For many students, finishing school brings both excitement and uncertainty, especially when the traditional CAO route does not feel like the right fit.

As the vice president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and Cork ETB progression to FET support, Colette Twomey regularly reminds students that there is no single “correct” pathway after school. Meaningful, successful futures can be built in many different ways.

Options outside the CAO system can offer valuable opportunities to develop skills, gain experience, and clarify long-term goals, but they require careful thought and informed decision-making.

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“There are many different pathways to a career; it’s not just one linear route where you leave school and go straight on to your degree programme, and into a job. Very often it’s a journey or a different pathway for each person reaching that end point.”

Colette always advises students to first identify the kind of work and job they would like to be doing in the future because this is the most important part.

“If you find that an honours degree is what’s required to get into that field of work, then look to the CAO as your first step.

“First, see if there is a Level 8 programme in the universities. Then, if it’s a technological university, always check to see if there’s a Level 7 programme that can lead to a Level 8 programme with an additional year. Always look at all of your options,” Colette says.

Check all options

Once students finish filling in their CAO application with courses that interest them, Colette advises to get the course code number and check on the CAO website if there is a Level 5 that links to that programme.

“It’s so important because it’s all about having choices and options in August 2026, when results and offers for places are coming out. If students don’t get their first or second choice on their CAO form, they probably have a place on a QQI Level 5 programme [via a PLC course] that will link into the degree they want. It’s about doing the research now,” says Colette.

This information is available on the cao.ie website under ‘2026 QQI FET/FETAC requirements’. Students can enter their course code and find the Level 5 programme that is linked to the CAO Level 8 course.

There has been an increase in the number of places being held for students coming in through QQI routes.

“We get great feedback from the third-level institutes on the QQI students as they are better prepared for college, having engaged in self-directed learning in a supportive way, so when it comes to bigger class groups at third level, they are ready for it. Also, when it is a related course, a lot of students will have the foundation of studies done in that same cognate area, which leads to better retention,” says Colette.

Getting the support and insights from a guidance counsellor is vital.

“If you haven’t sat down yet with your school guidance counsellor to discuss your course options, alternative routes and career pathways, don’t panic; it isn’t too late. Even though the CAO deadline is 1 February, late applications can be accepted.”

Have a conversation with your guidance counsellor about the qualifications that may be required.

“It’s important that students look at the QQI entry, and then the tertiary programmes,” explains Colette.

She adds: “It’s okay not to be sure of what you want to do right now; that’s absolutely normal.

“It’s important to explore all your interests and not jump to a decision just because you feel like you should”.