Beamter/Beamtin bei der Sozialversicherung (gehobener nichttechnischer Dienst)

Learning locations include: Universities of Applied Sciences/Colleges for Public Administration (Fachhochschulen/Hochschulen für öffentliche Verwaltung): lecture halls, seminar and practice rooms, libraries. Social security institutions and public authorities: offices. Home (e.g., for preparing and reviewing courses, completing assignments).

Amendment to the Federal Civil Service Regulations: The new Federal Civil Service Regulations (Bundeslaufbahnverordnung) came into force on March 17, 2026. They open up needs-oriented special access routes to counteract the shortage of skilled workers. A key focus of the reform is, among other things, the equalisation of vocational and academic education. For example, access for individuals with vocational advanced training qualifications such as Bachelor Professional or Master Professional is now also possible in the higher technical administrative service and in the higher scientific service.

Occupation Type: Civil service training; different career designations exist in individual Bundesländer (federal states). Type of Training: Studium (university studies) at Universities of Applied Sciences/Colleges for Public Administration (Fachhochschulen/Hochschulen für öffentliche Verwaltung), practical study phases at social security institutions and public authorities. Qualification: Bachelor or Diplom. Duration: 3 years. Tasks and Activities: Civil servants in the higher social security service process applications and decide, for example, on claims for contribution refunds, old-age pensions, survivor's pensions, or benefits from accident or long-term care insurance. They clarify insurance histories, carry out pension adjustments, and formulate pension or rejection notices. They also advise citizens on social security matters, for example, regarding insurance benefits after an accident or in case of need for long-term care. Civil servants are also involved in conceptual tasks and, for example, design contracts between social security institutions and hospitals and doctors or audit employers.

3 years

A selection process (Auswahlverfahren) usually takes place. The examinations cover, for example, the following areas: general knowledge, mathematical understanding, fundamental ability to deal with laws, language comprehension, concentration ability, social competence.

Structure of a Bachelor's degree program in the higher social security service: 1st and 2nd trimester - specialist studies at a University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration (Fachhochschule/Hochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung): 8 months. 3rd and 4th trimester - practice-integrated study phases, e.g., in departments of social security institutions, and specialist studies at a University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration: 8 months. 5th and 6th trimester - practice-integrated study phases, e.g., in departments of social security institutions, and specialist studies at a University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration: 8 months. 7th trimester - practice-integrated study phases, e.g., in departments of social security institutions: 4 months. 8th trimester - specialist studies at a University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration and Bachelor's thesis: 4 months. 9th trimester - Bachelor's thesis and practice-integrated study phases, e.g., in departments of social security institutions: 4 months. Total Studium (university studies) duration: 3 years.

Studium (university studies) fees are not charged. However, travel expenses or costs for learning materials may arise. If accommodation is provided at the educational institutions, additional costs may also be incurred.

The Studium (university studies) content is organized in modules. Theoretical study sections include law (social law, general administrative law, occupational and private pension law), administrative science (administrative theory, information and communication technology), economics (administrative business administration, national economics, public finance), and social sciences (sociology, political science, work, organizational, and social psychology). Practical study sections provide professional knowledge and experience.

During theoretical Studium (university studies) sections, one should attend lectures and seminars, participate in practical exercises (e.g., projects related to social insurance law), and work independently (preparing for and reviewing courses, researching in libraries, preparing presentations, writing papers). During practical Studium (university studies) sections, one will assist with business processes and advise citizens on social insurance matters under supervision. Performance records are required throughout the entire Studium (university studies).

The monthly gross Anwärtergrundbetrag (basic salary for candidates) for federal authorities is 1,744 Euros. An exemplary monthly gross Anwärtergrundbetrag for state (Bundesland) authorities is 1,549 Euros. In addition to the Anwärtergrundbetrag, the Anwärterbezüge (candidate allowances) include capital-forming benefits, and possibly family allowances and other bonuses, remunerations, and surcharges. Sources: Bundesbesoldungsgesetz (BBesG) and Landesbesoldungsgesetze.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects are good prerequisites for a successful Studium (university studies): German (e.g., for preparing and giving presentations), Economics/Law (e.g., as a basis for legal and economic Studium (university studies) content), and Mathematics (e.g., for calculating benefit entitlements of statutory pension insurance).

