Beamter/Beamtin im Archivdienst (höherer Dienst)

Learning locations include: Archive schools (seminar and classrooms) and federal and state (Bundesland) training archives (archive and storage rooms, offices).

This is a civil service (Beamtenausbildung) profession; different career designations may exist in individual federal states. The type of training is a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst), regulated by federal and state ordinances. The preparatory service lasts 2 years. The minimum prerequisite for admission to the preparatory service varies depending on the federal state or federal authority (e.g., a completed master's degree (Masterstudium)). Learning locations are archive schools and federal and state training archives. Civil servants in the higher archive service ensure that authentic documentary material from the past and present becomes usable and transparent for society. They determine the age, origin, and historical context of documents and examine which materials are worthy of archiving. They make this decision not only for mass data but also for unique items, which they may specifically search for. They ensure that the material remaining in the archive is preserved using conventional methods.

2 years.

The aptitude test checks, for example, whether the participants have the required general and specialized knowledge, language skills, and logical, structural, analytical thinking abilities. Methodological and social skills are also tested.

The structure of a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) in the higher archive service is as follows: Practical training at the training archives for 8 months, theoretical training at the archive school for 12 months, a transfer phase (preparation of a transfer paper) for 3 months, and an examination phase for 1 month. A career or archival state examination is conducted. The total training duration is 24 months.

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

Theoretical training sections, for example, cover archival science, the development and history of archives, archival source studies, the indexing of written and audiovisual media, specialized informatics, the assessment of IT applications for archives, digital long-term archiving, reprography and conversion forms, education and public relations, administrative science and management, records management (document management), administrative organization and control, personnel management and recruitment, general administrative law, and archival law. Historical auxiliary sciences such as paleography, the processing of medieval documents and early modern writings, and special historical auxiliary sciences, especially sphragistics (sigillography), heraldry (coat of arms studies), numismatics (coin studies), and genealogy, are also part of the curriculum. Practical training sections impart professional knowledge and experience.

During this Ausbildung (vocational training), one should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: During theoretical training sections, attending lectures and seminars at the Archival School, independent work such as preparing for and reviewing lectures, researching in libraries, and preparing for performance assessments are expected. Organizational tasks, such as adhering to given deadlines for performance assessments, are also important. During practical training sections, active participation involves, for example, developing and justifying evaluation proposals for suitable written material, taking on public relations tasks, and dealing with budget and personnel issues. Expanding key qualifications such as problem-solving, organizational, and leadership competencies is also part of the practical experience.

The monthly gross basic salary for candidates in federal authorities is 2,624 Euros. An exemplary monthly gross basic salary for candidates in state (Bundesland) authorities is 1,726 Euros. Sources include the Federal Salary Act (BBesG) and State Salary Acts. Please note that in addition to the basic salary, candidate allowances include capital-forming benefits, and potentially family allowances and other surcharges, remunerations, and bonuses.

An Ausbildung (vocational training) is possible with the following Studium (university degree) qualifications, for example: Archival Science (advanced), History (advanced), Law (advanced), State and Administrative Sciences (advanced), Social Sciences (advanced).

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for a successful preparatory service: Management/Organization: for example, to efficiently organize the administration of archives. Employee Leadership and Guidance: for example, to maintain employee motivation and satisfaction. History: for example, to index archival material or to classify it historically. Foreign Languages: for example, to read Latin and French texts.

The following Ausbildung (vocational training) alternatives are available for the profession of Civil Servant (Beamter/Beamtin) in the higher archival service: Area of Law and Administration: Civil Servant in higher service at academic libraries, Civil Servant in general internal administration (higher non-technical service). Commonality: planning and organizing administrative processes.

New regulations concerning the preparatory service for the higher archive service were introduced in 2016 and 2017.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in the higher archive service is conducted as a preparatory service and lasts 2 years. It is regulated by federal or Bundesland (state) ordinances and concludes with a career or Archival State Examination. Typically, at least a Master Studium (master's degree) is required.

This Ausbildung (vocational training) is regulated by federal law and, in the mentioned Bundesländer (states), by state law, leading to the following Abschluss-/Berufsbezeichnungen (qualification/professional titles): Archivassessor/Archivassessorin in the federal context, Bavaria, Bremen, Lower Saxony; Assessor des Archivdienstes/Assessorin des Archivdienstes in Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia; Assessor des Archivwesens/Assessorin des Archivwesens in North Rhine-Westphalia. Example career titles include Beamter/Beamtin - Archivdienst (höherer Dienst) and similar. These titles may vary depending on the Bundesland (state) or federal authority. The competent authorities determine whether the career is considered an Ausbildung.

After their Ausbildung (vocational training), Beamter (male civil servants) and Beamtin (female civil servants) in the higher archive service primarily work in federal and state archives. Through Anpassungsweiterbildung (adaptive continuing education), one can keep their specialized knowledge current or bring it up to date. The range of topics extends from archival science to human resources. With appropriate aptitude, Beamter (male civil servants) and Beamtin (female civil servants) in the higher archive service have the opportunity to participate in internal administrative courses for further qualification.

The preparatory service for civil servant careers is regulated by separate ordinances at the federal and state levels. The respective provisions may differ. At the federal level, the 'Verordnung über den Vorbereitungsdienst für den höheren Archivdienst des Bundes (HArchDVDV)' applies. At the state level, Bundesländer (states) such as Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Berlin have their own regulations.

Typically, a successfully completed Master Studium (master's degree) or an equivalent recognized university degree, for example in archival science, is a prerequisite. Additionally, other requirements may include: English language skills at a minimum B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, French or another modern foreign language skills at a minimum A2 level, and basic knowledge of Latin.