Beamter/Beamtin im Forstdienst (gehobener Dienst)

Learning locations include: educational institutions of public administration (e.g., forestry schools) and forest offices and administrations. Training takes place in classrooms, offices, and outdoors.

Amendments to the Federal Civil Service Regulations came into force on March 17, 2026. These open up needs-oriented special access routes to counteract the shortage of skilled workers. A key focus of the reform is the equal recognition of vocational and academic education. For example, access to higher technical administrative services and higher scientific services is now also possible for individuals with vocational advanced training qualifications such as Bachelor Professional or Master Professional.

This profession is a type of civil service training, with varying career titles in different Bundesländer (federal states). The training type is a preparatory service regulated by state ordinances. The duration of the preparatory service is 1 to 1.5 years. The minimum requirement for admission to the preparatory service varies by federal state (e.g., a completed bachelor's degree). Learning locations include forest offices and administrations, and educational institutions of the federal states' public administration (e.g., forestry schools). Civil servants in higher forestry services secure the economic, social, and ecological functions of forests for the benefit of the general public and protect them from damage. They often participate in landscape and spatial planning. They select site-appropriate tree species for reforestation, monitor timber growth, and consider the specific challenges of climate change. They also ensure adequate forestry infrastructure, for example, through maintenance or new construction.

1 to 1.5 years

In the selection process, personal and professional suitability is assessed, for example, through an interview.

The structure of the preparatory service in higher forestry services is as follows: The first training section (state forestry institution, forest office) lasts 7 months, with 5 months in the field and 2 months in office work. The second training section (state forestry institution, central management, and the forestry planning, experimental, and information systems department) lasts 2 months. The third training section (travel time) is 1 month. The fourth training section (courses, thematic days, excursions, and consultations) is 1 month. The career examination lasts 1 month. The total training duration is 1 year.

No Lehrgangsgebühren (course fees) are charged. However, travel expenses, costs for learning materials, and accommodation at the training location may arise.

Theoretical and practical training content, for example, in the areas of forest management, sovereign and other official tasks, services, environmental education and recreation, protection and renaturation, and personnel management. Internal company regulations, operational and administrative processes are taught. Topics include Forstplanung (forest planning), Versuchswesen (experimental systems), and information systems. Visits to Forstbetriebe (forestry operations) and institutions, including a Biosphärenreservatsamt (biosphere reserve office), are part of the training. The duties of the management area are introduced, and an overview of the organization and overall responsibilities of the central management of a Landesforstanstalt (state forestry institution) is provided. Fundamental principles of practiced methods of Forsteinrichtung (forest management planning) and Standorterkundung (site exploration), IT-Verfahren (IT procedures), research, and monitoring tasks are also covered.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: During the theoretical training phases, attending lectures and courses, independent work (e.g., preparing for and reviewing lectures, researching in libraries, preparing performance records), and organizational tasks (e.g., adhering to submission deadlines for presentations and homework) are expected. During the practical training phases, practical collaboration (under guidance) is required, for example, in Revier- und Innendienst (forest district and internal service) to handle matters of forestry operations. Travel time may be involved, such as visiting Forstbetriebe (forestry operations) and institutions, including a Nationalparkamt (national park office) or a Biosphärenreservatsamt (biosphere reserve office), and participating in excursions. Key qualifications such as problem-solving, organizational, and communication competencies are expected to be developed.

The exemplary monthly gross basic salary for Anwärter (candidates) is approximately 1,549 €. This information is sourced from Landesbesoldungsgesetze (state salary laws). In addition to the basic salary, Anwärterbezüge (candidate remuneration) include capital-forming benefits, and potentially family allowances and other surcharges, remunerations, and allowances.

An Ausbildung (vocational training) is possible, for example, with a grundständig (undergraduate) Studium (university degree) in Forstwissenschaft, -wirtschaft (forestry science, -economics).

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for a successful Vorbereitungsdienst (preparatory service): Management/Organization, for example, to efficiently solve problems in forest administration.

The following alternatives are available for the profession of civil servant in the higher forestry service: Area of Law and Administration: Civil servant in agricultural administration (higher technical service), civil servant in environmental administration (higher technical service). Commonality: Taking on environmentally related administrative tasks in forestry and agriculture. Area of Plants: Forestry science, forestry (advanced), agricultural science (advanced). Commonality: Collecting, processing, and evaluating forestry or agricultural scientific data.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in the higher forestry service takes place as a preparatory service. It lasts 1 to 1.5 years and is regulated by the ordinances of the Bundesländer (federal states). The Ausbildung concludes with a career examination. Typically, at least a Bachelorstudium (bachelor's degree) is required.

The Ausbildung is legally regulated in the mentioned Bundesländer and leads to the following Abschluss-/Berufsbezeichnungen (final/professional titles) there: Bavaria: State-certified forest engineer. Brandenburg, Thuringia: Forest engineer. The career path is also established in the following Bundesländer, where no Abschluss-/Berufsbezeichnungen exist: Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein. Career titles: Civil servant - Forestry service (higher service), Civil servant - Forestry service (higher technical service), Civil servant - Forestry service (career group 2, first entry level), Civil servant - Forestry service (career group 2, first entry level), Civil servant - Forestry service (third qualification level), Civil servant - Forestry service (third entry level). The career titles are examples and may vary depending on the Bundesland.

Finding the right area of deployment after Ausbildung: Civil servants in the higher forestry service work in forest offices and administrations of municipalities and Bundesländer, as well as in agricultural and environmental ministries or offices. Staying up to date: Through adaptive further training, one keeps their specialized knowledge current or brings it up to date. The range of topics extends from forestry to finance and accounting. Career advancement: With appropriate aptitude, civil servants in the higher forestry service have the opportunity to move into the next higher career path after a successful promotion procedure. Further Studium (university studies) can also be considered. For example, acquiring a Master's degree in forestry science or forestry is a logical step.

The preparatory service for civil servant careers is regulated by the Bundesländer in their own ordinances. The respective provisions may differ from each other. Ordinance of the Ministry for Rural Areas on the Establishment of Career Paths (Laufbahnverordnung MLR - LVO-MLR) of April 11, 2014 (BW.GBl. S. 220), last amended by Article 3 of the Ordinance of November 30, 2023 (BW.GBl. 2023 S. 442). Ordinance on the Professional Focus Forestry Service (Fachverordnung Forst - FachV-Forst) of July 2, 2010 (Bay.GVBl. S. 380), last amended by Ordinance of November 15, 2024 (Bay.GVBl. S. 590). Ordinance on the Career Paths of Civil Servants in Technical Services (Laufbahnverordnung technische Dienste - LVO-TD) of January 21, 2014 (Ber.GVBl. S. 23), last amended by Article 12 of the Law of February 24, 2025 (Ber.GVBl. S. 134). Ordinance on the Training and Examination for the Career Path of the Higher and Senior Forestry Service in the State of Brandenburg.

Typically, a successfully completed Bachelorstudium (bachelor's degree) or an equivalent recognized university degree in forestry science or forestry is required. Furthermore, access to the Ausbildung may require, for example: Health suitability (fitness for forestry service), possession of a valid hunting license, possession of a Class B driver's license, practical experience of at least 6 months, depending on the Bundesland, e.g., from an internship, Voluntary Ecological Year, Federal Volunteer Service, or Ausbildung.