There are two types of training programs available to employees: short-term and long-term training.
Short-term Training
This is a right.
All private sector employers with at least 10 employees are required to offer an average of 5 days of training per year per full-time equivalent to their employees. However, there are some exceptions that you can find here.
Depending on your joint committee, you will be directed to a training fund. Many training programs can be free and very practical.
The site Continuing Education lists training funds based on your joint committee.
The largest joint committee is committee 200. If you are part of this committee, check the training offerings proposed by CEFORA..
Do not hesitate to discuss it and propose trainings that interest you to your human resources manager or employer.
Resuming Long-term Studies
You have two options available to resume long-term studies: educational leave and time credit with justification.
Educational Leave
Private sector employees can pursue studies of a minimum of 32 hours and a maximum of 120 or 180 hours per year while being paid and remaining employed.
These studies, whether or not related to your current work, can be undertaken during working hours or outside of working hours.
The employee is protected against dismissal during educational leave.
For more information and conditions, or to find out which trainings are approved, please consult the following links based on your place of residence.
For the employees of the Public Sectorthere are also different career break formulas, the specifics of which you can find here
Time Credit with Justification
Time credit can be requested for several reasons: to care for your child under 8 years old, your disabled child under 21 years old, to care for a family member who is ill, or to pursue recognized training.
To request time credit for continuing education, you must pay attention to the following conditions:
- The training must be recognized by the communities.
- It must total at least 360 hours per year or 27 credits or 120 hours or 9 credits per school term.
To obtain time credit, there are conditions regarding seniority, minimum working time (at least three-quarter time), number of time credits available in your company depending on the number of full-time equivalents... To be consulted here.
The minimum duration for each time credit request with justification is 3 months for full-time or part-time work, and 6 months pour un crédit-temps d’un cinquième.
The maximum time allowed to pursue training on time credit is 36 months and is remunerated with an allowance.
Staggered Schedule Training
Social promotion institutions (adult public education) offer training at adapted hours, in the evening or on a split schedule.
They allow you to obtain official diplomas or certificates recognized by the Communities in many fields: languages, IT, management, technical trades, social support, etc.
This is an excellent option to gradually change careers while continuing to work.
You can follow these trainings in the networks of:
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Promotion sociale (Wallonia and Brussels)
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IFAPME: (training more oriented towards trades and entrepreneurship)
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Syntra network (in Flanders)
These trainings can often be combined with educational leave or time credit.
Right to Resignation
As of March 1, 2026, a new right to resignation for career change projects will come into force in Belgium.
This scheme will allow a worker to resign while retaining their right to unemployment benefits for 6 months, provided they follow a recognized retraining pathway.
You must have 10 years of seniority.
The objective is to facilitate voluntary professional transitions, without requiring to remain in a job that no longer matches your aspirations, while guaranteeing a safe framework.
The precise arrangements (types of recognized training, deadlines, procedures) will be clarified in the coming months.
