Optima is located in Jakobstad on the west coast of Finland. As a vocational upper secondary school Optima provides 3-year study programmes which lead to vocational qualifications (ammatillinen perustutkinto/ yrkesinriktad grundexamen). Vocational study programmes consist of 120 credits.

Optima also provides vocational adult education and training and it consists of vocational (ammatillinen perustutkinto/ yrkesinriktad grundexamen), further vocational (ammattitutkinto/ yrkesexamina) and specialist vocational (erikoisammattitutkinto/ specialyrkesexamina) qualifications. In the adult education these qualifications are taken as competence-based qualifications.

The 3-year study programmes in Optima cover the following fields: humanities and education; culture; social sciences, business and administration; natural sciences; technology, communications and transport; natural resources and the environment; social services, health and sports; tourism, catering and domestic services; and other education. Optima has approximately 1200 students that participate in the 3-year programmes which lead to vocational qualifications.

Upper secondary vocational qualifications provide extensive vocational skills for various assignments in the field and more specialised expertise in one sector of the qualification. The qualification holders are equipped with the skills needed for employment, for performing various tasks in changing conditions in their fields, and maintaining and improving their vocational skills throughout their lives. Upper secondary vocational qualifications provide general eligibility to all forms of higher education. Holders of upper secondary vocational qualifications can also take further and specialist vocational qualifications which are arranged as competence-based qualifications for adults.

Vocational education and training is governed by the Vocational Education Act (630/1998) and Decree (811/1998), with amendments. To be entitled to award vocational qualifications, an education provider must have authorisation from the Ministry of Education determining the fields of study, total number of students and the education provider’s educational duties.