The instructions on this page are intended for you if you have received from the Finnish National Agency for Education a conditional decision on the recognition of professional qualifications (Act 1384/2015 or Act 1093/2007)

If you want to complete the aptitude test, you must contact a teacher training unit of a Finnish higher education institution organising vocational teacher training in order to sign up for the aptitude test and agree with the higher education institution on the timetable and the details of the test. The higher education institution may charge a fee for arranging the test.

The aptitude test consists of 1–3 areas and a feedback session at the end of the test.

The university will indicate literature for you to read for preparing for the test. In addition, you should familiarise yourself with the key parts of relevant Finnish qualification requirements for VET. 

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Subject area 1: Exploring being a teacher

Method of completion: An essay on 'Exploring being a vocational education and training teacher’

The essay demonstrates your familiarity with the current research central for your teaching profession. When writing the essay, refer to at least two sources indicated by the higher education institution, as well as your education and experiences. The length of the essay is about 7–10 pages.

Subject area 2: The Finnish vocational education and training

Method of completion: An essay on 'The Finnish vocational education and training'

When writing the essay, you will demonstrate your knowledge of the Finnish teaching practices and the Finnish vocational education and training system, as well as of the central provisions and regulations regarding your teaching profession. In the essay, refer to those provisions and regulations as well as to at least two sources indicated by the higher education institution, and your experiences of the Finnish vocational education and training, if applicable. The length of the essay is about 7–10 pages.

Subject area 3: Demonstration of teaching skills in vocational education and training

Method of completion: Lessons observed and given by the candidate and their reporting

In the demonstration of teaching skills, you demonstrate your teaching skills and knowledge of the Finnish qualification requirements for vocational qualifications in the teaching post concerned. You must find a vocational education and training institute (VET institute) and an instructor in order to demonstrate your teaching skills. The VET institute and the instructor must be approved by the higher education institution.

The demonstration of teaching skills consists of lessons you observe and lessons you give. The demonstration of teaching skills must include a total of at least three observation lessons and a total of at least six lessons given.

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You will write a report about the demonstration of teaching skills according to the instructions provided by the assessor of the aptitude test. If necessary, the assessor of the aptitude test can instruct you to emphasise certain parts of the report content considering your prior education and experience. The report should be approximately 7–10 pages long.

Include in the report

1. Opetusnäytteen kokonaiskuvaus

  • the VET institute and post in which the demonstration of teaching skills was given
  • lessons given during the demonstration of teaching skills: the dates, times and content of the lessons included in the demonstration, and evaluations by you and the instructing teacher on how the goals were met
  • the VET institute's environment and its operating resources
  • the goals of the demonstration lessons (both the lessons given and the lessons observed by you) 
  • description of learning: a description of the learning in the class/group on a general level
  • a description of the support received from the instructing teacher and co-workers

2. Pedagogical thinking

Describe your pedagogical thinking from the following perspectives:

  • theoretical basis 
  • pedagogical solutions in teaching (teaching methods and equipment, and ways of working)
  • interaction between the teacher and the learner, and interaction among learners
  • teaching the whole group in relation to individual instruction 
  • the educational dimension
    • learner’s self-esteem and its growth
    • rules and norms and educating towards them
  • learning difficulties and behavioural problems as challenges
  • changes in pedagogical thinking during the demonstration of teaching skills
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The aptitude test ends with a feedback session that is arranged when you have completed all parts of the aptitude test.

Before participating in the feedback session, send the written assignments related to the subject areas you have completed to the higher education institution arranging the aptitude test.

In the feedback session, you receive oral feedback on the subject areas that you completed in the aptitude test. It is also possible to discuss your professional development, for example, from the following points of view in the feedback session: the development of your own role as a teacher, your goals and self-assessment, and your philosophy of education.

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Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), Vocational teacher education college

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (HAAGA-HELIA), Vocational teacher education college

JAMK University of Applied Sciences (JAMK), Vocational teacher education college

Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oulu UAS), Vocational teacher education college

Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), Vocational teacher education college

Åbo Akademi University, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies

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