Expand+The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed persons which is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund. The Scheme is operated through the Vo...

Hide-The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed persons which is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund. The Scheme is operated through the Vocational Education Committees and provides a special range of courses designed to meet the education and training needs of unemployed people.

The aims of the scheme are:
- to give unemployed people education and training opportunities which will develop their employability

- to prepare people to go into paid employment or on to further opportunities leading to paid employment

Expand+Eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Education and Science.

To qualify for VTOS a person must:
- be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the course,

- be in receipt of an unemployment payment or signing for ...

Hide-Eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Education and Science.

To qualify for VTOS a person must:
- be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the course,

- be in receipt of an unemployment payment or signing for credits for at least 6 months*.

Also, the course must be provided or approved by the local VEC for the purposes of the VTOS scheme.

A limited number of places are available to persons in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, Deserted Wife's Benefit/Allowance, Widow's/Widower's Contributory/Non Contributory Pension and Prisoner's Wife's Allowance and to qualified spouses/partners of persons eligible to participate in VTOS.

Periods spent on VTOS, FS training schemes, Community Employment, Job Initiative, Youthreach or time in prison can count towards the 6 month qualifying period.

Expand+VTOS is a specific training programme for those aged 21 and over and who have been on Jobseeker’s Allowance, or other social welfare payments, for 6 months or more. VTOS Birr is a full-time programme, offering major QQI awards at Levels 4 and 5, over...

Hide-VTOS is a specific training programme for those aged 21 and over and who have been on Jobseeker’s Allowance, or other social welfare payments, for 6 months or more. VTOS Birr is a full-time programme, offering major QQI awards at Levels 4 and 5, over one or two years.

Courses may be combined at a variety of levels. A Component Certificate QQI Minor Award is awarded to candidates on successful completion of each module. A full Level 5 Certificate QQI Major Award is awarded on successful completion of 8 modules.