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What workers in Norway need to know about the 'fagbrev' certificate

What is a fagbrev The fagbrev is a Norwegian trade certificate awarded to those who have completed vocational training through a mix of practical work and education. It is called a craft certificate, or a journeyman's certificate in English. Someone who holds a fagbrev is considered a certified skilled worker, or fagarbeider in Norwegian. For Norwegians, a fagbrev is typically obtained after completing two years of vocational education at the upper secondary level and then a two-year apprenticeship. After they've completed these steps, they'll have to pass a final trade examination. A fagbrev can be awarded for trades such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, health care, and much more. How can foreigners get a fagbrev ? For foreign workers in Norway, the two plus two route probably isn't a realistic prospect, given that they're already trained once to carry out their profession. Workers from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland or Sweden are able to get their vocational training verified by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. Recognition is available for everything from butchery to bricklaying. You can see the full list of approved training here . There are several options for those without the option of getting their vocation approved. Firstly, it might be worth trying to contact NOKUT to see if you can have your qualifications approved in Norway. READ ALSO: How to get your qualifications recognised when you move to Norway Advertisement Meanwhile, if you have five years of experience, you could become a fagbrev candidate. You'll need to document your experience and take a few tests. The tests include a theory test and a practical test. You must have Norwegian skills at around the B1/B2 levels (considered semi-fluent) to pass the exam and understand the paperwork. Should you go through this process successfully, you will receive a fagbrev without retraining or studying in Norway, although some revision and practice will be needed for the exams. Another route is the fagbrev på jobb path. This sees people work full time and gradually gain their fagbrev through supervised training at work. This will take between one and three years, but it allows employees to continue to earn full pay while working to gain the certification. Why would I need the fagbrev ? Essentially, it'll improve your career opportunities and you can, generally, expect better pay after obtaining a fagbrev. When it comes to pay, there's no law saying that those with a fagbrev are entitled to better pay. However, companies will pay those with a fagbrev more, because it's a mark of skill and experience. Firms also pay out more because in certain sectors only employees with a fagbrev can work independently, making you more attractive to companies. Furthermore, those covered by a collective bargaining agreement will typically get a pay boost after obtaining a fagbrev . This is because they will be entitled to fagarbeiderlønn (skilled worker pay) through the union agreement.