Short-cycle professional higher education programme “MEDICINE”

Qualification: Doctor`s Assistant / Feldsher

Duration of studies: 3 years, 180 credit points
Language of instruction: Latvian
Mode of study: Full-time
Admission requirements: Secondary education
Tuition fee: State-funded places/ 1,500 EUR per academic year

Programme requirements (Programme Objectives and Intended Learning Outcomes):
The programme aims to provide students with professional knowledge, skills, and competencies regarding the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and diagnostics of diseases, injuries, and pathological conditions, while developing skills and proficiency in managing acute medical situations and determining priorities; to provide emergency medical care in life-threatening, critical conditions at the pre-hospital stage and in hospital emergency departments; to address health-related problems, educate patients, and develop a professional attitude in accordance with the occupational standard, labour market requirements, and the principles of professional ethics.

Description of the profession
A Doctor’s Assistant (Feldsher) is a healthcare professional who provides emergency medical care to patients (or the injured) in life-threatening and critical conditions at the pre-hospital stage and in hospital emergency departments. The Doctor’s Assistant is qualified to work independently, establish a diagnosis, develop and implement treatment plans, independently administer and prescribe medicinal products (including controlled substances), and confirm a patient’s death. The Doctor’s Assistant ensures continuous medical care and prevention for patients of all genders and all age groups across all three levels of healthcare in collaboration with a physician. After registration in the Registry of Medical Practitioners and subsequent certification, the Doctor’s Assistant may perform these functions independently. The Doctor’s Assistant also organises and manages his or her own and colleagues’ work, educates patients, members of the public and team members, and continuously improves his or her professional knowledge and skills.

Qualification: Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant

Duration of studies: 1 year, 60 credit points
Language of instruction: Latvian
Mode of study: Full-time
Admission requirements: First-level higher education / short-cycle professional higher education and the
qualification of Physician Assistant / Feldsher
Tuition fee: State-funded places / 850 EUR per academic year

Programme requirements (programme objectives and intended learning outcomes):
The programme aims to provide students with professional knowledge, skills, and competencies in emergency medical care techniques, patient examination, assessment, and diagnostics, and the provision of emergency care. It also develops their ability to work effectively in a team in critical and unpredictable situations, and communicate in the context of patient care, diagnostics, and treatment, solve health-related problems, and develop a professional attitude in accordance with the occupational standard, labour market requirements, and the norms of professional ethics.

Description of the profession:
An Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant is a healthcare professional who provides emergency medical care to patients (or the injured) in life-threatening and critical conditions at the pre-hospital stage and in hospital emergency (admission) departments. The Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant is qualified to work independently, establish a diagnosis and treatment plan, independently administer and prescribe medicinal products (including controlled substances), and confirm a patient’s death. The Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant ensures continuous medical care and prevention for patients of all genders and all age groups across all three levels of healthcare in collaboration with a physician. After registration in the Registry of Medical Practitioners and subsequent certification, the Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant may perform these functions independently. The Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant organises and manages his or her own and colleagues’ work, educates patients, members of the public and team members, promotes the development of the profession, and continuously improves his or her knowledge and skills.

Short-Cycle Professional Higher Education Programme “SOCIAL REHABILITATION”

Qualification: Social Rehabilitator

Duration of studies: 2 years, 120 credit points
Language of instruction: Latvian
Mode of study: Full-time
Admission requirements: Secondary education
Tuition fee: State-funded places/ 820 EUR per academic year

Programme Requirements (Programme Objectives and Intended Learning Outcomes):
The programme aims to prepare students who can plan, manage, and organise social activation activities for clients, thereby supporting the restoration of their social status and successful integration into society. Graduates will be able to participate in the development of individual social rehabilitation plans in cooperation with a multidisciplinary team, provide social rehabilitation services, and promote clients’ active involvement in the preparation and implementation of these plans. Within their scope of competence, they will promote the acquisition, improvement, and maintenance of clients’ social skills, abilities, and competencies. They will also participate in the evaluation of social rehabilitation services and develop proposals for their improvement, while adhering to the norms of professional ethics and continuously developing their professional competence.

Description of the profession:
A Social Rehabilitator is employed by a social service provider registered in the Register of Social Service Providers and provides social rehabilitation services. They may work at a person’s place of residence, in social care institutions, or in social rehabilitation institutions, or work as a self-employed person.

Short-Cycle Professional Higher Education Programme “SOCIAL CARE”

Qualification: Social Caregiver

Duration of studies: 2 years, 120 credit points
Language of instruction: Latvian
Mode of studies: Full-time
Admission requirements: Secondary education
Tuition fee: State-funded places / EUR 820 per academic year

Programme Objectives and Intended Learning Outcomes
The Social Caregiver plans and organises the provision of social care services at the individual level for persons (children, elderly people, and people with mental and physical disabilities) who, due to age, functional impairments, or health conditions, experience difficulties in self-care and meeting their basic needs. In accordance with the client’s abilities, needs, and wishes, the social caregiver assesses and determines the required package of social care services, coordinates the work of caregivers, ensures the client’s active participation in receiving optimal social care services, adheres to the norms of professional ethics, and maintains and develops their professional competence.

Description of the profession:
A Social Caregiver is employed by a social service provider that is registered in the Register of Social Service Providers and provides social care services at a person’s place of residence or in long-term social care and social rehabilitation institutions. A Social Caregiver may also work as a self-employed person.

