Beamter/Beamtin im Kriminaldienst (höherer Dienst)

Learning locations include: German Police University, federal and state (Bundesland) police educational institutions (seminar rooms, lecture halls, practice and group rooms), Criminal police authorities, e.g., state criminal investigation offices or the Federal Criminal Police Office: office spaces.

Occupation type: Civil servant training; varying career designations in individual federal states (Bundesland). Type of training: Master's degree (Masterstudium), regulated by ordinance of the German Police University and by federal and state (Bundesland) ordinances. Duration: Usually 2 years. Minimum requirement for admission to the Master's degree (Masterstudium): Usually a completed university degree. Learning locations: German Police University, federal and state (Bundesland) police educational institutions, criminal police authorities. Tasks and activities: Civil servants in higher criminal service lead and coordinate investigations in particularly serious crimes, such as homicides, kidnappings, rapes, missing persons cases, or serious fires. They also perform general leadership tasks and, for example, head a police station or a department of a central office. They are also involved in the training and further education of junior staff. If necessary, they are involved in combating crime.

2 years. Additionally, a several-month internship/pre-study period must be completed at the Federal Criminal Police Office and in some federal states (Bundesland).

A selection process is conducted, which is determined by the federal government and the states (Bundesland) in cooperation with the German Police University according to the principle of best selection. In general, the selection process serves to determine intellectual aptitude, general education, physical suitability, and performance, and aims to convey an impression of the overall personality.

Structure of the Master's degree (Masterstudium) program in higher criminal service: Decentralized study section at federal and state (Bundesland) police educational institutions, at criminal police authorities: 12 months. Study phase at the German Police University in Münster: 12 months. Master's examination. Total study duration: 2 years.

No tuition fees are charged. Travel costs or costs for learning materials may arise. If accommodation is provided at the educational institutions, costs may also arise.

The study content is organized in a modular format. Theoretical study sections cover areas such as business administration - public management, police operational management, European police cooperation as well as national and international police cooperation, leadership in the police, criminalistics, crime using information and communication technology - "cybercrime", criminology, organization and personnel management in the police, legal sciences (e.g., criminal and criminal procedure law), social, work, and organizational psychology, and administrative science with a focus on politics and society. Practical study sections and observations in the relevant criminal police authorities provide professional knowledge and experience.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: During the theoretical study sections: Lectures (attending lectures and seminars in the lecture halls and seminar rooms of the German Police University), independent work (e.g., preparing and reviewing lectures, researching in libraries, preparing performance records), organization (e.g., adhering to submission deadlines for presentations and seminar papers). During the practical study sections: Internships (practical collaboration and practical exercises in the criminal police authorities) and key qualifications (e.g., expanding problem-solving, organizational, and leadership competencies).

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: Federal Salary Act (BBesG) and State Salary Acts. Note: In addition to the basic candidate salary, candidate allowances include capital-forming benefits, and possibly family allowances and other additional allowances, remunerations, and surcharges.

In-depth knowledge in the following areas are good prerequisites for a successful preparatory service: Management/Organization (e.g., to efficiently organize administration in criminal offices), Employee Leadership and Guidance (e.g., to maintain employee motivation and satisfaction).

The following Ausbildung (vocational training) alternatives are available for the profession of Civil Servant in the Higher Criminal Service: Area of Protection and Security: Federal Police Officer (higher service) or Police Officer (higher service). Commonality: Taking on tasks in crime fighting and prevention. Area of Social Sciences: Criminology (advanced). Commonality: Analyzing criminal behavior and reducing it through appropriate measures.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in the higher criminal service typically takes place as a 2-year Master's degree (Masterstudium). It is regulated by an ordinance of the German Police University as well as by ordinances of the Federal government and the federal states (Bundesland). The Ausbildung concludes with a Master's examination. Generally, at least a university degree (Hochschulstudium) is required.

The Studium (university degree) is regulated by federal and state (Bundesland) law and leads to the following degree titles: In most states, Master of Arts - Public Administration - Police Management (M.A. - Public Administration - Police Management). Career titles include, for example, Officer in the Federal Criminal Service (higher service), Officer in the Criminal Service (career group 2, second entry level), or Officer in the Criminal Service (fourth qualification level). These titles may vary depending on the state or federal authority. The responsible bodies determine whether the career path is offered as a Studium.

After their Studium (university degree), officers in the higher criminal service work in criminal commissariats, State Criminal Offices (Landeskriminalamt), or the Federal Criminal Office (Bundeskriminalamt). They can keep their expertise up-to-date or bring it to the latest standard through adaptive further training. The range of topics extends from personal protection to psychology. With appropriate aptitude, officers in the higher criminal service have the opportunity to participate in internal administrative training courses for further qualification.

The Studium (university degree) for civil service careers is regulated by the German Police University (Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei) as well as by federal and state (Bundesland) regulations. The respective provisions may differ. Generally, regulations for the police executive service also govern the Studium in the criminal service. A uniform federal regulation for the Master's Studium at the German Police University is the examination regulation for the Master's program 'Public Administration - Police Management' (Public Management - Police Management) from September 22, 2016. At the federal level, there is also the Regulation on Training and Examination for the Higher Criminal Service of the Federation (HKrimDAPrV) from January 15, 2011, amended by Article 2 of the Regulation from December 9, 2020, and the Regulation on Careers in the Federal Criminal Police Executive Service (Kriminallaufbahnverordnung - KrimLV) from September 18, 2009, last amended by Article 2 Para. 4 of the Regulation.

Admission requirements include the career examination for the senior criminal or police executive service after completing a Studium (university degree) at a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) or a comparable institution for public administration, service experience after the (Fach-)Hochschulstudium, and proven excellence in service, or a final certificate from a scientific university. Furthermore, proof of suitability for police service is required, e.g., health suitability and minimum physical height. The maximum permissible age limit must not be exceeded (e.g., a maximum age of 42 years for the Federal Criminal Service). For the Studium at the federal level and in some states, a pre-Studium (university degree) lasting several months is also required.