Beamter/Beamtin in der Umweltverwaltung (gehobener technischer Dienst)

Learning locations are: Educational institutions of public administration: Classrooms. Environmental specialist authorities, state offices for nature and environmental protection: Offices, field service (e.g., sampling, measurements, facility inspections).

Amendment of the Federal Civil Service Ordinance: The new Federal Civil Service 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, among other things, the equal treatment of vocational and academic education. For example, access for persons with vocational advanced training qualifications such as Bachelor Professional or Master Professional is now also possible in the higher technical administrative service and in the higher scientific service.

Occupation Type: Civil service training; differing career titles in individual federal states (Bundesland). Type of Training: Preparatory service, regulated by ordinances of the federal states (Bundesland). Duration of Preparatory Service: Usually 15-18 months. Minimum Requirement for Admission to Preparatory Service: Varies depending on the federal state (Bundesland) (e.g., completed Bachelor's degree (Studium)). Learning Locations: Educational institutions of public administration, environmental specialist authorities, state offices for nature and environmental protection. Tasks and Activities: Civil servants in the higher technical service of environmental administration contribute as case workers to ensuring that legal provisions for environmental protection are complied with. For this purpose, they conduct measurements and evaluate technical parameters. They analyze, document, and assess the condition of water, soil, and air, prepare test reports, and submit statements. Civil servants also review building applications with regard to environmentally relevant matters.

Usually 15-18 months.

Structure of a preparatory service in the higher technical service of environmental administration: Introduction: 1 week. Introductory course: 3 weeks. Specialist training: 20 weeks. Special administrative course: 5 weeks. Specialist training: 10 weeks. Deepening course: 2 weeks. Specialist training: 6 weeks. Specialist training in the chosen focus area: 13 weeks. Career examination. Total training duration: 60 weeks.

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

This vocational training covers administrative tasks, organization, and responsibilities of environmental administration authorities. It includes the necessity and purpose of environmental protection, environmental policy objectives, water, contaminated sites and soil protection law, immission control, radiation protection, chemical and genetic engineering law, waste law, building law, EU directives in water and air, and their application. It involves examining construction and permit applications, as well as development plans, conducting measurements and investigations, sampling and evaluation, inspection tasks, and operational and plant inspections. Evaluating expert opinions and preparing technical statements, environmental inspection, and municipal supervision are also part of the training. Additionally, it covers administrative control, budgeting, cost and performance accounting, production control, and customer orientation.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements during this vocational training: During theoretical training phases, attending lectures, preparing for and reviewing lectures, researching in libraries, and preparing performance assessments are required. Adhering to deadlines for presentations and homework is important. During practical training phases, participating in practical work under guidance, such as processing construction and permit applications, preparing expert opinions, and conducting measurements in the field (e.g., in water protection), is expected. Key qualifications like problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills are developed.

The exemplary monthly gross basic salary for trainees is approximately 1,549 Euros. This information is sourced from Landesbesoldungsgesetze (State Salary Laws). In addition to the basic salary, trainee allowances include capital-forming benefits, and possibly family allowances and other supplements, remunerations, and bonuses.

This training is possible with degrees in, for example, environmental engineering (undergraduate), environmental science (undergraduate), chemical engineering (undergraduate), chemistry (undergraduate), geotechnology (undergraduate), geosciences (undergraduate), civil engineering (undergraduate), mechanical engineering (undergraduate), safety engineering (undergraduate), and process engineering (undergraduate).

In-depth knowledge in management/organization is a good prerequisite for a successful preparatory service. This knowledge is important for achieving good results in subject areas involving administrative organizational processes and for efficiently organizing environmental administration authorities in professional life.

The following alternatives are available for the profession of civil servant in environmental administration (higher technical service): In the field of Law and Administration, one can be a civil servant in agricultural administration (higher technical service) or in industrial supervisory administration (higher technical service). The commonality is undertaking environment-related administrative tasks in forestry and agriculture. For the field of Environmental and Nature Protection, alternatives include environmental engineering (postgraduate) or environmental science (postgraduate). The commonality is examining and evaluating environmental technical procedures and facts. For the field of Chemistry, chemical engineering (postgraduate) is an alternative. The commonality is applying chemical knowledge. For the field of Protection and Security, safety engineering (postgraduate) is an alternative. The commonality is examining and evaluating technical procedures from a safety perspective.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) for civil servants in the higher technical service of environmental administration typically takes place as a Vorbereitungsdienst (preparatory service) and lasts 15 to 18 months. It is regulated by the Bundesland (federal state) ordinances and concludes with the Laufbahnprüfung (career examination). A Bachelorstudium (bachelor's degree) is usually required as a prerequisite.

This career path is established in the following Bundesländer (federal states), but specific degree/professional titles are not available: Bavaria, Berlin, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein. Example career titles include: Civil Servant - Environmental Administration (higher technical service), Civil Servant - Landscape Management (third entry level), Civil Servant - Environmental Technical Administrative Service (third qualification level), Civil Servant - Environmental Technical Service (career group 2, first entry level). Career titles are examples and may vary by Bundesland (federal state). Note: The responsible authorities in the individual Bundesländer (federal states) determine whether the career path is offered as an Ausbildung (vocational training).

After their Ausbildung (vocational training), civil servants in the higher technical service of environmental administration work in state and municipal environmental offices, water management and flood protection authorities, water and shipping offices, or trade supervisory offices. They can keep their knowledge up-to-date or bring it to the latest standard through Anpassungsweiterbildung (adaptive further training). The range of topics extends from environmental and nature protection to physical measurement technology. With suitable qualifications, civil servants in the higher technical service of environmental administration have the opportunity to move to the next higher career path after a successful Aufstiegsverfahren (promotion procedure). Further Studium (higher education), such as obtaining a Master's degree in environmental technology, can also be considered. Starting one's own business is also possible.

The Vorbereitungsdienst (preparatory service) for civil servant careers is regulated by the Bundesländer (federal states) in their own ordinances. The respective provisions may differ. For example, Bavaria has the ordinance on the technical focus of structural and environmental administrative services from 28.09.2018, last amended by ordinance from 26.08.2025. Berlin has the ordinance on the careers of civil servants in technical services from 21.01.2014, last amended by Article 12 of the law from 24.02.2025. Hamburg has the ordinance on the preparatory service for access to the first entry level of career group 2 in the technical services from 26.06.2012, last amended.

The prerequisite is generally a successfully completed Bachelorstudium (bachelor's degree) or an equivalent recognized university degree in a natural science or technical field suitable for the career path.