Assistent/Assistentin für Maschinenbautechnik

Assistants in Mechanical Engineering Technology receive school-based training. Learning takes place at vocational schools/colleges (Berufsfachschule/Berufskolleg) in classrooms and the school's own workshops, and at internship companies in workshops and production halls, for example, of mechanical engineering or metal production and processing companies.

This is a vocational training (Ausbildung) occupation. The training is school-based at vocational schools (Berufsfachschulen) and vocational colleges (Berufskollegs), regulated by state (Bundesland) law. The training duration is 24 months, potentially extending to 36-39 months with additional qualifications. Learning locations are vocational colleges and internship companies. In this profession, assistants in mechanical engineering technology support engineers and technical managers in the development, operation, and optimization of machines and mechanical production processes. They contribute to the detailed designs of machine systems, commission machines, program, operate, and maintain them. In production planning and control, they create technical documents, determine requirements for production resources and materials, optimize production processes, and ensure their smooth operation. For this, they apply quality inspection procedures and adjust production parameters if necessary. They can also work in the service sector, in customer consulting and support.

The job title is Assistant in Mechanical Engineering Technology. This is a vocational school (Berufsfachschule) occupation. The training duration is 2 years. A secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss) is usually required. In this profession, assistants in mechanical engineering technology support engineers and technical managers in the development, operation, and optimization of machines and mechanical production processes. They contribute to the detailed designs of machine systems, commission machines, program, operate, and maintain them. In production planning and control, they create technical documents, determine requirements for production resources and materials, optimize production processes, and ensure their smooth operation. For this, they apply quality inspection procedures and adjust production parameters if necessary. They can also work in the service sector, in customer consulting and support. Assistants in mechanical engineering technology can work in various locations.

The training duration is 2 years. With the acquisition of a university of applied sciences entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife) or a general university entrance qualification (allgemeine Hochschulreife), it is 36-39 months.

Vocational schools (Berufsfachschulen) and vocational colleges (Berufskollegs) select applicants according to their own criteria. Generally, importance is placed on an average grade of at least 3.4 in mathematics, English, and German. No grade worse than 5 is permitted in any of these subjects.

Time guidelines according to the KMK 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 vocational school ordinances of the states (Bundesland). Example for the distribution of hours for compulsory instruction: 1. Cross-Occupational Learning Area: German/Communication: 80 hours, Religious Education: 80 hours, Sports/Health Promotion: 80 hours, Politics/Social Studies: 80 hours. Total cross-occupational learning area: 360 hours. 2. Occupation-Specific Learning Area: Mechanical Engineering Technology: 400-560 hours, Construction and Manufacturing Technology: 480-560 hours, Physics: 240-320 hours, Information Technology: 240-320 hours, other subjects (e.g., CNC Technology, electrical machines and drives, production planning systems, materials technology): at least 240 hours, Mathematics: 80 hours, Economics: 80 hours, English: 80 hours. Company internships: at least 8 weeks. Occupation-specific learning area.

Ausbildung (vocational training) at public schools is generally free for students, but admission and examination fees may apply. Private schools, on the other hand, usually charge course fees. Additionally, further costs may arise, for example, for learning materials, professional or protective clothing, travel to the training facility, or external accommodation. Under certain conditions, students participating in vocational training can receive funding under the Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (BAföG). For more information, please refer to BAföG.

During theoretical and practical lessons, you will learn, for example, how to assess metals, alloys, plastics, and operating materials with regard to their properties and intended use, observing relevant standards. You will learn how to manually and mechanically process metals and other materials, determine manufacturing data for CNC production, create and optimize programs for CNC-controlled machines, select components and assemble them into modules, read and create technical drawings, and perform design tasks using CAD applications. You will also learn about the properties of different materials and how these properties are tested and measured, the structure and use of job-related machines and devices, and the important connections between electrical engineering, information technology, and control and regulation technology in mechanical engineering, as well as how to evaluate and document work and test results.

You should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: In theoretical lessons, instruction takes place in a classroom setting, possibly with project work and content review at home. In school workshops and during internships, practical work is performed under supervision, such as preparing parts and material lists, providing materials, and creating error statistics. The environment may include office spaces at a screen, workshops and production halls with machine noise, and laboratories with artificial lighting. Protective clothing (e.g., safety shoes, lab coat, hearing protection, safety glasses) may be required depending on the work area. Working hours can involve shift work in production companies. Requirements include diligence (e.g., when designing with CAD systems), manual dexterity (e.g., when converting or repairing machines), technical understanding (e.g., when performing systematic troubleshooting and fault rectification on machines and systems), and spatial reasoning (e.g., when creating detailed designs).

For Ausbildung (vocational training) abroad, the following options are available, for example: In Austria, AMS Ausbildungskompass (e.g., with the search term 'Maschinenbautechnik') and WIFI Austria (e.g., with the search term 'Maschinenbautechnik') offer training programs.

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

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects is a good prerequisite for successful Ausbildung (vocational training): Physics (e.g., to understand the function of electrical systems), Computer Science (e.g., to control systems with CNC programs), Mathematics (e.g., to calculate constructions), Manual Arts/Technology (e.g., to perform metal processing correctly), German/English (e.g., to create documents for production planning).

