Beamter/Beamtin in der Gewerbeaufsichtsverwaltung (gehobener technischer Dienst)

Learning locations include: Educational institutions of public administration, e.g., administrative schools (classrooms); Trade Supervisory and Occupational Safety Offices (office spaces, field service, e.g., during measurements and operational inspections).

Amendment of the Federal Career Ordinance: The new Federal Career Ordinance came into force on March 17, 2026. It opens up needs-oriented special access routes to counteract the shortage of skilled workers. A key focus of the reform is the equalization of vocational and academic education. For example, access to the higher technical administrative service and the higher scientific service is now also possible for individuals with vocational advanced training qualifications such as Bachelor Professional or Master Professional.

Occupation type: Civil servant training; different career designations exist in individual Bundesländer (federal states). Type of training: Preparatory service, regulated by ordinances of the Bundesländer. Duration of preparatory service: Typically 15-36 months. Minimum requirement for admission to preparatory service: Varies depending on the Bundesland (e.g., a completed Bachelor's degree (Studium)). Learning locations: Educational institutions of public administration (e.g., administrative schools), Trade Supervisory and Occupational Safety Offices. Tasks and activities: Civil servants in the higher technical service of the Trade Supervisory Authority ensure compliance with regulations on occupational, environmental, and consumer protection. They primarily inspect construction sites and small to medium-sized businesses that have special requirements regarding occupational safety, check whether legal framework conditions are met, for example, concerning accident prevention and occupational hygiene, and advise on improvement measures.

Typically 15 to 36 months.

Structure of a preparatory service in the higher technical service of the Trade Supervisory Authority: Theoretical part (specialized courses) at administrative schools or other educational institutions of the public administration of the Bundesländer: 6 months. Practical part at offices of the Trade Supervisory and Occupational Safety Authorities: 18 months. Career examination. Total duration of preparatory service: 2 years.

Course fees are not charged. Travel expenses or costs for learning materials may arise. Costs for accommodation at the training location may also be incurred.

Theoretical training covers topics such as the fundamentals of industrial supervision, social and methodological competencies, administration and law (state, constitutional, public service, budget, labor, criminal, and administrative offenses law), basic knowledge of occupational safety and product safety (safety technology, health protection, risk factors), enforcement of occupational safety (management systems, technical and social occupational safety, occupational medicine, occupational psychology), enforcement of product and chemical safety (technical and material market surveillance, other consumer protection regulations), and hazard protection (plant safety, dangerous goods law, medical device safety, X-ray equipment, and stray radiation emitters). During practical training, the acquired theoretical knowledge and skills are applied in internal and external tasks.

During theoretical training phases, it is important to attend lectures, work independently (prepare for lectures, research in libraries, prepare performance proofs), and adhere to organizational requirements (submission deadlines for presentations and homework). During practical training phases, participation in hands-on work under guidance (conducting measurements and field inspections) and developing problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills are expected.

The exemplary monthly gross basic salary for a civil service candidate is approximately 1,549 €. This amount is determined by state salary laws and may additionally include capital-forming benefits, family allowances, and other supplements, remunerations, and bonuses.

An Ausbildung (vocational training) for this profession is possible with bachelor's (grundständig) degrees in fields such as safety engineering, safety management, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, biology, or chemistry.

In-depth knowledge in management/organization (to efficiently solve administrative problems) and law (to check compliance with legal provisions or decide on building permit applications) are good prerequisites for a successful preparatory service.

Alternatives for this profession include civil servant positions in environmental administration, federal defense administration, railway, civil engineering, metrology, or fire department technical services within the legal and administrative sector. Their commonality is performing auditing and controlling tasks in technical safety, environmental safety, or measurement technology. Furthermore, advanced electrical engineering or mechanical engineering (to examine and evaluate technical processes from a safety perspective) in the development, design, and CAD sector, and advanced safety engineering (to develop or evaluate concepts for technical safety solutions) in the protection and safety sector are also available alternatives.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in the higher technical service of the Gewerbeaufsicht (Trade Supervisory Authority) takes place as a Vorbereitungsdienst (preparatory service). It usually lasts 15 to 36 months and is regulated by the ordinances of the Bundesländer (federal states). The Ausbildung concludes with a Laufbahnprüfung (career examination). A Bachelorstudium (bachelor's degree) is usually a prerequisite.

This career path is established in the following Bundesländer (federal states), but specific Abschluss-/Berufsbezeichnungen (qualification/job titles) are not available: Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thüringen. Example career titles include: Civil Servant - Occupational Safety Supervision Service (higher technical service), Civil Servant - Occupational Safety and Product Safety (higher technical service), Civil Servant - Occupational Safety Administration (career group 2, first entry level), Civil Servant - Trade Supervision (higher technical service), Civil Servant - Trade Supervision (third entry level), Civil Servant - State Occupational Safety Administration (career group 2, first entry level), Civil Servant - State Trade Supervisory Administration (career group 2, first entry level), Civil Servant - Technical Trade Supervisory Service (third qualification level). The career titles are exemplary and may vary.

After their Ausbildung, civil servants in the higher technical service of the Gewerbeaufsicht (Trade Supervisory Authority) primarily work in trade supervisory or occupational safety offices. They can keep their specialist knowledge up-to-date or bring it to the latest standard through adaptive further training. The range of topics extends from immission and emission protection to the transport of dangerous goods. With suitable qualifications, civil servants in the higher technical service of the Gewerbeaufsicht have the opportunity to move to the next higher career path after a successful promotion procedure. A further Studium (study program) can also be considered, for example, obtaining a Master's degree in safety engineering.

The Vorbereitungsdienst (preparatory service) for civil servant careers is regulated by the Bundesländer (federal states) in their own ordinances. The respective provisions may differ from each other. Examples of regulations include: Ordinance of the Ministry of the Environment on the Establishment of Career Paths (Laufbahnverordnung UM - LVO-UM) of 26.11.2014 (BW.GBl. S. 743), Ordinance on the Specialist Focus of Trade Supervision (FachV-GA) of 12.11.2014 (Bay.GVBl. S. 496), amended by ordinance of 02.09.2019 (Bay.GVBl. S. 561), Ordinance on the Training and Examination for Access to the First and Second Entry Levels of Career Group 2 of the Technical Service Occupational Safety Career Branch (APO TD As Berlin) of 17.03.2017 (Ber.GVBl. S. 270), amended by Article 6 of the ordinance of 15.12.2020 (Ber.GVBl. S. 1506), Ordinance on the Training and Examinations for the Careers of the Higher and Senior Occupational Safety Supervision Service of the State of Brandenburg (Ausbildungs- und Prüfungsordnung Arbeitsschutzaufsicht - APOghDASA) of 28.06.2010 (Bra.GVB).

The prerequisite is generally a successfully completed Bachelorstudium (bachelor's degree) or an equivalent recognized university degree in a field suitable for the Gewerbeaufsichtsdienst (Trade Supervisory Service). Furthermore, depending on the Bundesland (federal state), a subject-related practical activity of varying duration may be required.