In 2025, the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training (NAVET) successfully developed draft State Educational Standards (SES) and National Examination Programmes (NEPs) for 155 professions included in the 2024 List of Professions for Vocational Education and Training (LPVET 2024). Priority was given to professions supporting the green and digital transition, in line with Bulgaria’s and the European Union’s strategic objectives.
The development of the SES and NEPs was carried out within the framework of the project BG05SFPR001-3.001-0001 “Modernisation of Vocational Education and Training”, jointly implemented by NAVET and the Ministry of Education and Science.
During the process, NAVET experts coordinated 47 meetings of the Expert Commissions for the respective professional fields. A number of these meetings were organised in cooperation with the newly established Sectoral Skills Councils under the Ministry of Education and Science, ensuring broad stakeholder involvement in the development of the new standards.
Following their approval, the State Educational Standards are promulgated as Ordinances on the Acquisition of Vocational Qualifications, providing the basis for the development of comprehensive curricula and training programmes for each profession.
By the end of 2025, the process of reissuing licences for vocational training centres offering professions aligned with LPVET 2024 had also been completed. Licensed vocational training centres are now developing their curricula based on the newly approved State Educational Standards.
In addition, with the support of volunteer expert teams, State Educational Standards for a further 30 professions were prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Education and Science for approval. Working groups for the remaining eight professions included in LPVET 2024 are scheduled to be established in the next phase of implementation.
NAVET has also developed a web-based digital module of LPVET 2024 featuring enhanced search functionalities, which will soon be made publicly available.
The State Educational Standards adopted under LPVET 2024 and published in the State Gazette are available here:
https://www.navet.government.bg/bg/dos-lp-2024-sg/
The State Educational Standards and National Examination Programmes have also been published in the NAVET Information System.