CAO Portal opens today, with apprenticeship link included for the first time

As of 12pm today, the 2022 CAO Application Form is open. The portal will remain open until late January.

The 2022 site brings with it some changes - for the first time, students will be able to access information about further education courses and apprenticeships via the CAO portal, according to RTÉ. Applications for these courses will still be made through the traditional channels, but the CAO website will contain links to said channels. Taking to Twitter to discuss the change, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris said:

The days of narrow conversations about your options post school end today! This is the 1st in a number of steps to create an inclusive, integrated third level system. 

https://twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD/status/1456540694764527630?s=20 As well as the usual information about level 8, 7 and 6 courses,  information on over 400 Post Leaving Certificate FETAC Level 5 or 6 courses will also now be available through the site. Students will also be able to access information on national apprenticeships. Speaking on Twitter, Andrew Brownlee of Solas, the Further Education & Training Authority said:

Big day tomorrow. For the 1st time, young people thinking about their next steps after school will be able to link to all the further ed & apprenticeship options available alongside HE choices when they go to CAO website. Hopefully the start of a wider conversation for everyone. 

https://twitter.com/andrewbrownlee7/status/1456374715648548868?s=20 Header image via Shutterstock  READ NEXT: In conversation with viral Irish artist and illustrator Rob Stears