Iðan fræðslusetur

What Iðan fræðslusetur does

Iðan fræðslusetur is an Icelandic non-profit vocational education and training center headquartered in Reykjavík, founded in 2006 to connect vocational training with Iceland's trade labor market. The organization operates across five trade sectors — Bílgreinar (Automotive), Bygginga- og mannvirkjagreinar (Construction), Matvæla- og veitingagreinar (Food & Hospitality), Málm- og véltæknigreinar (Metal & Machinery), and Prent- og miðlunargreinar (Print & Media) — and delivers services nationally with delivery points in Reykjavík, Akureyri, and Höfn.

The core product portfolio comprises three principal service categories: certification (sveinspróf / journeyman examinations), training delivery (námskeið / in-person and online courses), and skills validation (raunfærnimat / prior learning assessment). Supporting services include career counseling (náms- og starfsráðgjöf), corporate training and workplace visits (fyrirtækjaþjónusta), master craftsman services, and grant administration including Erasmus+ mobility programs for apprentices, newly certified journeymen, and working professionals. The organization is institutionally aligned with Fræðslumiðstöð atvinnulífsins (the Educational Center of Working Life), and references pricing tied to Fræðslumiðstöðin's published fee schedule for non-members.

Revenue is generated through a membership-based subscription model combined with transactional course and assessment fees. Member pricing for raunfærnimat is 49,000 ISK; non-members pay 198,900 ISK plus 2,440 ISK per recognized unit, and those without secondary school completion are assessed free of charge. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via the idan.is website, in-person course delivery, and Erasmus+ international work placements across Europe. No external equity funding, no public listing, and no management team disclosure are present in available sources. The organization participates in multiple multi-partner Erasmus+ projects, including MCEU (2024, hospitality micro-credentials, 900,000 EUR grant shared with UCN Denmark and seven partners) and EQAMOB (2025, apprenticeship mobility quality assurance with CMA France and partners), positioning international project activity as a meaningful supplement to core domestic operations.

Name

Iðan fræðslusetur

Legal name

Iðan fræðslusetur

Website

https://www.idan.is

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Iðan fræðslusetur is an Icelandic non-profit vocational education and training center, founded in 2006, delivering journeyman certification, courses, prior learning assessment, and Erasmus+ mobility programs across five Icelandic trade sectors to apprentices and trade professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education & Training Providers (EDABALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Education Systems & Skills Technical Assistance (BPADAEAI), International Student Employment & Practical Training Support (CPT/OPT/AT, work authorization guidance) (EDALANAF)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Journeyman certification programs
• Prior learning assessment
• Continuing education courses
• Trade skills development

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavík

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course fees and membership services: Revenue generated from course enrollment fees and membership subscriptions. Provides vocational training across multiple trade industries including automotive, construction, food/hospitality, metal/mechanical, and printing sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Iðan fræðslusetur is an Icelandic vocational education and training center that delivers journeyman certification examinations (sveinspróf), professional training courses (námskeið), prior learning assessment (raunfærnimat), and career counseling across five trade sectors: automotive, construction, food & hospitality, metal & machinery, and print & media. The organization also facilitates international mobility through Erasmus+ programs and provides corporate training services (fyrirtækjaþjónusta) to companies.

Product overview

Iðan fræðslusetur is an Icelandic vocational education and training center offering a unified portfolio of services centered on trade professions. The core offerings include Iðngreinar (Trade Sectors) covering Automotive, Construction, Food & Hospitality, Metal & Machinery, and Print & Media; Sveinspróf (Journeyman Certification Tests); and Námskeið (Courses) in various formats. Supporting services include Raunfærnimat (Prior Learning Assessment), Náms- og starfsráðgjöf (Career Counseling), Fyrirtækjaþjónusta (Business Services), and Styrkir (Grant Programs) including Erasmus+ mobility opportunities. The organization serves as the educational arm connecting vocational training with industry needs in Iceland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Iðngreinar (Trade Sectors) Vocational trade sectors covering automotive, construction, food & hospitality, metal & machinery, and print & media industries in Iceland.
• Sveinspróf (Journeyman Tests) Certification examinations for various vocational trades with scheduled delivery events in Reykjavík and Akureyri. Required for journeyman qualification.
• Námskeið (Courses) Educational and training courses across all trade sectors, offered in both in-person and online formats (vefnámskeið). Available 24/7 for members online.
• Raunfærnimat (Prior Learning Assessment) Assessment service that evaluates skills and knowledge gained through work experience, potentially shortening formal education duration. Free for those without secondary school completion; priced at 49,000 ISK for members and usage-based for non-members.
• Náms- og starfsráðgjöf (Education and Career Counseling) Guidance services for educational and career decisions provided to members of Iðan.
• Fyrirtækjaþjónusta (Business Services) Corporate training services including workplace visits and customized training solutions for companies in trade sectors.
• Styrkir (Grants) Grant programs including Erasmus+ mobility grants for apprentices, new graduates, and professionals, plus travel stipends for courses.
• Iðnmeistarar og endurmenntunargjöld (Master Craftsmen and Continuing Education Fees) Services related to master craftsman certifications and continuing education fee management for trade professionals.
• Erasmus+ Programs European mobility programs enabling vocational trainees, new graduates, and professionals to gain international work experience at establishments such as Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe.