The following Ausbildung (vocational training) alternatives are available for the profession of Assistant for Mechanical Engineering Technology: In the field of mechanical and plant engineering, a production technologist contributes to the development of production machines, prepares and monitors their use. In the field of development, construction, and CAD, a technical product designer specializing in mechanical and plant construction or a technical system planner specializing in steel and metal construction contributes to the development and construction of machines, and graphically represents parts.

Assistant for Mechanical Engineering Technology is a school-based Ausbildung (vocational training) regulated by state law at Berufsfachschulen (vocational schools) and Berufskollegs (vocational colleges). It typically lasts 24 months, possibly 36-39 months, and concludes with a state examination.

This Ausbildung (vocational training) is legally regulated only in the mentioned Bundesländer (federal states) and leads to the following qualification titles there: In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: 'State-Certified Engineering Assistant - Specializing in Machine Technology'; in Nordrhein-Westfalen: 'State-Certified Mechanical Engineering Technical Assistant' or 'State-Certified Assistant for Construction and Manufacturing Technology'.

Prospective assistants can improve their chances during the Ausbildung (vocational training) by acquiring additional qualifications, such as the Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification) or the general Hochschulreife (university entrance qualification) as a basis for a later Studium (university degree). After their Ausbildung, assistants in mechanical engineering technology work, for example, in companies in mechanical and plant engineering, in engineering offices for technical planning, or at research institutes active in the field of engineering sciences. Through adaptive further training (Anpassungsweiterbildung), one can keep their specialist knowledge current or bring it up to date. The range of topics extends from mechanical and plant engineering to maintenance and repair. Career advancement (Aufstiegsweiterbildung) helps to progress professionally and reach leadership positions.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in Nordrhein-Westfalen lasts 24-39 months. For a State-Certified Mechanical Engineering Technical Assistant: 36 months (with access via a secondary school leaving certificate (Fachoberschulreife), including acquisition of Fachhochschulreife); 24 months (with access via (Fach-)Hochschulreife). For a State-Certified Assistant for Construction and Manufacturing Technology: 39 months (with acquisition of the general Hochschulreife (Abitur)).

During the theoretical and practical lessons for 'State-Certified Mechanical Engineering Technical Assistant' in Nordrhein-Westfalen, knowledge is imparted in the following areas: Occupation-related learning area (subjects of the technical focus in mechanical engineering technology, construction and manufacturing technology, physics, information technology, other subjects (e.g., CNC technology, 3D-CAD systems, production planning systems, quality management), mathematics, economics, English), company internships, cross-occupational learning area (German/communication, religious education, sports/health promotion, politics/social studies), differentiation area (possibility for supplementing, expanding, and deepening individual knowledge, skills, and abilities). For 'State-Certified Assistant for Construction and Manufacturing Technology', knowledge is imparted in the occupation-related learning area in mechanical engineering technology, mathematics, physics, construction, and manufacturing technology.

The duration of the Ausbildung (vocational training) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is 2 years.

Legal regulations for this Ausbildung are set at the federal level. The framework agreement of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs from September 30, 2011 (as amended on March 21, 2024) governs the training and examination for state-certified technical assistants and commercial assistants at Berufsfachschulen (vocational schools). This framework agreement is not directly applicable law; individual Bundesländer (federal states) regulate assistant training in their school or Berufsfachschule ordinances based on this agreement. In some federal states, such as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the training is regulated by state law (e.g., the HBFSVO M-V ordinance from December 21, 2000, last amended on October 5, 2005).

At least a secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss) is required for this Ausbildung. Further prerequisites may apply depending on the educational program.

During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in the following areas: The interdisciplinary learning area includes German, social studies, religion or philosophy, and sports. The job-related learning area covers analyzing, planning, and applying business processes; evaluating selected metals, alloys, plastics, and operating materials regarding their properties and intended use, observing relevant standards; performing test procedures for lengths, surface roughness, and form and position tolerances and evaluating test results; explaining the structure, function, and use of job-related devices and machines and their appropriate deployment; manual and machine processing of selected metals, alloys, and plastics; determining manufacturing data for CNC production; creating and optimizing CNC programs for milling and turning parts at the simulation workstation and on the machine tool; as well as selecting and joining techniques.

In Nordrhein-Westfalen, the educational prerequisites for training are: For a state-certified mechanical engineering technical assistant, a 3-year Berufsfachschule (vocational school) program requires a secondary school leaving certificate (Fachoberschulreife) or eligibility to attend the upper secondary level of Gymnasium. A 2-year Berufsfachschule program requires a university entrance qualification (Hochschulreife) or the school-based part of the Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification). For a state-certified assistant for construction and manufacturing technology, a dual-qualification program at a vocational Gymnasium requires eligibility to attend the upper secondary level of Gymnasium.

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the educational prerequisites for training are a secondary school leaving certificate (Mittlere Reife) or eligibility to attend the upper secondary level of Gymnasium.