Assessment of formal, non-formal and informal qualifications

You have the right to have you formal, non-formal and informal competence assessed when you apply for upper secondary education under the adults’ right. This refers to the competence you have acquired through formal education and training and through participation in working life and society by attending courses, through in-service training in enterprises and so on. The aim is that the education programme should be adapted to your needs.

• Formal, informal and non-formal competence is to be assessed in relation to the relevant subject curricula, which include both common core subjects and programme subjects.
• If this competence is equivalent to competence acquired through formal education/training, it shall be approved. All or parts of the subject may be approved.
• Approved formal, non-formal and informal competence is equivalent to having passed that subject.
  
• Approved formal, non-formal and informal competence must be documented with a certificate of competence or a diploma, if applicable.
• You cannot have formal, non-formal and informal competence as a final assessment in subjects from Vg3 curricula in vocational education programmes.

If you are an adult without the right to upper secondary education and training, you are entitled to have your formal, informal and non-formal competence assessed if you are referred to the county authorities by the municipal authority or by NAV (the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation). The county authorities can also assess other adults for formal, informal and non-formal competence, but it may then charge a fee for this service.