Vocational training support; application to the job center

General further education funding with the education voucher:

With an education voucher, the Jobcenter can cover all or part of the costs of your further vocational training. Before you receive an education voucher, the relevant Jobcenter will check with you whether further training is necessary for you.

You can redeem the education voucher at an educational institution of your choice if it is approved for further education funding.

The further education measure itself must also be approved and match the education voucher. The education voucher specifies, among other things

• the educational objective,
• the duration until the educational goal is achieved,
• the content of the qualification,
• the regional area of validity and
• the period of validity within which you must have redeemed the education voucher and started your participation.

The training voucher is generally valid at your place of residence and at locations that you can reach from home every day.

The training costs that the Jobcenter pays for you generally include

• Course costs and costs for the aptitude test,
• travel costs,
• Costs for accommodation and meals away from home,
• Costs for childcare.

Further training bonuses:

If you start further training to obtain a vocational qualification in a recognized training occupation, you will receive EUR 1,000 for passing an intermediate examination regulated by law or ordinance and EUR 1,500 for passing the final examination.

Further training allowance:

If you take part in qualification-oriented further training, you will receive a further training allowance of EUR 150 per month from 01.07.2023.

Citizen's allowance bonus:

If you take part in further vocational training (of at least 8 weeks) for which you are not entitled to a further training allowance, you will receive a citizen's allowance bonus of EUR 75 per month from 01.07.2023.

Subsequent acquisition of the secondary general school certificate:

Under certain conditions, the subsequent acquisition of a secondary general school certificate or equivalent qualification is also funded.

Funding for employees without a vocational qualification or with a vocational qualification that cannot be used (low-skilled workers):

If you do not yet have a vocational qualification or have not worked in the profession you have learned for more than 4 years and can no longer work in the profession you previously learned due to a change of profession, you will be supported in participating in further training measures to subsequently acquire a vocational qualification by covering the costs of further training.

These 4 years include

• Periods of employment in unskilled and semi-skilled work
• Unemployment
• Periods spent caring for relatives
• Periods spent bringing up children

If you are still in need of assistance under SGB II during the training period, you will continue to receive your citizen's allowance during the training period.

Acquisition of basic skills:

Basic skills in reading, writing, mathematics or information and communication technologies can be funded by your Jobcenter under certain conditions, provided these basic skills improve your employability on the job market or you would like to complete a vocational qualification afterwards.

Funding for employed workers:

The employment agency is responsible for this type of funding.

However, the relevant job center can advise you on further training for employees, especially if they work in occupations that can be replaced by technology or are otherwise affected by structural change or are seeking further training in a bottleneck occupation, i.e. an occupation in which there is a shortage of skilled workers.

Your employer must generally contribute to the costs of the training course. They can also receive wage subsidies while you are doing further training. The amount depends on the size of the company:

• Wage subsidies:
  • Up to 25 percent for companies with 250 or more employees,
  • up to 50 percent for small and medium-sized companies (10 to 249 employees) and
  • up to 75 percent for micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 employees).
• Grants towards training course costs:
  • 100 percent in micro-enterprises with up to 9 employees,
  • up to 50 percent in companies with up to 249 employees,
  • up to 25 percent in companies with 250 or more employees,
  • up to 15 percent for large companies with 2,500 or more employees,
  • up to 100 percent in small and medium-sized companies (up to 249 employees) for older employees (aged 45 and over) or employees with a severe disability.
• In addition, up to 15 percent higher subsidies for training course costs and wages if there is a collective agreement or a company agreement on professional qualification or in the case of special training needs.
• Assumption of the full course costs and a pay subsidy of up to 100 percent if low-skilled workers take part in further training with the aim of gaining a vocational qualification.

The costs for your further training can usually be covered if

• you have taken part in a consultation with the Jobcenter,
• the further training is necessary to end your unemployment, to make up for a missing vocational qualification or to avert imminent unemployment
• the individual employability is improved through the acquisition of extended professional skills and the further training is appropriate with regard to the labor market and
• the training measure and the training provider are approved for further training funding.

Funding is also possible for employees under certain conditions if

• the further training goes beyond exclusively job-related short-term adaptation training,
• the vocational qualification was obtained at least 4 years ago,
• you have not taken part in further vocational training funded by the employment agency or job center in the 4 years prior to submitting your application,
• the further training is carried out outside the company or by an approved provider in the company,
• lasts more than 120 hours,
• the provider and the measure are approved, and

you perform activities that can be replaced by technology or are otherwise affected by structural change or you would like to learn a bottleneck occupation.

If you are unemployed or at risk of unemployment or want to catch up on a vocational qualification, you can only initiate your further training support together with your integration specialist:

• To do this, make an appointment at the job center responsible for your place of residence. Optionally, you can send an online request to your job center.
• If you receive citizen's allowance, the job center in whose district you live is responsible. In a personal interview, it will be clarified whether you need additional qualifications in order to find a job as quickly as possible.
• Your integration specialist will then check whether you meet the requirements for support.
• Under certain circumstances, the Medical Service or the Occupational Psychology Service may also be involved in determining your suitability.
• Education voucher:
  • Your integration specialist will usually issue you with the education voucher directly during the consultation.
  • You choose a suitable training provider and course yourself and register.
• Before the course begins, the training provider confirms your acceptance onto the course on the training voucher and informs the Jobcenter. The Jobcenter then checks whether the course matches the education voucher and whether you meet the admission requirements. If this is the case, funding for further training is possible and you can start the course.
• You should already start applying for suitable job vacancies during the course.
• If you fall ill during the course, you must inform the Jobcenter and the training provider.
• You will continue to be supported by your responsible integration specialist during the course and will discuss the next steps in your job search with them, especially before the end of the further training measure.

If you are in employment, discuss your need for further training with your employer. Your employer will then contact the employment agency to discuss the next steps. Alternatively, you can contact your integration specialist at the job center yourself.

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