Beamter/Beamtin in der Lebensmittelkontrolle (mittlerer technischer Dienst)

Learning locations include: Educational institutions of public administration (e.g., administrative schools, Academy for Public Health) with office and training rooms; authorities such as veterinary and food inspection offices, district health and environmental offices, and state laboratories with office rooms, laboratories, and fieldwork (operational controls).

Occupation type: Civil service training; differing career titles exist in individual federal states (Bundesland). Type of training: Preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst), regulated by federal state ordinances. Duration of preparatory service: 2 years. Minimum requirement for admission to preparatory service: Varies depending on the federal state (e.g., master craftsman or technician qualification). Learning locations: Administrative schools, veterinary and food inspection offices, health and environmental offices, state laboratory. What does one do in this profession? Civil servants in the intermediate technical food control service regularly inspect businesses that work with food, tobacco, and cosmetics, such as manufacturing companies, wholesale businesses, supermarkets, or canteens. They conduct inspections during opening hours and without prior notice. On-site, they check whether businesses comply with hygiene regulations and whether products are correctly composed and labeled. They test products by smelling or tasting and document their findings.

2 years

Structure of a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) in the intermediate technical food control service: Theoretical training: three teaching blocks, each lasting 6 months. Practical instruction: Introduction at the training authority (district veterinary and food inspection office): at least 1 month. Practical instruction at the state laboratory: 4-6 weeks. Practical instruction at the highest state authority responsible for food surveillance: 1 month. Practical instruction at another district veterinary and food inspection office: 1 month. Practical instruction at a district office in the area of health and environment: 2-4 weeks. Practical instruction at the training department for the remaining time of the preparatory service. Career examination. Total training duration: 24 months.

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

During theoretical training, knowledge is acquired in areas such as: general administrative law, law on administrative offenses and hazard prevention; specialized law concerning food, tobacco products, cosmetic products, consumer goods including wine law; other specialized law, particularly feed, animal disease, market order, infection protection, genetic engineering, and hygiene law; official control system; product knowledge. During practical training, knowledge is acquired in areas such as: conducting official controls to verify compliance with food and feed law as well as regulations on animal health and welfare; accompanying investigation procedures and assessments, operational controls, and sampling; inspecting business records, checking documents within the scope of self-monitoring; administrative processes, documentation of fieldwork; measures.

You should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements during this vocational training (Ausbildung): During the theoretical training (Ausbildung) phases, there will be classroom instruction and content review at home. During the practical training (Ausbildung) phases, active participation under guidance is expected; for example, preparing documentation on the computer, participating in operational controls and sample collection during fieldwork. Key requirements for this profession include diligence (e.g., when conducting operational controls, preparing documentation), discretion (e.g., when handling internal data of controlled businesses), conflict resolution skills and assertiveness (e.g., in case of complaints), and strong verbal and written communication skills (e.g., when obtaining information, drafting documentation).

The monthly gross basic salary for candidates in state (Bundesland) authorities ranges from 1,409 € to 1,510 €, depending on the federal state (Bundesland). This information is sourced from dbb beamtenbund und tarifunion. In addition to the basic candidate salary, candidate emoluments may include capital-forming benefits, and potentially family allowances and other additional allowances, remunerations, and surcharges.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects provides a good foundation for successful vocational training (Ausbildung): Physics/Chemistry: Knowledge in natural science subjects like physics and chemistry is needed to perform measurements and assess measurement results. Economics/Law: Trainee civil servants learn to apply legal regulations from areas such as food law, administrative law, and law on administrative offenses and hazard prevention. Therefore, knowledge from economics and law classes is essential. German: Since trainee civil servants learn to create documentation during their vocational training (Ausbildung), good German language skills are indispensable.

The following vocational training (Ausbildung) alternatives are available for the profession of civil servant in the middle technical food control service: Law and Administration Sector: Civil Servant in the Trade Supervisory Administration (middle technical service), Civil Servant in Metrology (middle technical service). The commonality of these professions is performing inspection and control tasks.

