Interesting, thanks for explaining this. Thats very different to how its done in Germany, here vocational training is done by what they call dual-education. That means every company (or most) offers various apprenticeship training positions. You apply for one of those after school, and once you get accepted they start paying you a small salary, starting from maybe $600 and increasing over time (as you become more useful to them). You are then at the company trained on job for 3-4 days a week and at a vocational school for the rest of the time. There you have classes with other people that have chosen the same apprenticeship like you (i.e. mechanic, lab assistant, nurse, ...). The training on job is regulated to make sure you are not used as a cheap laborer but learn all necessary basics.
At the end of the 3rd year there is an exam by the chamber of commerce or the chamber of crafts and you receive a certificate of apprenticeship. Especially in the old trades, you cannot work without such a certificate. In general you need only 9 or 10 years of school to be accepted as apprentice, although there are a few that require a highschool diploma.
At the end of the 3rd year there is an exam by the chamber of commerce or the chamber of crafts and you receive a certificate of apprenticeship. Especially in the old trades, you cannot work without such a certificate. In general you need only 9 or 10 years of school to be accepted as apprentice, although there are a few that require a highschool diploma.