Quantifiable outcome

• Raunfærnimat can potentially shorten study time and serve as motivation to complete education.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UCN (University College Nordjylland), DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Lead partner in MCEU project (Upskilling the European Hospitality Industry with Portable Micro-Credentials). 3-year project funded by Erasmus+ KA2 with 900,000 EUR grant.
• Fornverk í HöfnumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular collaboration with Fornverk í Höfnum to deliver courses in traditional building crafts. The partnership aims to preserve Icelandic building heritage while demonstrating traditional craftsmanship remains relevant today.
• Hosco (Hospitality Connection Barcelona)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MCEU project for European hospitality industry upskilling.
• C.G.R. Sant Pol (Sant Pol School of Hospitality and Culinary Management, Barcelona)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MCEU project for European hospitality industry upskilling.
• SAF (Samtök ferðaþjónustunnar)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MCEU project representing Icelandic tourism industry.
• Nalco WaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MCEU project for hospitality industry upskilling.
• Lobster InkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MCEU project for hospitality industry upskilling.
• Access Advisors EUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MCEU project for micro-credentials development.
• CMA FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EQAMOB project (European Quality Assurance in Apprenticeship Mobility) focused on quality standards for international apprenticeship placements.
• Overtones (Austria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EQAMOB project for apprenticeship mobility quality assurance.
• IFA (Austria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EQAMOB project for apprenticeship mobility.
• EAM – Moving SkillsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EQAMOB project for European apprenticeship mobility.
• TTS (Finland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EQAMOB project for apprenticeship mobility quality.
• CMA-PLA (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EQAMOB project for apprenticeship mobility.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Coursera: Global online learning platform increasingly partnering with industry and universities to deliver professional certificates and micro-credentials. Comparable to Iðan in the micro-credentials space via Erasmus+ partnerships, but lacks trade-specific certification authority.

Broad incumbents

• TÜV Rheinland: Global technical certification and inspection body with broad industry coverage. Comparable to Iðan in offering industry-recognized certifications and continuing education, but operates at international scale across many sectors beyond trades.
• Skillsoft: Enterprise-focused digital learning and professional development platform with extensive vocational and compliance content. Competes with Iðan's corporate training services (fyrirtækjaþjónusta) at scale but lacks trade-specific journeyman certification.
• LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn's professional development platform offering courses across business, technology, and creative skills. Competes with Iðan for continuing education budgets but focuses on digital delivery rather than hands-on trade certification.

Regional players

• Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFIVET): Switzerland's federal institution for vocational education and training, focused on trade qualification and apprenticeship pathways. Mirrors Iðan's model of national-scale vocational certification across multiple trade sectors.
• Opetushallitus (Finnish National Agency for Education): Finnish national education agency administering vocational qualifications and apprenticeships across trades. Directly analogous in role to Iðan as the certifying body for skilled trades, though serving a larger population.
• Kompetanse Norge: Norway's national competence and skills policy agency overseeing vocational training and apprenticeship standards. Comparable to Iðan in delivering trade certification across multiple sectors, but operates within the Norwegian regulatory and educational framework.

Direct peers

• City & Guilds: UK-based vocational education and certification body offering trade qualifications across industries. Both organizations focus on industry-recognized credentials, journeyman-equivalent certifications, and continuing education for working professionals.
• Fræðslumiðstöð atvinnulífsins: Iceland's Educational Center of Working Life, the closely aligned parent/related entity that jointly leads Erasmus+ projects with Iðan and shares fee structures. Operates in the same vocational training space with overlapping course offerings and member relationships in Iceland.

Others

• EU/Cedefop (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training): EU agency coordinating vocational training policy across member states. Directly comparable to Iðan's policy and qualification framework work, and Iðan participates in EU-level Erasmus+ programs alongside Cedefop's initiatives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Iðan fræðslusetur