The post-secondary level offers two types of courses: courses belonging to the Higher technical education and training system (Istruzione e formazione tecnica superiore - IFTS) and courses organised within the vocational training system managed by the Regions ‘post diploma/post qualification’.
The Higher technical education and training (IFTS) courses aim mainly to develop professional specialisations and to meet the requirements of the labour market, both in the public and private sectors. They represent a further step of vocational and technical upper secondary school education as well as of regional three-year vocational education and training.
Regional post diploma/post qualification courses (or ‘second level’ courses) are short vocational training courses addressed to those who already hold a qualification obtained either in the regional or in the State vocational training system. They are organised with funds coming from the European Social Fund and aim at the acquisition of high-level theoretical, technical and managerial skills, also through practical work and stages in enterprises.
Types of institutions
Higher technical education and training system (IFTS)
Four types of providers, formally associated also in the form of a consortium, organise and offer IFTS courses: a school, a vocational training institute, a university, an enterprise or another public or private subject.
Regional post-diploma/post-qualification courses
Courses are organised by training agencies accredited by the Regions.
Geographical accessibility
Higher technical education and training system (IFTS)
Higher technical education and training is available nationwide.
Regional post-diploma/post-qualification courses
The presence of training agencies offering regional vocational and training courses is not homogeneous in the national territory.
Admission requirements and choice of school
Higher technical education and training system (IFTS)
The following subjects can access IFTS courses (800-100 hours): anyone (adults included) holding an upper secondary education leaving certificate or a vocational diploma obtained in the regional vocational education and training system; anyone admitted to the fifth year of liceo and those who do not hold any upper secondary certification. These latter are required to hold a certification of competences acquired through previous training and working experiences undergone after compulsory education.
Regional post-diploma/post-qualification courses
Those holding an upper secondary school leaving certificate or a first-level qualification can enrol in post-diploma/post-qualification courses.
Often, students undergo a selective procedure, which may include entrance tests as well as interviews; sometimes, a specific upper secondary school certificate or a previous specific working experience is required.
Age level and grouping of pupils
Higher technical education and training system (IFTS)
Young people and adults can enrol in IFTS courses. Courses are not organised according to learners’ age.
Regional post-diploma/post-qualification courses
Classes are not organised according to learners’ age. Learners are grouped according to specific conditions required by the course announcement (e.g. being unemployed, holding a specific qualification).
Specialisation of studies
Higher technical education and training system (IFTS)
IFTS courses are offered in 20 specialisations established at national level and corresponding to 5 professional areas. Specialisations and the relevant standards are revised every third year by the State/Regions Unified Conference.
Regions plan IFTS courses, within their own exclusive competences, adapting specialisations and minimum standards to the needs of specific productive fields. The national specialisations and the relevant professional areas are:
| Professional area | Specialisation |
| Manufacture and handicraft | Technics for made in Italy handicraft products |
| Mechanics, plants and buildings | Technics for industrial design Technics of industrialisation of products and processes Technics for production planning and logistics Technics of installation and maintenance of civic and industrial plants Technics of environmental security systems and quality of industrial processes Technics of monitoring and management of the territory and the environment Technics of maintenance, repair and testing of diagnostic devices Technics of organisation and management of a building yard Technics for innovative building |
| Culture, information and ICT | Technics for the security of networks and systems Technics for the design and development of computer applications Technics for the integration of systems and TLC equipment Technics for the design and management of databases Technics of medical data processing Technics of multi-media production Technics of set design |
| Business services | Technics for the economic-financial administration |
| Tourism and sport | Technics of design of craft processes and food processing with typical local and traditional food products Technics for the promotion of products and touristic services with attention to local resources, opportunities and events |
Source: Inter-ministerial decree of 7 February 2013
Regional post-diploma/post-qualification courses
Course are job-oriented and should meet the requests coming from the labour market at local level. Courses duration goes from 400 to 600-800 hours and lead to a regional qualification corresponding to specific professional areas. Professional areas are not listed in a national register.
Organisation of school time
Higher technical education and training system (IFTS)
IFTS courses last 2 semesters, for a total of 800/1000 hours.
Given the great variety of courses and their flexible organization, it is not possible to give information on the timetable, which is defined specifically for each course.
Regional post-diploma/post-qualification courses
Courses usually last one year, more rarely two years. A minimum attendance corresponding to 2/3 of the overall timetable is necessary for the admission to the final exam. Courses are organised on modules or units corresponding to a specific topic or to the acquisition of specific competences.
Timetables are organised at regional and local level and subsequently defined by the training agency providing the course (e.g. lessons grouped in a few weeks or distributed throughout the year).