A mandatory orientation, not a graded course
Prao gives pupils in compulsory school first-hand knowledge of working life. It is regulated by the Education Act and is not part of any subject syllabus, which means it is not graded or formally assessed.
A prao placement involves three parties: the pupil, the workplace and the school. The school provider is responsible for sourcing placements and ensuring pupil safety according to the rules for minors at work.
- Share of programme
- 10+ days
- Typical duration
- 2 weeks
- Regulator
- Skolverket
- Compensation
- Unpaid
Connect Prakto to the systems you already use
LMS integration
Synchronise students, courses, registrations and grades with Moodle and Canvas. Placements, supervisors and outcomes flow back into the learning platform without manual export.
Communication
Push notifications about new placements, approvals and warning flags directly into Slack and Microsoft Teams channels so the right person reacts in seconds, not days.
SSO and identity
Let students and staff sign in with the school’s Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace accounts via Entra ID and Google SSO. No extra password, no shadow user directory.
Webhooks and automation
Send any Prakto event as JSON to your own HTTPS endpoint and build internal automations on top, from CRM updates to reporting pipelines.
Three phases: before, during and after prao
- 01 · Before
Sourcing and safety check
The school provider sources prao placements and confirms with the workplace which tasks are permitted under AFS 2012:3 for the pupil’s age. Guardians are informed and the placement is logged.
Read more - 02 · During
On-site orientation
The pupil is at the workplace under the supervision of a designated contact person. The school and the career counsellor stay reachable and step in if any deviation against the safety rules occurs.
Read more - 03 · After
Reflection and follow-up
The pupil reflects on the experience with the career counsellor as input for the upper-secondary choice. The workplace may issue a simple certificate. There is no grade.
Read more
Three parties, three responsibilities, one safe placement
Pupil
Attends the prao placement, follows the workplace’s instructions and safety rules and reflects on the experience together with the career counsellor.
Workplace
Appoints a contact person, provides an age-appropriate orientation and assigns only tasks that are permitted under AFS 2012:3 for pupils under 16.
School
The school provider sources placements and ensures pupil safety. The school and the career counsellor handle planning, communication with guardians and follow-up.
Not graded, but followed up by the career counsellor
Prao is not a subject in the curriculum, so it is not graded and there is no formal examination. The experience is treated as career guidance and supports the pupil’s choice of upper-secondary programme.
The workplace often issues a simple certificate or short appraisal. The school and the career counsellor follow up the experience with a reflection conversation, and any incident is documented.
- Grading scale
- Not graded
- Grade set by
- No grading
- Supervisor role
- Contact and safety
Frequently asked questions about prao
What is prao?
Prao (praktisk arbetslivsorientering, "practical work-life orientation") is a mandatory part of Swedish compulsory school in years 8 and 9. The purpose is to give the pupil knowledge of working life and a basis for choosing an upper-secondary programme. Prao became mandatory in 2018 through chapter 10, section 8 of the Education Act.
How many days of prao must a pupil have?
A pupil must have at least 10 days of prao in total across years 8 and 9. The school provider decides whether the days are placed consecutively or spread across the school years.
Who is responsible for prao placements?
The school provider, that is the municipality or the board of the independent school, is responsible for sourcing prao placements and ensuring pupil safety. The school cooperates with workplaces and the career counsellor.
What tasks is a prao pupil allowed to perform?
The Swedish Work Environment Authority’s regulations AFS 2012:3 on the work of minors govern which tasks are permitted. Many activities are forbidden for pupils under 16, such as work with dangerous machinery, lone work and certain types of lifting.
Is prao graded?
No, prao is not assessed and not graded. Prao is career guidance, not a subject in the curriculum. The pupil normally receives a simple appraisal or certificate from the workplace.
Is the pupil insured during prao?
Yes, the pupil is covered by the municipality’s pupil insurance during prao. The insurance applies at the prao placement and during direct travel to and from it.
