Assistent/Assistentin für Informatik (allgemeine Informatik)

Assistants for Informatics (general informatics) receive school-based Ausbildung (vocational training). Learning locations include Berufskolleg (vocational college): classrooms (classroom instruction), school's own computer labs, and internship companies: office spaces, e.g., of software and database providers, IT service providers.

Occupation Type: Ausbildung (vocational training) occupation. Type of Training: School-based Ausbildung at Berufskollegs (vocational colleges) (regulated by state law). Training Duration: 2 or 3 years. Learning Locations: Berufskolleg (vocational college) and internship company. What does one do in this profession? Assistants for Informatics (general informatics) undertake tasks in application development, system administration and support, or user support. In coordination with other IT specialists, they implement application programs, design multimedia applications, program internet solutions, design and maintain databases, and adapt standard software to user needs. Furthermore, they install and configure networks, maintain system software components, and design user interfaces. They participate in the creation of security concepts and perform data backups. Based on system analyses and customer requirements, they specify the requirements for the IT systems and programs to be created.

Job Title: Assistant for Informatics (general informatics). Occupation Type: Vocational college occupation. Training Duration: 2 or 3 years. Admission Requirement: Usually a secondary school leaving certificate or general university entrance qualification. What does one do in this profession? Assistants for Informatics (general informatics) undertake tasks in application development, system administration and support, or user support. In coordination with other IT specialists, they implement application programs, design multimedia applications, program internet solutions, design and maintain databases, and adapt standard software to user needs. Furthermore, they install and configure networks, maintain system software components, and design user interfaces. They participate in the creation of security concepts and perform data backups. Based on system analyses and customer requirements, they specify the requirements for the IT systems to be created.

2 or 3 years

Recommended time values according to KMK-Vereinbarung (Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs agreement): Cross-occupational learning area: 320 hours. Occupation-specific learning area: 2,240 hours. Total hours: 2,560 hours. The division into subjects, learning fields, or projects is regulated in the Berufsfachschulverordnungen (vocational college regulations) of the Bundesland (federal state). Example for the distribution of hours: Compulsory instruction: Cross-occupational learning area: German/Communication: 80 hours. Religious Education: 80 hours. Sports/Health Promotion: 80 hours. Politics/Social Studies: 80 hours. Occupation-specific learning area: Profile subjects of the training program (Operating Systems/Networks, Databases, Media Technology/Media Design or Software): 1,840 - 2,320 hours. Mathematics: 80 hours. Economics: 80 hours. English: 80 hours. Company internships: at least 8 weeks. Differentiation area: 0 - 480 hours. Total hours: 2,880 hours.

Ausbildung (vocational training) at public schools is generally free for students, but enrollment and examination fees may apply. Private schools, on the other hand, usually charge course fees. Additional costs may arise, e.g., for learning materials, travel to the training institution, or external accommodation. Funding opportunities: Under certain conditions, students participating in vocational training can receive funding according to the Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (BAföG) (Federal Training Assistance Act). Further information: The BAföG: all information at a glance.

During theoretical and practical lessons, one learns, for example, how to analyze, plan, build, commission, and network IT systems; how to develop and adapt application software; how databases are planned, created, and maintained; how to ensure the energy supply for IT systems; how to analyze operational processes and workflows; how to analyze, build, connect to IT systems, program, and commission automation systems; and which regulations regarding data protection and security must be observed. During the Ausbildung (vocational training), general subjects such as German, economics, and social studies are also taught. During internships, theoretical content is implemented and applied in an office environment. Students gain insight into business operations, gather experience in typical professional working methods, and obtain an overview of the company's structure and operational organization. Additional knowledge may be acquired depending on the offerings.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: In theoretical lessons, instruction takes place in a classroom setting, possibly involving project work and reviewing content at home. In school's own classrooms and during internships, practical work (under guidance) includes, for example, developing software, adapting standard software, providing user support, and training users. The work environment involves screen work in offices, and changing workplaces and conditions in field service. Working hours can be irregular (in user support). Requirements include technical understanding and spatial reasoning (e.g., implementing technical sketches when planning and setting up networks), creativity and perseverance (e.g., programming application programs, carrying out lengthy programming tasks), meticulousness (e.g., when configuring databases), verbal expression skills (e.g., supporting users with application problems in support), and willingness to learn (e.g., staying informed about the latest developments).

