The number of apprenticeships is set to increase by 50%.
This is a result of increased investment in higher and further education.
The new-look CAO website, which relaunched in the last hour, contains 650 post-leaving cert courses and a free guidance counsellor helpline for upcoming students.
For the first time, would-be students can now find out about apprenticeships, PLCs and higher education on one website.
Higher Education Minister Simon Harris expects it to lead to a boom in apprenticeships, with places available increasing from 6,000 to 9,000.
"We are about to press go on a roof cladding apprenticeship and also a scaffolding apprenticeship [...] Sometimes we have a very narrow view of what apprenticeships are but you can actually do a Masters through them."
Quick word about changes today to help promote further education, training & apprenticeships on the CAO website. The days of narrow conversations about your options post school end today! This is the 1st in a number of steps to create an inclusive, integrated third level system pic.twitter.com/kYzsCPJ5gj
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) November 5, 2021
Paddy Lavelle from the ETBI says making non-traditional options accessible helps break the stigma around apprenticeships and PLCs.
"It's validation, it's making sure people understand there are many ways to make your way through into a career or a skill."
President of the Irish Second Level Students Union Emer Neville wants to see training for guidance counsellors to keep up with CAO changes.
"If the guidance counsellors aren't getting the support well then the students and their parents aren't getting that support."
Students have until February 1st to register for the CAO.
Reminder that the CAO portal opens for 2022 applications today Friday, November 5th at 12:00!
Links to Further Education and Apprenticeships added to the CAO website this year!
Visit: https://t.co/OfR73a56sZ for more information and to apply!#ISSU #ISSU4U #CAO pic.twitter.com/Pc0hZEvXDd— Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU) (@issu4u) November 5, 2021
