Berufsausbildung: Zulassung zur Abschlussprüfung und Umschulungsprüfung

§§ 37ff., 43, 45, 58ff. Vocational Training Act (BBiG) in conjunction with §71ff. BBiG

Examinations within a training course are the intermediate examination, final examination and repeat examination(s) planned within the framework of the respective training regulations.

At the end of a recognised vocational training, e.g. in the craft, agricultural, commercial or industrial sector, a trainee must prove his professional skills. For this purpose, written, oral and practical examinations are carried out, usually as a final examination.
In order to be admitted to the final examination, the trainee must either have completed the training period or the training period must end no later than two months after the examination date. In addition, one must have taken the prescribed intermediate examination and have properly kept the evidence of formal qualifications. As a rule, the vocational training relationship must be entered in the register of vocational training relationships.

Further admission regulations for trainees are laid down in the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 43 and § 45. Persons who have been trained in a recognised training occupation at a vocational training institution are also admitted. In the case of appropriate achievements, trainees can also be admitted to the final examination after hearing before the end of their training period. External candidates and/or candidates without previous vocational training but with sufficient periods of professional activity are admitted according to special regulations.

If the final examination is not passed, it can be repeated twice. If the final examination consists of two separate parts, the first part of the final examination cannot be repeated independently.
Examination boards shall be set up by the competent authority to administer the final examination and the retraining examination.

If the candidate of a retraining examination submits an application, he is to be exempted from taking individual parts of the examination if he fulfils the following conditions: he has successfully passed another comparable examination before a public or state-recognised educational institution or before a state examination board. In addition, registration for the retraining examination must be made within five years of the announcement of passing the other examination.

As a result of the examinations, a written certificate is issued to the candidate.  

The examinations are free of charge for trainees, by statute the competent authorities can charge fees from the training companies. Possible fees for the supervision and implementation of examinations can be found in the fee tariffs of the competent chambers or in the special state law.

In order to be admitted to the final or retraining examination, timely registration is required. The boards shall fix the filing dates and publish them in an appropriate manner.

The final examination result will be communicated by the Audit Committee. The preliminary exam results of the written final examinations can usually be accessed online. For data protection reasons, the test results or examinee numbers may not be communicated by telephone.

Trainees are to be released to take part in examinations. For the period of release, the trainee will continue to receive the training allowance.

People with disabilities should already point out their special concerns when registering for the final examination, so that these can be taken into account when conducting the final examination. A medical opinion should be attached.

If the retraining regulations or a regulation of the competent authority stipulates admission requirements, foreign educational qualifications and periods of professional activity abroad are taken into account.  

If no independent jurisdiction is determined by ordinance, please contact the competent chamber. This can be, for example:

• the Chamber of Crafts for vocational training in occupations covered by the Crafts Code,
• the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for vocational training in non-craft trades (e.g. occupations in the fields of industry, commerce, banking, insurance, services and industrial-technical occupations),
• the Chamber of Agriculture for vocational training in agricultural and rural home economics occupations,
• the Chamber of Lawyers, Patent Attorneys and Notaries as well as the Notarial Fund for the vocational training of specialists in the field of administration of justice,
• the Chamber of Auditors and the Chamber of Tax Consultants for the vocational training of specialists in the field of auditing and tax consulting,
• the Chamber of Doctors, Dentists, Veterinarians and Pharmacists for the vocational training of specialists in the health professions.

Further responsibilities, e.g. for bodies under public law as well as for churches and other religious communities, are regulated in the BBiG § 72 to 75.

If there are no chambers for individual occupational areas, the Land law already lays down regulations concerning competence. In addition, chambers may, with the approval of the competent supreme federal or Land authority, agree on a special distribution of tasks among themselves. The competent chambers are responsible for the entire preparation of the examination. This includes, in particular, the publication of examination dates, admission to the examination, examination acceptance and the evaluation and announcement of examination results.