For an Ausbildung (vocational training) abroad, the following options are available: In Austria, for example, WIFI Österreich (e.g., with the search term "Informatik"), and in France, onisep - French Ausbildung (vocational training) database (e.g., via free text search with the search term "assistant/assistante informatique").

No remuneration is paid for this Ausbildung (vocational training).

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects are good prerequisites for a successful Ausbildung (vocational training): Informatik (Computer Science): e.g., for software applications and programming languages; Mathematik (Mathematics): e.g., to understand complex relationships in programming; Englisch (English): e.g., to deal with English-language computer programs.

The following Ausbildung (vocational training) alternatives are available for the profession of Assistent/Assistentin für Informatik (allgemeine Informatik): In the field of hardware and software development: Assistent/Assistentin für Informatik (Softwaretechnik), Assistent/Assistentin für Informatik (technische Informatik), Assistent/Assistentin für Informatik (Wirtschaftsinformatik), Assistent/Assistentin für Informatik (Medieninformatik), Fachinformatiker/Fachinformatikerin Fachrichtung Anwendungsentwicklung, Kaufmännischer Assistent/Wirtschaftsassistent / Kaufmännische Assistentin/Wirtschaftsassistentin - Betriebsinformatik, Mathematisch-technischer Softwareentwickler/Mathematisch-technische Softwareentwicklerin. Commonality: Developing, programming, testing, and installing software. In the field of networking, data and information security: Fachinformatiker/Fachinformatikerin Fachrichtung Daten- und Prozessanalyse, Fachinformatiker/Fachinformatikerin Fachrichtung Digitale Vernetzung. Commonality: Developing software for networked systems or processes.

Assistant for Informatics (general informatics) is a school-based Ausbildung (vocational training) regulated by state law at Berufskollegs (vocational colleges). It lasts 2-3 years and leads to a state-recognized final examination.

This Ausbildung (vocational training) is legally regulated only in the mentioned Bundesland (federal state) and leads to the following qualification: North Rhine-Westphalia: State-Certified Computer Scientist.

Improve your chances with additional qualifications: Future assistants for informatics can improve their chances during their Ausbildung (vocational training) by acquiring additional qualifications, such as the Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification) as a basis for a later Studium (university degree). Find the right employment: After their Ausbildung, assistants for informatics work in software and hardware consulting, software development, or for software publishers. Secure employability: Through adaptation training, one can keep their specialized knowledge current or bring it up to date. The range of topics extends from software development and programming to IT security and data protection. Advance professionally: Further training for advancement helps to progress professionally and achieve leadership positions. It is advisable to take an examination as a Bachelor Professional in Business Informatics. Further career opportunities can be achieved with a university qualification.

2 or 3 years. 3 years (access with a secondary school leaving certificate (Fachoberschulreife)). 2 years (access with a (Fach-)Hochschulreife (university or university of applied sciences entrance qualification)).

During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in the following areas, for example: Profession-related learning area: Databases, Operating Systems/Networks, Microprocessor Technology, Software, Internet Applications, Multimedia, Mathematics, Economics, English. Interdisciplinary learning area: German/Communication, Politics/Social Studies, Religious Education, Sports/Health Promotion. Differentiation area: Second Foreign Language, Electrical Engineering, Physics. Internship: An internship is completed during the Ausbildung (vocational training).

Regulation at state level: The Ausbildung (vocational training) is regulated by state law in the following Bundesland (federal state): Ordinance on training and examination in the educational programs of the Berufskolleg (Ausbildungs- und Prüfungsordnung Berufskolleg - APO-BK) of May 26, 1999 (GV. NRW. S. 240, ber. GV. NRW. 2000 S. 563, GV. NRW. 2001 S. 766), last amended by Article 3 of the ordinance of January 29, 2026 (GV. NRW. S. 130). There are no state law regulations in the following Bundesländer (federal states): Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia.

For this Ausbildung (vocational training), a secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss) or university entrance qualification (Hochschulreife) is generally required. Additional prerequisites may apply depending on the specific training program.

In the Bundesland (federal state) of Nordrhein-Westfalen, the educational prerequisites for this Ausbildung are: for the 3-year training program, a secondary school leaving certificate (Fachoberschulreife) or eligibility to attend the upper secondary school level; for the 2-year training program, a university entrance qualification (Hochschulreife) or the school-based part of the Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification) is required.