The Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education is a public institution, founded in June 2010  (by merging of two agencies  – Agency for Adult Education, founded in 2005, and Agency for Vocational Education and Training, founded in 2006).

One of the Agency's main goals is the development of the existing vocational curricula and development of vocational qualifications based on competences and learning outcomes, in accordance with the needs of the labour market and further education. The Agency has developed and implemented the system of quality assurance in vocational education and training and is responsible for the process of self-evaluation of vocational schools. The Agency is also responsible for the professional development and training of teachers in vocational schools, through the organization and implementation of professional examinations, the implementation of procedures for their promotion, as well as organization and implementation of professional training.

The agency is also responsible for planning, developing, implementing, monitoring and improving the adult education system. Among other things, the Agency organizes and carries out the Lifelong Learning Week national education campaign, carries out professional training of adult learning professionals and, at the request of adult education institutions, provides expert opinions on programs of formal adult education.

The agency is active in the area of bilateral and European international cooperation. It actively participates in the development and implementation of EU policies and initiatives in the field of vocational education and training and adult education. The Agency cooperates with a number of international institutions in the field of vocational education and training and adult education.

In accordance with the Act on the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (Official Gazette, no. 24/10), the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education is responsible for the following tasks:

- Performing analytical, research and development activities for the vocational education and adult education system,

- Coordinating proposals of corresponding professional and working bodies in the vocational education and adult education system,

- Providing professional and advisory activities to institutions in the vocational education and adult education system,

- Participating in the evaluation, self-evaluation and external evaluation procedures in the vocational education and adult education system,

- Preparing and developing the methodology for drafting occupational standards, vocational qualifications and curricula in vocational education as well as the methodology for drafting educational programmes,

- Preparing proposals for occupational standards and providing expert opinions on other proponents' proposals,

- Preparing proposals for vocational qualifications standards and providing expert opinions on other proponents' proposals,

- Developing vocational curriculum and providing expert opinions on other proponents' proposals,

- Proposing a network of centres for new teaching technologies in vocational education and related educational institutions for each centre to the Ministry,

- Providing expert support in defining a proposal of the institutions and curricula network in vocational education and infrastructure with the goal of their rationalization and social justification,

- Encouraging cooperation and participating in the implementation of programmes and projects related to the development of the adult education and vocational training system,

- Preparing and implementing programmes and projects financed or co-financed from EU funds and other forms of international assistance,

- Performing activities related to financing, procurement, contracting, payment and monitoring of the implementation of projects co-financed by the European Union,

- Carrying out training and additional training of employees in the vocational education and adult education system,

- Organizing and conducting certification exams and the procedure for professional advancement of teachers in vocational education, as a public authority,

- Defining the contents of the acquired knowledge and skills checks that a student or participant of vocational training acquired during the performance of practical training and exercises at the employers premises,

- Performing administrative tasks for the Council for Adult Education, Council for Vocational Education and sector councils,

- Giving its prior opinion on the Minister's decision on defining educational sectors as integrative areas of one or more professions,

- Preparing guidance on conditions and manner of continuing education for the same or a different qualification level (horizontal and vertical mobility) as determined by institutions' professional authorities,

- Providing guidance on the elements and manner of self-evaluation of vocational education institutions and the contents and manner of preparing reports of the Quality Committee at VET institutions.

- Defining criteria for the establishment, implementation and monitoring of systematic financing of adult education in the programme, investment and material operations,

- Performing activities regulating issue of textbooks in accordance with the law,

- Performing professional and pedagogical supervision as well as other types of professional supervision of institutions, in accordance with the law and the Statute,

- Organizing and implementing national student competitions and festivals of students' works in the vocational education system,

- Cooperating with social partners and other stakeholders in the education system,

- Setting up and maintaining an information system with a database of institutions and their participants, personnel, material conditions, property and other important information relating to the institutions' activities,

- Participating in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of national programmes,

- Preparing information for state administration bodies, the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian Parliament and, on a needs basis, making reports regarding the activities,

- Performing other tasks in accordance with the law and the Agency Statues.