Denmark is a welfare state. The social reform of 1970 and the Social Security Act of 1976 created a decentralized social safety net for all, and imposed the duty on the public authorities to see to it that the sick, elderly and disabled are taken care of. These tasks are attended to either in the clients' own homes, or at institutions such as homes for elderly or disabled people, day centres and hospitals.


In 1991, a new coherent system was introduced for the education of staff for the social and health care sector. This system consists of a one-year programme, which qualifies social and health care helpers and gives admission to another one and a half years' superstructure programme to qualify social and health care assistants.

The programme qualifies for employment in the health care sector and comprises the care of the sick, elderly and disabled. Two thirds of the programme consist of practical training in institutions run by the local authorities or in clients' private homes. The last third consists of college-based training at one of the approximately 30 social and health care colleges located all over the country.

Students coming directly from the ninth form of the "Folkeskole" follow a special introductory course of one year's duration. The introductory course contains both college-based education and training and practical training in work placements. Other students, who find that they have the need, may also start their education and training with the special introductory course of one year. Students having at least one year of relevant experience from employment or other education and training may start the superstructure programme right away.

WORKING WITH PEOPLE 24-year-old Maibritt Oksen is seen above in the demonstration room at the social and health care college where she is training to be a social and health care assistant. College-based education and training alternate with periods of practical training at hospitals and homes for the elderly or disabled. »I finally chose this type of training,« says Maibritt, »because being a social and health care assistant really gives you the opportunity to get to know the clients and make good contact with them. And I like the way we're taught here - we're included in everything on equal terms with the teachers. You don't feel like a pupil back at school.«

A prerequisite for admission to the programmes is a training agreement with a local authority.

Social and health care assistants may qualify to enter further education within the sphere of social and health care (nurse, midwife, social worker etc.).

Furthermore, social and health care colleges provide various upgrading and requalification courses. The duration of these courses varies from two weeks up to one and a half years, depending on the individual needs of the applicant.