Prior experiential learning
The Norwegian term realkompetanse (prior experiential learning) comprises all the competence a person has acquired through paid or unpaid work, in-service training, continuing education, leisure activities in addition to the competence documented through basic education and training.
All adults in Norway who are entitled to receive primary, secondary and upper secondary education and training are also entitled to an assessment of their realkompentanse (prior experiential learning).
You can apply for an assessment of prior experiential learning both when seeking admission to higher education and when seeking recognition of education linked to a specific profession or trade.
If you wish to apply for admission to higher education, are aged 25 or over and do not have higher education entrance qualifications, you may apply on the basis of prior experiential learning.
The higher education institutions set specific requirements
Each higher education institution determines what constitutes the appropriate prior experiential learning for the courses it offers. The same type of course will therefore stipulate different requirements as to prior experiential learning, so that the assessment made at one institution will not necessarily apply at another. You can obtain information about the specific requirements for prior experiential learning from the institution in question.
Even if you have your prior experiential learning accredited for a particular course ofstudies at one institution, it does not mean you will receive an automatic offer of a place at another. Read more on the website of the Norwegian Universities and Colleges’ Admission Service (Samordna opptak) about how to apply for accreditation (recognition) of prior experiential learning.
This applies if you have insufficient documentation from your vocational education and training, or if you have not worked in your profession or trade for many years. Following successful completion of a vocational test, you can be issued with a certificate of competence. This documents the competence that is approved after the vocational testing. It is not a recognition of your craft or journeyman’s certificate, but it will give your future employer an understanding of which parts of the profession/trade you have competence in.
If you have a certificate of competence and wish to gain a Norwegian craft certificate or journeyman’s certificate, you must obtain more theoretical education before you can take the final craft or journeyman’s certificate examination. It is the county authorities in the county in which you live that will assess your vocational competence. Read more about this under Craft certificates and journeyman’s certificates.