The diverse range of courses offered by vocational schools and regional vocational training centers provides the necessary basic and/or specialist training for a specific profession or occupational field and enables students to obtain all school-leaving qualifications, depending on their individual prior education and ability: First general school-leaving certificate, intermediate school-leaving certificate, entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences, subject-specific and general university entrance qualification.
Adolescents and young adults with and without school-leaving qualifications who are just starting out in working life or who want to acquire a school-leaving vocational qualification or a higher-level school-leaving qualification can choose from six types of school at the vocational schools in Schleswig-Holstein:

Vocational school

As part of dual vocational training, the vocational school provides vocational training in a state-recognized training occupation together with the training companies and expands general education. On completion of the vocational school, the first general school-leaving certificate, the intermediate school-leaving certificate or the entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences can be acquired.

Young people who have not found a training place are taughtin the Schleswig-Holstein training preparation program (AV-SH), where they are prepared for vocational training in various vocational fields such as business and administration or technology or can acquire the admission requirements for the upper level of vocational school I in order to obtain the intermediate school leaving certificate.

Another educational offer at the vocational school are the vocational preparation measures of the Federal Employment Agency with accompanying vocational school lessons, which are provided by educational institutions.
Young people who are required to attend vocational school and who do not attend any of the aforementioned vocational school coursesare taughtin vocational entry classes.

Vocational school
There are three types of school with different objectives:

• The Berufsfachschule in accordance with § 1 Para. 1 Berufsfachschulverordnung (type I) provides basic vocational qualifications and vocational orientation in certain subject areas. The lower level of this two-year vocational school is taught in the Ausbildungsvorbereitung Schleswig-Holstein (AV-SH), and the intermediate school-leaving certificate is obtained on completion of the upper level.
• The vocational school in accordance with § 1 Para. 2 of the Vocational School Ordinance (type II) prepares students in three years for the qualification in the wood sculptor training occupation in accordance with the Crafts Code.
• The vocational school in accordance with § 1 Para. 3 of the Vocational School Ordinance (Type III) provides state-recognized vocational training in certain subject areas, which can only be acquired in schools. The subjects offered include social pedagogy, social work and economics. Completion of the course can lead to the acquisition of a further school-leaving qualification.

Vocational grammar school
After completing lower secondary level, the Berufliches Gymnasium (vocational grammar school) provides pupils with an education that meets the requirements for admission to higher education and comparable vocational training (general higher education entrance qualification) through vocational and general educational content in certain subject areas. It is primarily aimed at pupils with a secondary school leaving certificate obtained by examination.
At the end of year 12, the Fachhochschulreife (school-based part) can be acquired. The entitlement to study at a university of applied sciences is only acquired in conjunction with a period of practical training.

Fachoberschule
The Fachoberschule leads young adults with an intermediate secondary school leaving certificate and at least two years of relevant vocational training or at least five years of relevant professional experience in certain subject areas to the Fachhochschulreife.

Vocational secondary school
The Berufsoberschule leads young adults with the Fachhochschulreife and at least two years of relevant vocational training or at least five years of relevant professional experience in certain subject areas to the Fachgebundene Hochschulreife, with proof of appropriate knowledge of a second foreign language to the general higher education entrance qualification.

Technical college
The Fachschule provides advanced vocational knowledge in certain subject areas through further training. The predominantly two-year technical college concludes with a state examination and can lead to further school qualifications and entitlements. Technical subjects are offered as well as subjects such as business administration, special education and social education.
The completion of a technical college of at least two years can lead to the acquisition of the Fachhochschulreife.