Reference year 2026
Version 2026
Drafted by Alexandra Costa Artur, Director, IMANOVATION,Lda, and member of Cedefop's Community of apprenticeship experts for Portugal
In Portugal apprenticeship is regulated by Portaria (Ordinance) nº 70/2022, de 2 de fevereiro, and includes both apprenticeship programmes (cursos de aprendizagem) and apprenticeship+ programmes (cursos de aprendizagem+) (see Q3 below).
Other forms of work-based learning (WBL) are not considered as apprenticeship ones under Cedefop’s definition.
The legislation defines: Apprenticeship (aprendizagem) as a training modality with double certification developed according to the references/standards of competences and training associated with the qualifications included in the National Qualifications Catalogue (Catálogo Nacional de Qualificações - CNQ), whose main objectives are:
a) To Reinforce the qualification levels of young people and adults for improving employability and (re)integration into the labour market, as well as allowing the pursuit of studies.
b) To value the training potential in a work context through the active participation of companies and other employers in the training process.
c) To develop and consolidate quality learning for young people and adults based on in an alternating training regime.
d) To gradually bring young people and adults closer to the labour market and the real context of work through the practical experience of training in a work context (work- related training – formação em contexto de trabalho).
By alternation training regime is meant the interaction between theoretical and practical training and the contexts in which they take place: VET providers, for theoretical training; companies and other employers, named “alternation support entities” (ASE), for work-related training.
Work-based training (formação em contexto de trabalho) aims to apply and consolidate technical, behavioural and relational competences, enabling the performance, with a relative degree of autonomy, of activities inherent to the exercise of a qualified profession, as well as to promote the future (re)integration of the trainee into the labour market.
(1).
The term apprentice (aprendiz) is no longer used (at least since 2008). Trainee [(formando (2)] is the term generally used by the IEFP applying to any individual who is enrolled and participates in professional training actions promoted or carried out by training entities through a training contract (which includes apprenticeship programmes).
(1) IEFP, Apprenticeship Specific regulation 2022 – 3rd revision (January 2026)
2) Decreto-Lei (Decree-Law) nº 242/88 de 7 de julho.
Apprenticeship programmes exist at two levels within the same framework, regulated by Portaria n.º 70/2022:
- Upper secondary level (EQF level 4): cursos de aprendizagem (apprenticeship programmes), leading to a double certification (school and professional).
- Post-secondary non-tertiary level (EQF level 5): cursos de aprendizagem+ (apprenticeship+ programmes), providing advanced vocational qualifications.
(see more on the scheme fiche)
Cedefop’s VET in Europe database provides additional information on the national VET system and the position of apprenticeships within it: https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/vet-in-europe/systems/
Apprenticeship programmes ( cursos de aprendizagem) were launched in Portugal in 1984. These were one of the initial VET pathways for young people and they were based on an alternance training model with privileged entry to the labour market and opportunities to progress to higher education.
The first legal framework for apprenticeship as an alternating vocational training system adressed to young people was the (Decree law ) Decreto-Lei n.º 102/84, of 29 March.
The framework, emphasising training in a work context, where companies where recognised as key training providers. This model differed from technical-professional education by assigning a central role to enterprises in the training process.
The legal framework for apprenticeship in the 80s and 90s:
- Decreto-Lei (Decree Law) no. 338/85, de 21 de agosto introduced amendments to Decreto-Lei (Decree-Law) nº. 102/84, de 29 de março, which established the legal subject of vocational training in the apprenticeship system.
- Decreto-Lei (Decree-Law) n.º 436/88, de 23 de novembro revised the legal regime of apprenticeship, approved by the Decreto-Lei (Decree-Law) nº. 102/84, de 29 de março.
- Decreto-Lei (Decree-Law) n.º 383/91, de 9 de outubro established the principles with which pre-apprenticeship programmes must comply
- Decreto-Lei (Decree-Law) n.º 205/96, de 25 de outubro, establishing the legal regime of apprenticeship, set up orientation programmes (level 1), apprenticeship programmes (level 2), apprenticeship programmes (level 3, current level 4 of NQF/EQF) and post- secondary, technological specialization or advanced technological qualification training programmes. Under this Decree-Law, labour and education ministries approved and published the legislation to each professional area of apprenticeship by Portarias (Ordinances), resulting of a broad consensus with the social partners, companies, and professional and sectorial associations.
- The legal framework for apprenticeship in the 2000s:
- Portaria (Ordinance) 1497/2008, de 19 de dezembro, revoked all the programmes created under Decreto-Lei (Law-Decree) n. 205/96, de 25 de outubro, with the exception of level 3 (current level 4 of QNQ/QEQ) apprenticeship programmes. However, through various legal diplomas, technological specialization programmes (which currently award level 5 of the QNQ/QEQ) were created and consolidated as an autonomous VET modality.
- Apprenticeship+ programmes created by the Portaria (Ordinance) nº 70/2022, de 2 de fevereiro, reintroduced the post-secondary VET offer into the apprenticeship programmes, while maintaining technological specialization programmes.