This Site is also available in German
Your path to becoming a certified straw bale builder: With STEP CERTIFIED you take part in our theory workshops in Portugal (Castro Marim/Algrave) and our practical workshops (Austria and other EU-countries) and have permanent access to the online course for reading/listening/watching before or after.
As every year, the STEP CERTIFIED theory with some practice will again take place in Portugal (Castro Marim, 4 km from the Algarve coast) from 6 January – 11 March 2025. You can attend individual modules or the complete course. Info (PDF) here.
The structure: The STEP training comprises 400 hours of training in 8 units. The STEP 6 and 8 units are pure theory modules, the theory of STEP 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 includes practical days, STEP 5 Clay & Lime – Surfaces and Facades is a mix of theory and practice, so it only takes place „for real“. Here are the descriptions of the modules.
The procedure: If you have completed all theory modules, you can do the final assessment and receive a Certificate of Attendance. If you have also completed the 20 practical days with included performance review, you will also receive the ECVET certificate „Certified Straw Bale Builder“ in addition to the practical certificate.
STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION AND EARTH BUILDING PRACTICE
To become a certified straw bale builder, you also need proof of at least 20 completed STEP practical days. The practical exam is integrated into the training.
lime plaster, 5-6 days practice
fine clay plaster, 5 days practice
Practical Building Site Workshops (to 4 modules: U2, U3, U4, U5): you can book and join individually according to your time budget and the availability of practical workshops. You can also complete the practice over 2 years or more. You can at any time book the practical modules as offered on our Workshop-site.
PRICE AND REGISTRATION
STEP CERTIFIED training – 8 Theory Workshops (38 days) in Portugal + all practical Workshops + lifetime access to our Online-Learning platform acteco.eu + final assessment: € 2.900,- / € 2.500,- for students and unemployed (you can pay in advance or in 10 instalments of € 300,- / € 250,- each).
Your advantage as a couple: the second person pays the reduced price!
Click here to register for the STEP training.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation during all practical courses: You will sleep in a shared room (or tent), eat (breakfast/lunch/dinner), shower and do your laundry all for free.
We offer all CERTIFIED theory-courses in the sunny Algarve in Portugal, the Quinta da Fornalha training centre is only 3.6km from the beach. Combine a sunny winter holiday with the STEP course. Also combinable with the practical training. Sign up now!
Accommodation in Portugal: You can sleep (in a single, double or shared room – depending on availability) in one of the guest apartments at Quinta da Fornalha in Castro Marim, 3.6km from the beach, eat (breakfast/lunch/dinner, some of which we cook ourselves), shower (all appartments with bathroom and small kitchen) and do your laundry, all for shared food-costs and approximately € 15-20/night/bed.
STEP-TRAINER:
strawbale.training (Learning Outcomes Deutsch/English)