2 years

2 years

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in the mid-level technical food inspection service takes place as a 2-year preparatory service. It is regulated by ordinances of the German Bundesländer (federal states) and leads to a career examination. Typically, at least a professionally qualifying degree is required. Furthermore, there is also the possibility to complete further training as a Lebensmittelkontrolleur/in (food inspector).

Shortening of the training period is possible. Depending on the Bundesland (federal state), at least three years of full-time professional activity in a food profession can be credited towards the training period for up to six months.

This career path is established in the following Bundesländer (federal states), but specific qualification or professional titles are not available: Bavaria, Berlin, Lower Saxony. Career titles include: Beamter/Beamtin - Lebensmittelkontrolle (mittlerer technischer Dienst) (Civil Servant - Food Inspection (mid-level technical service)), Beamter/Beamtin - Lebensmittelkontrolldienst (Laufbahngruppe 1, Zweites Einstiegsamt) (Civil Servant - Food Inspection Service (career group 1, second entry level)), Beamter/Beamtin - technischer Überwachungsdienst zum Schutz der Verbraucher (zweite Qualifikationsebene) (Civil Servant - Technical Surveillance Service for Consumer Protection (second qualification level)). These career titles are examples and may vary depending on the Bundesland (federal state). Note: The responsible authorities in the individual Bundesländer determine whether the career path is offered as an Ausbildung (vocational training).

Monthly gross Anwärtergrundbetrag (basic trainee salary) at state authorities: 1,510 €. Source: dbb beamtenbund und tarifunion, as of February 2025. Note: In addition to the Anwärtergrundbetrag, trainee allowances include capital-forming benefits, possibly also family allowances and other allowances, remunerations, and surcharges.

Monthly gross Anwärtergrundbetrag (basic trainee salary) at state authorities: 1,468 €. Source: dbb beamtenbund und tarifunion, as of January 2026. Note: In addition to the Anwärtergrundbetrag, trainee allowances include capital-forming benefits, possibly also family allowances and other allowances, remunerations, and surcharges.

2 years

The monthly gross basic salary for civil servant candidates in state authorities in the state (Bundesland) of Niedersachsen is 1,409 Euros (as of February 2025). In addition to this, the candidate's remuneration may include capital-forming benefits, family allowances, and other supplements.

The preparatory service for civil servant careers is regulated by the federal states (Bundesland) in Germany through their own ordinances, and these regulations may vary. For example, in Bavaria, there is the Technical Surveillance Service Ordinance for Consumer Protection from 2002, last amended in 2019, and the Ordinance on Training and Examination for the Intermediate Food Control Service from 2006, last amended in 2024. In Niedersachsen, the Ordinance on Training and Examination for the Food Control Service from 2010 applies. In states such as Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein, there are no specific state-level regulations.

Generally, at least a secondary school leaving certificate (Hauptschulabschluss), a relevant completed vocational training (Berufsausbildung), and a master craftsman (Meister), industrial master craftsman (Industriemeister), or technician (Techniker) examination in a food profession are required. Depending on the federal state (Bundesland), different or additional requirements may be demanded.

In Bavaria (Bayern), the educational/professional prerequisites are: at least a secondary school leaving certificate (Mittelschule) AND a master craftsman's (Meister) examination in a food profession or completion of a technical college (Fachschule - Technikerschule) in a field suitable for food surveillance.

In Berlin, the professional prerequisites/work experience requirements are: a completed vocational training (Berufsausbildung) with an additional master craftsman (Meister), industrial master craftsman (Industriemeister), or technician (Techniker) examination in a food profession; OR for applicants from the second entry-level of career group 1 (Laufbahngruppe 1) (General Administration): proof of at least three years of employment in an authority responsible for official food surveillance.

The entry requirements for this vocational training (Ausbildung) in the Bundesland (federal state) of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) are as follows: Secondary School Certificate I - Realschulabschluss (intermediate secondary school certificate) or Secondary School Certificate I - Hauptschulabschluss (basic secondary school certificate), and in both cases, a completed vocational training in the field of trade with food, food additives, cosmetic products, and commodities, as well as tobacco products, and a completed further training in a food profession, for example, as a state-certified technician. Another entry requirement is not being older than 39 years (exceptions are possible).