Short-Cycle Professional Higher Education Programme “THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE”

Qualification: Massage Therapist

Programme requirements (Programme Objectives and Intended Learning Outcomes):
The programme aims to provide students with professional knowledge, skills, and competencies, enabling them to independently apply various massage techniques to improve patients’ and clients’ health, functional status, health-related quality of life, and overall well-being, in accordance with the current occupational standard and the norms of professional ethics.

Description of the profession:
A Massage Therapist is a healthcare professional who practises in Latvian and foreign healthcare and rehabilitation institutions, state or private clinics, general hospitals, health centres, private medical practices, and SPA centres. In accordance with their qualification, they may also work as a self-employed person or sole trader. By applying various massage techniques, the massage therapist promotes the improvement of the patient’s or client’s health, functional status, health-related quality of life, and overall well-being.

Short-Cycle Professional Higher Education Programme “AESTHETIC COSMETOLOGY”

Qualification: Beauty Specialist (in Cosmetology)

Duration: 3 years, 120 credit points (without prior medical education)
Language of instruction: Latvian
Mode of study: Full-time
Admission requirements: Secondary education
Tuition fee: 2,000 EUR per academic year (monthly instalment plan available)

Duration: 2 years, 80 credit points (with prior medical education)
Language of instruction: Latvian
Mode of study: Full-time/ evening and weekend studies
Admission requirements: First-level higher education or short-cycle professional higher medical education
Tuition fee: 2,000 EUR per academic year (monthly instalment available plan)

Programme requirements (Programme Objectives and Intended Learning Outcomes):
To provide students with the professional knowledge, skills, and competencies required to develop the ability to work independently, professionally, and creatively in the beauty industry, in accordance with the current occupational standard, the requirements of the Latvian and European labour markets, and the principles of professional ethics.

Description of the profession
A Beauty Specialist (in Cosmetology) is a healthcare professional who works in private beauty practices, beauty salons, and/or medical institutions. They provide a wide range of cosmetology and aesthetic medicine services in the healthcare sector, including skin condition assessment (normal or pathological), aesthetic procedures and manipulations for the face, scalp, and body, client consultation, and collaboration with other healthcare specialists to ensure safe service delivery.

Short-Cycle Professional Higher Education Programme: “PODOLOGY”

Qualification: Podologist

Duration: 2 years, 120 credit points
Language of instruction: Latvian
Mode of study: Full-time
Admission requirements: Secondary education
Tuition fee: 2,000 EUR /academic year (monthly instalment plan available)

Duration: 2 years and 6 months, 120 credit points
Language of instruction: Latvian
Mode of study: Full-time / evening and weekend studies
Admission requirements: Secondary education
Tuition fee: 2,000 EUR /academic year (monthly instalment plan available)

Programme requirements (Programme Objectives and Intended Learning Outcomes):
The programme aims to provide students with professional knowledge, skills, and competencies, enabling them to independently perform podological assessments, provide podological foot care, and carry out preventive work. It develops their ability to improve patients’ health, functional status, health-related quality of life, and overall well-being, in accordance with the current occupational standard and the norms of professional ethics.

Description of the profession:
A Podologist is a healthcare professional who performs comprehensive podological assessments of patients, including examination of the foot’s musculoskeletal system, blood circulation, sensation, soft tissue trophicity, and the evaluation of the risk levels for potential foot damage. The Podologist assesses the condition and constitutional characteristics of the toenails, skin, and musculoskeletal system of the feet in patients of all age groups. They provide professional podological foot care and preventive services, primarily working with high-risk patient groups. Podologists carry out their professional activities both independently and as part of a healthcare team in medical institutions. They may also work as self-employed practitioners or sole traders.

Vocational Education Programme “NURSING”

Qualification: Nursing Assistant

Duration of studies: 1 year
Language of instruction: Latvian
Mode of study: Full-time

Admission requirements: Secondary education; preference is given to applicants with work experience in healthcare institutions

Programme requirements (Programme Objectives and Intended Learning Outcomes):
The programme aims to provide students with professional knowledge, skills, and competencies, enabling them to apply the basic principles of nursing care, meet patients’ basic needs at all levels of healthcare, perform hygiene procedures, and provide care for patients with acute and chronic health conditions across all age groups, in accordance with the current occupational standard and the norms of professional ethics.

Description of the profession:
A Nursing Assistant is a healthcare professional who works in medical institutions under the supervision of qualified healthcare professionals. As a member of the patient care team and within the scope of their competence, the nursing assistant performs general and specialised patient care. The nursing assistant participates in all levels of patient care and maintains professional competence by continuously improving their knowledge and skills.

Vocational Continuing Education Programme “Nursing”

Qualification: Nursing Assistant

Duration: 960 hours
Language of instruction: Latvian
Qualification level: Third level of professional qualification (Level 3 PQF)

Programme requirements (Programme Objectives and Intended Learning Outcomes):
The programme aims to provide students with the professional knowledge, skills, and competencies required to apply the basic principles of nursing care, meet patients’ basic needs at all levels of healthcare, and perform hygiene procedures. Students learn to provide care for patients with acute and chronic health conditions across all age groups, in accordance with the current occupational standard and the norms of professional ethics.