Beamter/Beamtin beim Bundesnachrichtendienst (mittlerer nichttechnischer Dienst)

Learning locations are: Centre for Intelligence Training and Further Education (Zentrum für Nachrichtendienstliche Aus- und Fortbildung): Classrooms (classroom-based instruction). Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst) departments: Offices.

Occupation type: Civil service training (Beamtenausbildung). Type of training: Preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst), regulated by federal ordinances. Duration of preparatory service: 2 years. Learning locations: Centre for Intelligence Training and Further Education, Federal Intelligence Service departments. What does one do in this profession? Civil servants in the intermediate service at the Federal Intelligence Service undertake tasks in the areas of information gathering, evaluation, and administration. The Federal Intelligence Service is the foreign intelligence service of the Federal Republic of Germany. On behalf of the federal government, it obtains and analyzes information about developments in other states that are of foreign and security policy importance for the Federal Republic of Germany. In operational intelligence gathering, civil servants in the intermediate service at the Federal Intelligence Service support their colleagues in the higher and senior service, who recruit and manage individuals with access to secret foreign intelligence.

Job title: Civil servant in the intermediate service at the Federal Intelligence Service. Occupation type: Civil service training (Beamtenausbildung)/Preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst). Training duration: 2 years. Entry requirement: Usually a secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss) or a basic secondary school leaving certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) and a beneficial completed vocational training (Berufsausbildung) in the commercial or administrative field. What does one do in this profession? Civil servants in the intermediate service at the Federal Intelligence Service undertake tasks in the areas of information gathering, evaluation, and administration. The Federal Intelligence Service is the foreign intelligence service of the Federal Republic of Germany. On behalf of the federal government, it obtains and analyzes information about developments in other states that are of foreign and security policy importance for the Federal Republic of Germany. In operational intelligence gathering, civil servants in the intermediate service at the Federal Intelligence Service support their colleagues in the higher and senior service.

2 years.

The selection process consists of a written and an oral part. In the written part, which comprises up to three performance tests, cognitive abilities and the ability to reliably comprehend a text are particularly examined. The oral part consists of a semi-structured interview and a maximum of two additional tasks (e.g., presentation, simulation task, group task, group discussion) and serves to test the applicants' motivation, social competence, and communication behavior. Furthermore, a security clearance according to the Security Clearance Act (Sicherheitsüberprüfungsgesetz - SÜG) takes place.

Structure of the preparatory service in the intermediate service at the Federal Intelligence Service: Basic course at the Centre for Intelligence Training and Further Education (ZNAF): 3 months. Internship I (including practice-oriented courses) at the Federal Intelligence Service: 4 months. Advanced course at the Centre for Intelligence Training and Further Education (ZNAF): 3 months. Internship II (including practice-oriented courses) at the Federal Intelligence Service: 10 months. Final course at the Centre for Intelligence Training and Further Education (ZNAF): 4 months. Career examination (Laufbahnprüfung). Total training duration: 24 months.

No tuition fees or course fees are charged for the Ausbildung (vocational training). However, travel costs or expenses for learning materials may arise. Costs for accommodation at the training location may also be incurred.

During the theoretical training, one acquires knowledge in areas such as operational procurement and observation, intelligence information analysis, constitutional, administrative, and criminal law, laws concerning intelligence services and other intelligence-related laws, international politics and forms of political extremism, security fields with intelligence relevance (especially self-protection, secrecy protection, and counter-espionage), intelligence psychology, foreign language training, and budget, treasury, and accounting. During the practical training, one learns about the essential tasks, organization, and working methods of the Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst). Practice-oriented courses deepen the knowledge acquired in theoretical training and internships, in close relation to practical application.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: During the theoretical training phases: classroom instruction, possibly project work, and reviewing content at home. During the practical training phases: practical work (under guidance), e.g., sifting through and analyzing information, forwarding it in the form of reports, answering phone calls. Practice-oriented courses deepen professional knowledge. Requirements include diligence (e.g., accurate, error-free evaluation of news and information), sense of responsibility and willingness (acting in compliance with various regulations and legal requirements such as data protection and personal rights), discretion (e.g., maintaining silence about acquired data towards external persons), and willingness to learn (e.g., staying up-to-date on the latest developments in technical intelligence gathering).

The monthly gross basic salary for candidates in federal authorities is 1,473 Euros (Source: dbb beamtenbund und tarifunion, as of March 2024). In addition to the basic salary, candidate allowances include capital-forming benefits, and possibly family allowances and other bonuses, remunerations, and surcharges.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects is a good prerequisite for successful Ausbildung (vocational training): German (essential for creating protocols and reports), Mathematics (required for knowledge in budget, treasury, and accounting), Politics/Social Studies (important for procuring and evaluating foreign news considering political circumstances, especially international politics), English (mastery of one or more foreign languages, especially English, is essential for working in a foreign intelligence service like the Federal Intelligence Service).

The following Ausbildung (vocational training) alternatives are available for the profession of civil servant in the middle service at the Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst): In the field of Law and Administration: Civil Servant in the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (middle service), Police Officer in the middle non-technical service, Police Officer in the Federal Police (middle non-technical service), Civil Servant in the middle customs service, Civil Servant in the Foreign Service (middle service), Administrative Assistant specializing in federal administration, Administrative Assistant specializing in municipal administration, Administrative Assistant specializing in state administration. Commonality: processing administrative procedures. In the field of Protection and Security: Civil Servant for the middle technical service of federal signal and electronic intelligence. Commonality: procurement and analysis of intelligence information.

In 2019, a new regulation was introduced for the intermediate service in the Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst). With the regulation of August 9, 2019, the career training (Ausbildung) for the intermediate non-technical administrative service of the Federal Intelligence Service and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz) were merged. Since then, the 'Intelligence Services' career path has been offered in the specializations 'Federal Intelligence Service' and 'Protection of the Constitution'.

The training (Ausbildung) for the intermediate service at the Federal Intelligence Service is a 2-year preparatory service. It is regulated by federal ordinances and leads to a career examination.

Career title: Civil Servant - Federal Intelligence Service (intermediate service). Note: The responsible authority determines whether the career path is offered as a training (Ausbildung).

After their training (Ausbildung), civil servants in the intermediate service at the Federal Intelligence Service work at the headquarters and in the domestic or foreign service offices of the Federal Intelligence Service. Through adaptive further training (Anpassungsweiterbildung), one keeps their professional knowledge current or brings it up to date. The range of topics extends from politics to accounting. With suitable qualifications, civil servants in the intermediate service at the Federal Intelligence Service have the opportunity to move to the next higher career path after a successful promotion procedure. With a higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung), one can also study (Studium) and, for example, obtain a Bachelor's degree in Political and Administrative Sciences.

Regulation on the preparatory service for the intermediate service in the Federal Intelligence Service and the intermediate service in the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (MDBNDVerfSchVDV), promulgated as Article 1 of the regulation of 09.08.2019 (BGBl. I S. 1221), last amended by Article 2 Para. 25 of the regulation of 11.03.2026 (BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 67).

As a rule, a secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss) or a Hauptschulabschluss (lower secondary school leaving certificate) in conjunction with a beneficial completed vocational training (Berufsausbildung) in the commercial or administrative field is required. Furthermore, German citizenship according to Art. 116 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) is required for access to the training (Ausbildung).