KBT Vocational College

What KBT Vocational College does

KBT Vocational College (legal name: KBT Fagskole AS, org. no. 924 519 991) is a Norwegian accredited higher vocational education institution founded in 2020 as a separate entity within the KBT (Kompetansesenter for brukererfaring og tjenesteutvikling) group. The college offers two primary programs of 60 study credits each: Education for Peer Support Workers (Erfaringskonsulenter) in mental health and substance use services, and Social Entrepreneurship, the latter launched in 2023. It is the first Norwegian institution to receive NOKUT accreditation for peer support worker education (2019) and serves as an approved research organization (2025) with ECHE certification.

The institution operates a decentralized network-based education model across 8 campuses in Norway (Trondheim headquarters, plus Hamar, Tromsø, Stavanger, Sarpsborg, and others), combining digital learning via the Reach360 platform with local gatherings and physical dialogue meetings. In April 2026, KBT launched a free 8-module e-learning course on recovery-oriented practice using the CHIME framework, developed in partnership with King's College London, NTNU, and pilot municipalities, containing approximately 200 downloadable resources. The technology stack is built on standard e-learning infrastructure (Reach360, Zoom, SurveyMonkey) without proprietary AI/ML components.

The business model is government-funded: students pay no tuition, and the institution receives core operating funding from Trøndelag fylkeskommune (county municipality) supplemented by project-based grants from Stiftelsen Dam, Interreg NPA, Nordplus, Erasmus+, and the Norwegian Research Council. Customer segments include individuals with lived experience seeking peer support careers, social entrepreneurs in rural areas, and municipal employees in mental health and substance use services. The college has 15 employees, over 200 study places, and is a 90/10 joint entity between KBT and Prios kompetanse.

Name

KBT Vocational College

Legal name

KBT Fagskole AS

Website

https://kbtfagskole.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KBT Vocational College (KBT Fagskole) is a Norwegian NOKUT-accredited higher vocational institution offering 60-credit programs in peer support work and social entrepreneurship across 8 campuses, funded by Trøndelag fylkeskommune and EU/Nordic grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Vocational Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Internships, Externships & Work-Based Learning Placement (EDAMAKAB)

Keywords

• Higher vocational education
• Peer support training
• Social entrepreneurship education
• Recovery-oriented practice
• Mental health vocational training

Headquarters

HQ city

Trondheim

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary revenue from Trøndelag fylkeskommune (Trøndelag County Municipality) for operating vocational school education. Students do not pay tuition fees.
2. Research and Development Projects: Project-based funding from Norwegian and international sources including Stiftelsen Dam, Interreg NPA, Nordplus, Erasmus+, and Norwegian Research Council for specific R&D activities aligned with educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KBT Vocational College delivers two NOKUT-accredited higher vocational education programs (60 study credits each) — Education for Peer Support Workers (erfaringskonsulenter) in mental health and substance use services, and Social Entrepreneurship — through a blended learning model combining digital coursework with local in-person gatherings at 8 campuses across Norway. The college also offers a free 8-module CHIME-based e-learning course on recovery-oriented practice for municipal employees, plus applied research and international project collaboration (MERSE, CHIME 2.0, POMEIL, SEKEHE, INSY, SING). All programs are tuition-free for students, funded by Trøndelag fylkeskommune and project-based grants.

