 24 months/2 years and culminates in the award of the شهادة تقني/Brevet de Technicien/BT (Technician Certificate/TC).
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Level 5: Techniciens Superieurs (Senior or Higher Technicians). The fifth and final level requires completion of the BT program or graduation from upper secondary education in the academic or technological streams. This program lasts for 30 months/2.5 years. Graduation leads to the شهادة تقني سامي /Brevet de Technicien Superieur/BTS (Higher Technician Certificate or Senior Technical Certificate/STC).
Programs at Levels 1-4 are typically offered at a Centre de Formation Professionnelle et d'Apprentissage/CFPA (Professional Training and Apprenticeship Center). Level 5 programs generally take place at an Insitut National Specialise en Formation Profesionnelle/INSFP (National Specialized Institute for Vocational Training), though they sometimes offer level 4 studies as well. Other types of institutions exist, but these make up the bulk of vocational institutes. All levels of training may be offered in person or virtually, though not every institution offers both modes.
The شهادة تقني سامي /Brevet de Technicien Superieur/BTS (Higher Technician Certificate) qualification in Algeria is a tertiary-level professional qualification requiring completion of high school for admissions. It is mostly commonly taught at an Insitut National Specialise en Formation Profesionnelle/INSFP (National Specialized Institute for Vocational Training). The program requires 2 years of study followed by a 6-month practical internship and often requires a written project.
Separate from this five-tiered progression of vocational training, Algeria also offers upper secondary and post-secondary vocational education.
At the upper secondary level, students can pursue a 3-year vocational education program leading to the شهادة التعليم المهني or Brevet d'Enseignement Professionnel/BEP (Certificate of Vocational Education) since 2017, which replaced the first- and second-level vocational education diplomas, previously known as the Diplome d'Enseignement Profesionnel du 1ere degre/DEP1 and Diplome d'Enseignement Profesionnel du 2eme degre/DEP2 (Second Level Vocational Education Diploma). The BEP program is typically offered at an Institut d’Enseignement Professionnel/IEP (Professional Education Institute) and requires completion of middle school/lower secondary education for admissions. It is a vocational high school diploma.
The BEP grants access to a 2-year vocational intermediate qualification known as theشهادة التعليم المهني العالي or Brevet d'Enseignement Professionnel Superieur/BEPS (Higher Professional Education Certificate). The BEPS is offered at Insitut National Specialise en Formation Profesionnelle/INSFP (National Specialized Institute for Vocational Training) like vocational training qualifications at level 5. The BEPS typically continues the field of studies undertaken at the BEP level. The BEPS is a terminal, post-secondary, pre-tertiary vocational qualification.
Resources:
Algeria: Education, Training and Employment Developments 2018. European Training Foundation, 2019.
Education Systems: Algeria. NUFFIC. https://www.nuffic.nl/en/education-systems/algeria/vocational-education
Formation Profesionnelle au Beneficie de nos Jeunes Concitoyens a l’Etranger. Embassy of Algeria in Australia. https://www.algeriaemb.org.au/documents/FormationProfesionnelle.pdf
Ministry of Vocational Training and Education: https://mfp.gov.dz/?page_id=1342 and https://mfp.gov.dz/?page_id=43817 and https://mfp.gov.dz/?page_id=4332 and https://mfp.gov.dz/?page_id=1340 and https://mfp.gov.dz/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Nomenclature-2019-en-LA.pdf and https://mfp.gov.dz/?page_id=44289
The Higher Education System in Algeria: National Report. MERIC-Net, 2019. https://www.meric-net.eu/files/fileusers/National_Report_template_MERIC-NET_Algeria_English.pdf
An Overview of Vocational Education and Training Country Report: Algeria. European Training Foundation, 1999.
TVET Country Profiles: Algeria. UNESCO. https://unevoc.unesco.org/home/Dynamic+TVET+Country+Profiles/country=DZA
Vocational Training and Education in Algeria. INSP el Hidhab Setif. https://insfpelhidhabsetif.blog4ever.com/la-formation-et-lenseignement-professionnels-missions-et-structures