State Examinations:
The Junior Certificate Examination:
The Junior Certificate examination is held at the end of the Junior Cycle in post-primary schools. The Junior Cycle caters for students in the 13 to 15 year old age group. Students normally sit for the examinations at the age of 14 or 15, after 3 years of post-primary education.
However, candidature for the examination is not limited to post-primary school students. A candidate following an approved course of study outside the State or who is attending an approved course of study organised under the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme , Adult Literacy and Community Education Schemes, the Department of Social and Family Affairs second-level scheme for the unemployed or an analogous scheme, may be admitted to the examinations on payment of the appropriate fee. link to the fees section.
The Leaving Certificate (Established) Programme:
The Leaving Certificate (Established) programme offers students a broad and balanced education while allowing for some specialisation. The certificate is used for the purposes of selection into further education, employment, training and higher education.
The examination is the terminal examination of post-primary education. It is held at the end of the Senior Cycle in post-primary schools. The Senior Cycle caters for students in the 15 to 18 year old age group. The majority of candidates who sit for the examinations are recognised students in post-primary schools, are 17 or 18 years of age and have completed 5 or 6 years of post-primary education.
However, candidature for the examination is not limited to post-primary school students. A candidate following an approved course of study outside the State or who is attending an approved course of study organised under the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme , Adult Literacy and Community Education Schemes, the Department of Social and Family Affairs second-level scheme for the unemployed or an analogous scheme, may be admitted to the examinations on payment of the appropriate fee. 
The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP):
The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) is a senior cycle Programme of the Department of Education & Science, designed to give a strong vocational dimension to the Leaving Certificate (established). The strong vocational focus of the LCVP is achieved by arranging Leaving Certificate subjects into Vocational Subject Groupings (see Table below) and through the provision of two additional courses of study in work preparation and enterprise, known as the Link Modules.
Candidates taking the LCVP have a unique opportunity to develop their interpersonal, vocational and technological skills. These skills are equally relevant to the needs of those preparing for further education, seeking employment or planning to start their own business.
The Leaving Certificate Applied Programme(LCA):
The Leaving Certificate Applied Programme(LCA)is a distinct, self-contained two-year programme aimed at preparing students for adult and working life. It is designed for students who do not wish to proceed directly to third level education or for those whose needs, aspirations and aptitudes are not adequately catered for by the other two Leaving Certificate programmes or who choose not to opt for those programmes. The Programme is administered and assessed by the State Examinations Commission.
Credits towards the final award are accumulated throughout the two years of the programme through:
1.) Satisfactory completion of modules. (Maximum of 62 credits)
2.) Performance of students tasks. (Maximum of 70 credits)
3.) Performance in the final examinations. (Maximum of 68 credits)
The programme consists of a range of courses each designed on a modular basis. The number of modules depends on the course. The full list of course and modules can be downloaded here. Each year of the two year programme is divided into two sessions, September to January and February to June. A module within a given course is usually completed within one session. Over the two year duration of the programme, participants will complete 44 modules. Course participants accumulate credits toward their final result at the end of each session.
For more detailed information on the LCA programme pleaseclick here.
