Anyone interested in further training after losing their job can get an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) from the responsible employment agency (Arbeitsagentur) in Germany. Life is a constant process of learning and developing new skills. There are now plenty of courses for which you can get an education voucher. Big cities have many companies offering continuing education courses. In rural areas, further training is harder, because you usually have to factor in the commute to the training center. That's why it pays to think carefully about which kind of training actually makes sense. The goal of further training is to get back into work or to move ahead in the job you already have.

There Is a Wide Range of Training Options

The internet offers a huge selection of different training programs. Many courses can also be completed online. To get a training program funded, both the provider and the course itself must be certified. For example, state-approved courses can help you improve your qualifications. If you work in healthcare and nursing, you can take courses in nutrition science, nutrition in specific life stages, or train as a workplace health manager or a case manager in healthcare. In IT and technology there are countless ways to build your skills, for example Applications Development Expert, IT Service Consultant, Operating Systems, Computer Networks and Distributed Systems, Data Modeling and Database Systems, Data Structures and the Java Class Library, IT Project Management, IT Service Management, Quality Assurance in the Software Process, Software Engineer, Web Development Expert, or Data Analytics and Big Data, plus many other areas. Since this sector keeps growing, even more options keep appearing. There are also plenty of training options in media and design as well as in marketing and sales. Such programs must be state-approved and certified to be recognized as continuing education. The employment agency only issues education vouchers if the courses meet these requirements.

Who Can Get an Education Voucher?

Unemployed people and employees can get an education voucher from the employment agency. People whose jobs are at risk of being lost can get one too. You only need to apply for the voucher at your local employment agency. You can also use it to make up for a missing vocational qualification, for example. A maximum of one company education voucher can be issued per employee per calendar year. To apply, you can book an appointment at your local employment agency. Your caseworker will check whether you meet the requirements for the voucher and what support you can receive. A personal consultation is required in order to get an education voucher. Once your training has been approved, the voucher is valid for three months. The training has to be carried out within that period, otherwise the voucher expires. In principle, any further training is worthwhile. If you are unemployed, you can also apply for retraining at the employment agency, the statutory accident insurance (Berufsgenossenschaft) or the pension insurance.