Internships and work placements in Colombia

In Colombia, an academic internship and an apprenticeship contract can bring you closer to a professional environment, but they do not operate under the same rules. The difference is especially important after the 2025 labor reform and its 2026 regulations: it is no longer correct to generally describe the apprenticeship contract as a relationship outside labor law.

What changed in the apprenticeship contract

The Law 2466 of 2025 amended Article 81 of the Substantive Labor Code. The apprenticeship contract is now defined as a special fixed-term employment contract, with a maximum duration of three years, linked to the training process.

In traditional training, the minimum support is 75% of a current legal monthly minimum wage during the classroom phase and 100% during the practical phase. In dual training, it is at least 75% during the first year and 100% during the second. For university students, the minimum is one monthly minimum wage, in the cases provided for by law.

During the practical phase or throughout dual training, enrollment in health, pension, and occupational risk coverage is provided, along with benefits and other applicable labor rights. In the classroom phase, the framework provides for health and occupational risk coverage paid by the company. The phase you are in changes the conditions.

Formative placement remains a separate arrangement

The Decree 223 of 2026 regulates work internships through formative placement and the apprenticeship contract. Formative placement retains an educational nature and does not in itself constitute an employment relationship. The student, the internship site, and the educational institution all take part.

It must be formalized in writing, with activities, period, responsible parties, and conditions. Its duration follows the academic program. The schedule must be shorter than both the entity's regular working hours and the legal maximum, and compatible with the educational process. The working hours of an employee in the area should not automatically be applied.

Under this arrangement, an internship allowance may be agreed, without it being mandatory as a general rule or having a salary nature. Do not confuse it with the minimum support required in the apprenticeship contract. Also request confirmation of enrollment in occupational risk coverage and of the party responsible for processing it under the applicable framework.

How to know which modality you are being offered

Start with the internship coordination office at your institution. Bring the call for applications and ask them to identify the document you must sign. If training is mentioned, ask how it fits into your program and what stage it covers. If it is a training-linked placement, confirm which academic requirement it fulfills.

A clear offer should explain the tasks, the supervision and the financial conditions before you join. Do not accept leaving those details pending a future conversation. The formal agreement should allow all three parties to understand the same experience.

If you had already signed before a regulatory change, request a review of the conditions in force for your case. Avoid using an old template downloaded from the internet as a definitive reference. Nor should you assume that all university internships were automatically converted into training contracts.

What tasks can contribute to your training

A useful internship connects knowledge from your degree with specific problems. To evaluate it, ask what you will do at first, what responsibilities will be added later and who will review the work. These examples describe possible activities, not open calls:

• Data Science: prepare information, document its quality and build an analysis reviewed by the responsible team.
• Education: develop materials, observe training processes and receive feedback on their suitability for the intended audience.
• Business Management: describe a procedure, identify delays and propose justified improvements.
• Law: carry out activities authorized by the institution under the corresponding scheme. Clerkships and other specific requirements must be reviewed separately.

The variety of tasks does not guarantee learning if no one explains criteria or reviews results. A limited activity can also be valuable when it allows you to understand a complete process and improve based on specific observations.

How to prepare an application

Select opportunities compatible with your academic progress and check your institution's channels first. If you participate in a SENA program, verify the procedure at your training center. Always use the official call for applications to confirm documents, stages and dates.

Submit a brief resume that distinguishes education, projects and experience. For each relevant project, explain the problem, your participation and the tools used. If you have not worked before, you can show organization and learning ability through real academic experiences.

Prepare questions for the interview: who your mentor will be, how many people are on the team, what follow-up meetings you will have and what deliverable they expect at the end. Also ask if you must travel, use your own equipment or work with confidential information.

Documents and conditions worth reviewing

Read the full document before signing and keep a copy. Check the identity of the parties, modality, dates, schedule, location, duties, supervision, payment when applicable and protection against risks. If there is a condition you do not understand, ask for clarification in writing.

Organize a folder with the activity plan, evaluations and relevant communications. A brief weekly log can help you prepare the final report: note what you did, what difficulty you encountered and what you learned from your mentor's feedback.

Protect the organization's information. Before adding a report, a database or a piece to your portfolio, request permission. You can describe the method used without disclosing personal data or materials subject to confidentiality.

What to do if the experience does not match what was agreed

Inform your academic mentor about changes in duties, lack of support or schedule problems. Present specific facts and keep the responses. If the difficulty affects payments, affiliation or rights under an apprenticeship contract, also consult the official labor support channels.

Before finishing, request an evaluation and the corresponding certification. Beyond completing a requirement, use that feedback to decide what type of tasks interest you and what knowledge you need to strengthen for your next experience.

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