Post Leaving Cert Course
If you have finished your secondary education in Ireland and would like to develop vocational and technological skills in order to get a job or to go into further education and training, the Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) course may be the one you are looking for. The PLC is often seen just as a course for school-leavers. In fact, you will be also welcomed as an adult participant.
PLC courses take place in schools, colleges and community education centres around the country. The courses are full-time and last for one to two years. They offer a mixture of "hands-on" practical work, academic work and work experience. They are designed as a step towards skilled employment and, as such, they are closely linked to industry and its needs. Post Leaving Certificate courses adopt an integrated approach, focusing on technical knowledge, core skills and work experience. Almost 50% of the time spent on these courses is devoted to knowledge and skill training related to employment, with a further 25% on relevant work-based experience.
Over 90% of PLC courses are delivered by VECs (vocational education committees). At present, over 1,000 courses are on offer in some 229 centres. A wide range of disciplines are covered including business, electronics engineering, computing, catering, sport and leisure, theatre and stage, performance art, art craft and design, equestrian studies, multi-media studies, journalism, tourism, marketing, childcare and community care, hairdressing and beauty care, applied science, horticulture etc. The Department of Education carries a list of PLC courses by county.
The qualification you receive at the end of your training will depend on the type of course you have chosen. Many of the one-year PLC courses offer Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) accreditation at level II, while other more advanced courses may offer FETAC level III, which can lead to further studies at third level. Other qualifications such as City and Guilds are also available. It is important to check out the qualification attached to a particular course before you decide to enrol.
New opportunities for PLC (Click on Blue type) View recent report from Department of Education
Rules
In general, you should have finished your secondary education and taken your Leaving Certificate examination in order to be eligible for a PLC course. However, if you have work experience relevant to the course on offer or think you can demonstrate a particular ability in that area, you should write to the college where the course will take place. Explain your circumstances in the letter and ask to meet the co-ordinator of the course.
Rates
PLC maintenance grants are available for students who are registered on PLC courses. These are set by the Minister for Education and Science each year. The maintenance grant does not cover the charge for registration or examinations.
In 2008/9 if you are under 23 years of age and live within 24 kilometres of the college, your grant is €1,370. If you live 24 kilometres or more from the college, the grant rises to €3,420. You may also be eligible for the top-up grant for disadvantaged students (currently an additional €1,310 for adjacent students and €3,270 for non-adjacent students.
If you are over 23 years of age (that is, a mature candidate), your grant is €3,420, regardless of how far you live from the college.
How to apply
Find the course in which you are most interested and apply directly to the school or college offering that course. Because the courses are work-related, you will probably be called for an interview before a final selection is made. These interviews are often quite informal and offer you the opportunity to discuss your particular interest in the course.
In relation to the maintenance grant, contact your local VEC for application details.