Product overview

KBT Vocational College (KBT Fagskole) operates as an accredited vocational college offering two primary higher vocational education programs of 60 study credits each: Education for Peer Support Workers (Erfaringskonsulenter) within mental health and substance use, and Social Entrepreneurship. The institution also provides a free e-learning course called 'Recoveryorientert praksis med CHIME-modellen' (Recovery-oriented Practice with the CHIME Framework) covering 8 modules on recovery-oriented approaches for mental health and substance use services. Research and development projects including CHIME 2.0, MERSE, POMEIL, and SEKEHE support and extend these educational offerings. All programs are delivered in a decentralized format with online instruction and local campus support across Norway.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education for Peer Support Workers (Utdanning for erfaringskonsulenter) Higher vocational education program (60 study credits) training students to become peer support workers (erfaringskonsulenter) in mental health and substance use services. Combines theoretical coursework with practical supervised placement, delivered via blended learning across 8 campuses in Norway. Aimed at individuals with lived experience seeking formal professional qualification for roles in NAV, municipalities, and user-driven organizations.
• Social Entrepreneurship (Sosialt entreprenørskap) Higher vocational education program (60 study credits) focused on social entrepreneurship, teaching students to develop and manage businesses that create social value rather than private profit, with emphasis on rural development and community impact. Delivered via blended learning across KBT Fagskole's national campus network.
• Recovery-oriented Practice with the CHIME Framework (E-learning Course) Free 8-module e-learning course on recovery-oriented practice using the CHIME framework (Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, Empowerment) for mental health and substance use services. Available in Norwegian and English via the Reach360 platform, featuring blended learning with videos, audio, quizzes, reflection exercises, and 200+ downloadable tools and templates. Targeted at municipal employees in mental health/substance use services, specialized health services, criminal justice, and NAV.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates employed in NAV, municipalities, and user-driven organizations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prios kompetansecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 202610% shareholder in KBT Fagskole. Collaboration through projects with Prios offices in Steinkjer as possible study location. New board chair Bjørn Bratt brings expertise in entrepreneurship, board work, and business development.
• Coompanion / Social Enterprise Academy SwedenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2026Collaboration on learning program for sustainable entrepreneurship in mental health. Cross-border program for Jämtland Härjedalen, Västernorrland, and Trøndelag regions.
• Romerike fengsel avdeling UllersmominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Pilot project for training peer support workers in high-security prison setting, adapting the peer support education for incarcerated individuals.
• Innovasjon NorgeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 March 2024Collaboration for networking event for social entrepreneurs in Trondheim region. Janne Bøklepp from Innovasjon Norge presented on startup support and social responsibility.
• Mittuniversitetet (Sweden)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Swedish university partner in MERSE project, led by Yvonne von Friedrich. Contributes to policy recommendations for rural social entrepreneurship.
• Trondheim, Stjørdal, Sandnes, Tromsø MunicipalitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Pilot municipalities for CHIME 2.0 project, testing and providing feedback on recovery-oriented training modules. Represents real municipal context and needs.
• Interreg NPA (MERSE Project)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023International collaboration within EU Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic program. MERSE project (Business Models Empowering Rural Social Entrepreneurship) running 2023-2026 with partners from Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. KBT Fagskole contributes expertise on social entrepreneurship education and policy recommendations.
• King's College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Academic partnership with Dr. Mary Leamy, developer of the CHIME framework, for developing recovery-oriented training courses. Provides research expertise and international perspective on recovery-oriented practices.
• NTNUcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with Professor Ottar Ness from NTNU Welfare research center for developing recovery-oriented training courses. Provides Norwegian research context and academic validation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ashoka: Global network identifying and supporting leading social entrepreneurs, with Ashoka Nordics active in Scandinavia. Comparable as a broader incumbent in social-entrepreneurship education and ecosystem-building, though operating at global scale rather than as a vocational college.
• Mental Health Foundation (UK): UK charity producing research, training and public education on mental health and recovery. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the recovery-oriented practice space where KBT's CHIME course operates, though with a wider remit than KBT's niche vocational focus.

Direct peers

• Folkeuniversitetet: Norway's largest adult education provider offering courses across the country. Directly comparable as a decentralized, network-based adult vocational/adult-education institution serving similar geographies and demographics, though operating at much larger scale.
• NKI Nettstudier: Norwegian vocational and continuing-education provider with strong digital/online delivery model. Comparable to KBT in offering modular, network-based vocational education with online components and multiple study locations across Norway.
• School for Social Entrepreneurs: UK-based charity delivering learning programs for social entrepreneurs and community leaders. Directly comparable to KBT's Social Entrepreneurship program in mission (training changemakers) and pedagogical approach, including the cross-border partnership with Coompanion / Social Enterprise Academy Sweden.
• Recovery College UK (Nottinghamshire Healthcare): UK's flagship recovery college offering co-produced courses on mental health recovery. Directly comparable to KBT's erfaringskonsulent education and CHIME-based e-learning course — both train lived-experience workers and use co-design methodology with municipal/health-service partners.

Emerging players

• ImROC (Implementing Recovery through Organisational Change): UK-based organization supporting the spread of recovery-oriented practice in mental health services. Comparable to KBT's CHIME 2.0 project in focus area (embedding recovery in municipal services) and in targeting training/consulting for service-system change.

Others

• King's College London: Dr. Mary Leamy at King's College London is the originator of the CHIME framework underpinning KBT's flagship e-learning course. Comparable as a research/knowledge partner rather than a competitor, but adjacent in the recovery-oriented practice training ecosystem.
• Kooperativet Lågen / Samvirke Norway: Norwegian cooperative development center supporting social enterprises and cooperative businesses. Comparable as an ecosystem actor in social entrepreneurship where KBT graduates may deploy skills, but operates as an enabling/incubator rather than an educational institution.

Regional players

• Høgskolen i Molde: Norwegian university college offering bachelor and master's programs including health and social sciences. Comparable as a regional Norwegian higher-education provider; differs in scale (degree-granting institution vs. vocational college) and in not specializing in lived-experience peer work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KBTfagskole
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kbt-fagskole

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KBT Vocational College