TL;DR: If you are unemployed and receiving unemployment benefits, and you hold a vocational, skilled, or short higher education qualification, you have a legal right to a 6-week job-oriented training course, fully funded by the state, while keeping your normal benefit rate. You must have been unemployed for at least 5 weeks, and the course must appear on the official positive list. Your a-kasse (unemployment insurance fund) approves the application and continues paying your benefits as normal throughout, no suspension, no reduction, as long as you follow the rules.
6-Week Job Training Course: How It Works With Unemployment Benefits
What Is a 6-Week Job-Oriented Training Course?
A 6-week job-oriented training course (6 ugers jobrettet uddannelse) is a statutory right for insured unemployed people to take a short, labour-market-focused course while keeping their full unemployment benefit rate.
The purpose is straightforward: give you a skills boost while you are out of work, so you are in a stronger position when job-seeking afterwards. This could be a forklift certificate, a bookkeeping course, a welding certificate, or something else entirely as long as it matches real labour market needs.
Who is eligible?
- You are fully unemployed and entitled to unemployment benefits (or will be soon).
- You are unskilled, skilled (hold a vocational qualification), or have a short higher education (KVU) combined with a vocational qualification.
- You are not eligible if you hold a higher-level qualification (e.g. a bachelor’s or master’s degree) without a vocational qualification alongside it.
- You have been unemployed for at least 5 accumulated weeks before you can start. If you take the course during your notice period, however, you can start from your first day of unemployment.
The deadline matters:
- If you are under 25, the course must be completed within the first 6 months of unemployment.
- If you are 25 or older, you have 9 months to use the right.
If you do not use it in time, you lose the opportunity, so do not wait too long to explore your options.
Scope: Up to 222 hours for full-time insured members (equivalent to 6 × 37 hours) and 180 hours for part-time insured members (6 × 30 hours).
Does It Work Alongside Unemployment Benefits?
Yes, and that is the whole point of the scheme. You receive your normal unemployment benefit rate throughout the entire course, without it counting as employment and without it reducing your benefit entitlement.
How it works in practice:
- No suspension: As long as the course is approved by your a-kasse and appears on the positive list, there is no pause in your benefit payments.
- You must still be registered as unemployed with the job centre and have an up-to-date CV on Jobnet – but you do not need to actively apply for jobs while the course is running.
- The course is state-funded, it costs you nothing. There is no participation fee, and you typically do not need to pay for books or materials yourself.
- Your a-kasse makes the decision. They assess your eligibility, approve the specific course, and handle the paperwork including application form AR 237.
- Board and lodging: In some cases, for example if the course is far from your home, a subsidy towards board and lodging may be available. Ask your a-kasse directly, as this depends on your individual situation.
The only thing you really need to keep track of is that the course is on the positive list, and that you get it approved before you start. If you begin without prior approval, you risk losing your benefit coverage for that period.
Your a-kasse must approve your course and pay out the subsidy correctly. CA A-kasse and Lederne both offer specialist guidance on further education and training.
Example: Unemployment Benefits + Training Course
Here is a concrete example to make it tangible.
Situation: Maria is 32 years old, a skilled office administrator, and has been unemployed for 7 weeks. She currently receives 7,000 DKK per month in unemployment benefits (after tax, as an example). She finds a 6-week course in warehouse management and a forklift certificate, which appears on the positive list.
- Unemployment benefits during the course: 7,000 DKK/month, unchanged, as she keeps her normal rate.
- Training subsidy/allowance: Depending on the course type and a-kasse, an additional allowance may apply in some cases, let us assume 3,000 DKK towards transport, materials, or board and lodging in this example.
- Total available income during the training period: approximately 10,000 DKK/month, without Maria having paid a single krone towards the course.
Important to note: Subsidy amounts vary considerably from person to person and depend on whether there is a need for transport, accommodation, or other support. The unemployment benefit rate itself is the fixed, predictable part of the equation, the subsidy is situation-dependent.
After the course, Maria has a forklift certificate on her CV and continues her unemployment period as normal, unless the course leads directly to a job.
How to Find a Job-Oriented Training Course
Start with your a-kasse. They know the rules, can see your specific unemployment history, and are ultimately the ones who approve the application.
The typical process:
- Check the positive list at STAR (the Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment) it shows which courses and qualifications are currently approved within your occupational group.
- Contact your a-kasse for an individual assessment of whether you meet the conditions, and for guidance on which courses make sense for your specific situation.
- Find a provider: this could be a vocational college, an AMU centre (labour market training centre), or another approved educational institution.
- Complete the application (form AR 237) together with the course provider, and submit it to your a-kasse well before the course starts.
- Wait for approval before enrolling, otherwise you risk losing your right to unemployment benefits during the course.
Not sure whether your current a-kasse covers training subsidies well enough? Compare a-kasses here and see whether A&Til A-kasse is a better fit for you.
If you are receiving transitional benefits (ledighedsydelse) or are in a flex-job scheme, contact your municipality instead of your a-kasse.
Your a-kasse plays a central role here: they have day-to-day experience of which courses actually lead to jobs in your field, and can often point you in a sensible direction if you are unsure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my unemployment benefit rate change while I am on the 6-week job training course?
No. As long as the course is approved by your a-kasse and appears on the positive list, you keep your normal unemployment benefit rate unchanged throughout the entire course.
Do I still need to actively apply for jobs while on the course?
No, you are exempt from the active job-seeking requirement while the course is running. However, you must still be registered as unemployed and have an up-to-date CV on Jobnet.
What happens after the course ends?
You return to the normal availability requirements: active job-seeking, follow-up meetings, and ongoing registration on Jobnet. The course does not extend your total benefit period.
Does the scheme cover my costs for course materials or transport?
The course itself is free, the state funds it. In some cases, a subsidy towards board and lodging may be available if the course is far from your home. Ask your a-kasse what applies in your specific situation.
Can I lose the right if I wait too long?
Yes. If you are under 25, the course must be completed within 6 months of becoming unemployed. If you are 25 or older, you have 9 months. If you do not use the right within the deadline, it lapses.
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