The HETAC One-Year Certificate is a subdegree qualification

Professional certification

Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task...

 offered by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council

Higher Education and Training Awards Council

The Higher Education and Training Awards Council , the legal successor to the National Council for Educational Awards , grants higher education awards in Ireland in the extra-university system...

 as a one year full time course in a specific discipline, below the standard of the National Certificate

National Certificate

National Certificate is the name of an educational award in a number of countries, although the actual merit of award is not always the same.-Ireland:...

 or National Diploma

National Diploma

The National Diploma was a three year ab initio specialised higher education qualification in a technology discipline offered by an Institute of Technology or other HETAC designated institution in Ireland....

.

The certificate is classified as an introductory, foundation or skills based qualification which is used to give a student a general understanding of a specific discipline, and introduce key concepts. The certificate prepares a student for work or further study, but most likely the former.