Alternatives for the profession of civil servant in the higher social insurance service include: civil servant in social administration, civil servant in general internal administration, civil servant in tax administration, civil servant in digital administration, or Studium (university studies) in administrative management/public management, all in the higher service. A commonality is processing, analyzing, and structuring administrative procedures. In the field of money, insurance, and real estate, alternatives include: civil servant in agricultural social insurance, Studium (university studies) in social insurance, or Studium (university studies) in insurance business administration. A commonality here is examining and processing insurance-related matters.

Examples include: Management Social Security (Pension Insurance) (Bachelor), Pension Insurance (Bachelor), Social Insurance (Bachelor), Social Insurance Law (Bachelor).

The Bologna Process began in 1999, aiming to reform the European higher education landscape by creating a unified European Higher Education Area, harmonizing study programs and degrees (introducing Bachelor's and Master's degrees), and improving the mobility of students and lecturers. From 2000 onwards, Diplom (former degree) programs were gradually converted into Bachelor's programs at the federal and most state (Bundesland) levels.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in the higher social insurance service is conducted as a Vorbereitungsdienst (preparatory service) and lasts 3 years. It is typically organized as a Bachelor's Studium (university study) and regulated by federal or state (Bundesland) ordinances. The training concludes with a career and Bachelor's examination.

This Studium (university study) is regulated by federal and state (Bundesland) laws and leads to the following degree/professional titles: Federal level, Brandenburg: Bachelor of Laws - Social Insurance Law (LL.B. - Sozialversicherungsrecht). Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia: Bachelor of Laws - Pension Insurance (LL.B. - Rentenversicherung). Bavaria: Diplom-Verwaltungswirt/Diplom-Verwaltungswirtin (FH) (Diploma in Public Administration from a University of Applied Sciences). Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony: Bachelor of Laws - Management Social Security - Focus on Pension Insurance (LL.B. - Management Soziale Sicherheit - Schwerpunkt Rentenversicherung). Hesse: Bachelor of Laws - Social Administration - Pension Insurance (LL.B. - Sozialverwaltung - Rentenversicherung), Bachelor of Arts - Social Insurance - Focus on Accident Insurance (B.A. Sozialversicherung - Schwerpunkt Unfallversicherung). Rhineland-Palatinate: Bachelor of Arts - Administration - Focus on Pension Insurance (B.A. - Verwaltung - Schwerpunkt Rentenversicherung), Bachelor of Arts - Social Insurance - Focus on Accident Insurance.

After their studies, civil servants in the higher social insurance service work for social insurance providers and authorities, such as offices of the German Pension Insurance, the Artists' Social Security Fund, or the Federal and Railway Accident Insurance. To stay updated, one can pursue adaptive further training, covering topics from insurance to finance and accounting. With suitable qualifications, civil servants in the higher social insurance service have the opportunity to advance to the next higher career path after a successful promotion procedure. Furthermore, pursuing a master's degree in administrative management or public management, for example, can also be considered.

The Studium (university study) for civil service careers is regulated by federal and state (Bundesland) ordinances, which may differ from each other. At the federal level, there is the Ordinance on the Preparatory Service for the Higher Non-Technical Service of the Federation in Social Insurance (GntDSVVDV) of 17.10.2024 (BGBl. 2024 I No. 330). At the state level, there is the Ordinance of the Ministry of Social Affairs on Training and Examination for the Higher Administrative Service in Statutory Pension Insurance (APrORV gD) of 21.08.2015 (BW.GBl. S. 793), last amended by Article 62 of the Law of 10.02.2026 (BW.GBl. No. 20) in Baden-Württemberg. In Bavaria, there is the Ordinance on the Professional Focus Social Administration (FachV-SozVerw) of 07.01.2013 (Bay.GVBl. S. 11), (Bay.GVBl. S. 286), last amended by § 2 of the Ordinance of 17.04.2025 (Bay.GVBl. S. 127). Additionally, there is an ordinance on training and examination for the higher non-technical service.

The prerequisite for this Ausbildung (vocational training) is a Fachhochschulreife (qualification for universities of applied sciences) or allgemeine Hochschulreife (general university entrance qualification), or a comparable educational qualification.