Róisín O'Donohoe, Guidance Counsellor at Gorey Educate Together Secondary School and member of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors is here with help for students looking at their CAO Options.
For many college hopefuls, the wait between Leaving Cert results day and CAO offers day is an agonising one - but that wait is over.
Applicants can log in to their CAO account online from now to see if they have been offered a college place. To log in, applicants will need their 8-digit CAO number, their date of birth and their chosen password.
Applicants may find that they have been offered two courses, one from their Level 8 list and one from their Level 6 and 7 list. Students may choose to accept a place on one of these courses. Accepting one will automatically decline the other.
Round Two is open now. If a student has already accepted a place on a course, but subsequently becomes eligible for a higher ranked course on their preference list, they will have the opportunity to either stick with their original course or accept the new offer.
View the CAO Points with the RTÉ Course Finder here!
You can find a full list of this year's important CAO dates here.
What to think about if you don't get your CAO pick?
Round 1 of CAO offers always brings with it a mixture of emotions. Some people will be delighted with their CAO offer, while others may be disappointed. They may be offered a lower preference course from their list or may fail to secure any offer at all.
If that is the case, it is really important to remember that this is not the end of the line. There are still lots of options and avenues available to students who wish to progress to third level. While there is always the option to repeat the Leaving Certificate, here are the top 5 things to know about before you weigh up your options and consider your next steps.
1. Available Places
Once the initial CAO offers have been issued, the Available Places list will be posted on the CAO website. The Available Places list is open this year from 28th August at 12 noon. This is a list of courses that did not fill all their places and are still accepting
applications. The list constantly updates itself, so it is important to keep checking back. If you see a course that catches your interest, you can apply for it online.
Points do not necessarily come into the equation, but you must meet the minimum requirements in order to secure a place on the course.
You can check the Available Places list here.
2. Further Education & Training
Exploring Further Education pathways into third level college courses is a really important next step. PLC courses offer an excellent foundation year to help students prepare for college.
In fact, more and more students are opting to take a PLC course as a sort of alternative gap year or as a transition year into college. There is a vast array of courses available, from Business to Science, Law to Engineering, Art to Nursing. There really is something for everyone. PLC courses offer students the opportunity to taste-test a particular course, without having to directly commit to a three or four-year degree. They also offer students an excellent foundation in the subject knowledge needed to excel in first year of college.
Students can use their PLC results to apply for a CAO course the following year, instead of relying on their CAO points.
Click here to see more on RTÉ Learn.
3. Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Apprenticeships and Traineeships offer an excellent pathway into securing a practical qualification and valuable skills for the world of work.
With options ranging from Construction to BioPharma, Engineering to Finance, Hairdressing to Hospitality and Food, there is an option to suit every learner. Becoming an apprentice or a trainee can guarantee an income and access to on-the-job experience so that learners are immersed in skills-based training from day one. They provide an excellent opportunity for anyone who is looking to hit the ground running.
More about available apprenticeships at www.apprenticeship.ie.
Find out about new and upcoming apprenticeships in 2025.
You can learn more about traineeships here.
4. Tertiary Courses
Tertiary courses are course which are co-designed and co-delivered by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) to allow students to access seamless pathways between Further Education courses (PLC courses) and Higher Education without necessarily relying on CAO points.
For example, a student could begin studying Ballsbridge Institute of Further Education and qualify four years later with a Bachelor of Business from IADT. This is an exciting development in Irish education and there are new tertiary courses coming onstream all the time.
You can find more information on tertiary courses here
5. National Parents & Students Helpline
If you have any questions or queries over the coming days, it is important to look for unbiased, impartial advice. You can speak to an expert guidance counsellor by phoning the National Parents and Students Leaving Certificate Helpline.
To connect with a guidance counsellor, you can call 1800 265 165 or text 086 1800 685.
Helpline guidance counsellors can provide support for issues including: calculating CAO points, rechecking examination results, accepting or deferring an offer, and what to do if a subject is failed. They can also offer guidance about repeating exams and viewing scripts, understanding course information and preference orders, and exploring all pathways including apprenticeships, private colleges, and UCAS/ UNICAS applications. Additionally, the helpline provides support on CAO procedures, registration fees, gap years, and further education and training options.
All calls are free of charge. Standard message rates apply. The helpline will be open from 10am to 5pm on weekdays (25 – 29 August) and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays (30 August). Text replies will be sent during helpline opening hours.
For more tips and information on your next steps, Careers Portal offer an excellent guide. You can access it here: NEXT STEPS.
Check out RTÉ Learn for more information and updates for the class of 2025 here!
