The CAO opens for applications this Wednesday, November 5, at 12 noon, marking the official start of the 2026 college application cycle.
For thousands of students across Ireland, it’s the first real step toward college or further study. It can feel like a big moment – the next stage of the Leaving Cert journey suddenly becoming real – but there’s no need to panic.
This first step is simple – you’re just registering your details and getting your CAO number.
Step one: Just register
The process couldn’t be easier. Go to cao.ie, enter your personal details, pay the €35 early-bird fee, and you’ll receive your CAO number.
That number is your key to everything that follows – from listing courses later to receiving offers next summer.
And here’s the key point: you don’t need to list any courses yet. You can leave that section blank and come back to it whenever you’re ready.
Applying now doesn’t mean deciding now. It just means you’re organised and have taken the first simple step.
During registration, you’ll also create a password. This is essential, as you’ll need it throughout the year to log in, make changes, or check offers.
Make sure to store both your CAO number and password safely – write them down in more than one place or save them securely on your phone or computer.
Lost login details are one of the most common causes of unnecessary panic later in the process.
Once you’ve registered, you can relax knowing you’re in the system. Then you can use the months ahead to figure out what direction feels right for you – and what options, both inside and outside the CAO system, might suit you best
Now use the time wisely
Registering early isn’t about rushing into decisions – it’s about giving yourself the breathing space to explore properly.
Over the coming months, take time to research courses and pathways that genuinely interest you.
Go beyond the course title: look carefully at the individual modules for all three or four years of study, because that’s what you’ll actually be learning every day.
Two courses that sound similar can have very different content and career outcomes.
Attend open days, talk to current students, ask questions, and get a feel for the learning environment in each college.
Think about what kind of course structure suits you – continuous assessment or exams, theory-heavy or practical, large university or smaller campus.
The more you understand what you’re signing up for, the more confident and comfortable you’ll be when finalising your CAO choices.
The most essential step: Getting to know the “you of you”
As useful as course research is, what’s even more essential is getting to know yourself.
Before you can choose the right course, you need to understand what really motivates you – the subjects that spark your curiosity, the kind of work that feels satisfying, and the environments where you do your best. Those insights can guide you toward a path that fits.
Use the months ahead to explore your interests, talk to people in different fields, and reflect on your own strengths and values.
By the time you sit down to finalise your course list next summer, you’ll not only know more about what’s out there, you’ll know more about you.
Keeping your options open
While the CAO is the main route into third level education, it’s far from the only one.
Many students now pursue their goals through Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) courses, Apprenticeships, Traineeships, or Tertiary Degrees – all respected, fully accredited alternatives that can lead directly to employment or to degree-level study.
Each of these routes is applied for directly through providers, not through the CAO, but they can be done in parallel with your CAO application.
Importantly, choosing one doesn’t rule out the others – applying for the CAO doesn’t stop you from also applying for a PLC, Apprenticeship, or Traineeship, and many students do both.
Here’s a quick reminder of how these other pathways work:
- PLCs (Post-Leaving Cert courses) are full-time, one or two-year programmes that blend classroom learning with practical experience. They lead to QQI qualifications at Level 5 or 6 and can act as a bridge to work or to higher education – many students progress from a PLC to university without using Leaving Cert points.
- Apprenticeships combine paid work with structured learning, leading to nationally recognised qualifications from Levels 5 to 10 on the National Framework of Qualifications. Modern apprenticeships now include areas like ICT, finance, biopharma, and engineering, alongside the traditional craft trades.
- Traineeships blend classroom learning with substantial work placement, offering over 70 programmes across sectors from healthcare and media to logistics and horticulture. They’re free, flexible, and designed in partnership with employers.
- Tertiary Degrees are a newer route allowing students to start a degree in their local Education and Training Board (ETB) and progress seamlessly to a Higher Education Institution (HEI), without needing Leaving Cert points. Entry is based on your potential and career goals, not points, and progression is guaranteed once you complete each stage.
The exceptions: When early really matters
While there’s no need to hurry for most CAO applicants, a small number of courses and entry routes do have early deadlines that can’t be missed.
If you’re applying for a restricted course – one that requires an interview, audition, or portfolio – it must be listed on your initial CAO application by 5pm on February 1, 2026.
These courses cannot be added later during the Change of Mind period.
The same applies if you are a mature student or if you are applying through the DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) or HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) schemes.
You must have applied by 5pm on February 1, 2026, and by March 1 at 5pm you must tick the box stating you are applying for DARE/HEAR, and complete an additional online form.
Supporting documentation for HEAR and DARE must be posted to the CAO office by March 10, 2026.
The all-important Change of Mind facility ultimately closes at 5pm on July 1, 2026, but there are several time-blocks during which that facility will be available to you. See table above for details.
Every year students get tripped up through missed CAO deadlines. The CAO handbook is crystal clear about these timelines and deadlines, and it’s worth noting those key dates now.
The early-bird reduced fee (€35) application, opening on November 5, closes on January 20 2026 at 5pm.
The normal closing date is February 1 2026 at 5pm, (€50 fee), while late applications can be submitted from March 5 to May 1 (€65 fee), but restrictions as outlined above apply here.
My advice is to mark these dates: write them on your calendar, print them off and put them on your fridge, screenshot them onto your phone – whatever works best for you.
Knowing the CAO schedule and sticking to it is one of the simplest ways to remove stress later on.
Download the 2026 CAO Handbook here.
And remember, the CAO process is not something you have to navigate alone. Parents, teachers, and guidance counsellors can be invaluable in guiding you along the way.
The CAO website has explainer videos and demo application resources. This Guide for Parents and Guardians is an excellent resource too. See here for the recording of a Virtual Information Evening organised by the CAO in conjunction with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC).
Final thoughts
As the CAO opens this Wednesday, see it as the beginning of something – a small, practical first step towards whatever comes next.
Register, get your CAO number, securely store it and your password, and then give yourself permission to pause.
The months ahead are for exploring, visiting open days, asking questions, and seeing what feels right, whether that’s through the CAO or one of the many other excellent pathways.
This isn’t about locking yourself into a plan, it’s about giving yourself the space to make informed choices at your own pace.
Martina Mulhall, Gold Star Careers offers one-to-one or small group career advice, in-person or online, to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
Follow on Instagram for updates and reminders about all things careers, or head over to the website to book a personalised guidance session.
