Betriebsassistent/Betriebsassistentin im Handwerk (doppelt qualifizierende Ausbildung)

Business Assistants in crafts are trained in a school-based format at educational institutions (Berufsschule (vocational school), Berufskolleg (vocational college)). Learning locations are classrooms. In addition, the training in the recognized vocational occupation takes place in the company and at the Berufsschule (vocational school).

Occupation Type: Vocational training. Type of Training: Dual-qualification training (recognized vocational training and Business Assistant - Crafts qualification). Duration of Training: Usually 3 years. Learning Locations: Educational institution/Berufskolleg (vocational college) as well as training company and Berufsschule (vocational school) (dual training). What do you do in this profession? Business Assistants in crafts perform commercial-administrative tasks, advise and support customers, and monitor orders. For example, they conduct sales talks and negotiations, prepare offers, purchase materials, and ensure that they are stored professionally or provided in time for processing. They also monitor payment and delivery dates, carry out cost accounting, and prepare calculations. They optimize work processes, handle personnel matters, manage correspondence, and create technical templates, statistics, and evaluations. Where do you work? Employment companies: Business Assistant.

Usually 3 years.

Example of hourly distribution: Control of value streams in the craft business, success processes; cost and performance accounting and business taxes: 1st year 40 hours, 2nd year 40 hours, 3rd year 0 hours. Development and marketing of a service in crafts considering legal framework conditions: 1st year 120 hours, 2nd year 0 hours, 3rd year 0 hours. Processing orders, implementing customer and business process orientation in the craft business: 1st year 0 hours, 2nd year 120 hours, 3rd year 0 hours. Personnel support as an important quality factor in the craft business: 1st year 0 hours, 2nd year 0 hours, 3rd year 100 hours. Maintaining customer relationships of the craft business: 1st year 0 hours, 2nd year 0 hours, 3rd year 60 hours. Total hours: 1st year total: 160 hours, 2nd year total: 160 hours, 3rd year total: 160 hours.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in the company is free for the trainees. Costs may arise for example for: External accommodation, meals and specialist literature, course fees, examination fees.

During the Ausbildung (vocational training) as a Business Assistant in crafts, one acquires knowledge in areas such as: Fundamentals of Accounting and Controlling: Bookkeeping, annual financial statements and basics of evaluation, cost and performance accounting, controlling. Fundamentals of Economic Action in the Company: Crafts in economy and society, marketing, organization, human resources and personnel management, financing, planning, founding. Legal and Tax Fundamentals: Civil law, dunning and litigation procedures, enforcement, insolvency proceedings; craft and trade law, commercial and corporate law, competition law; labor law; social and private insurance; taxes. The training in the recognized vocational occupation in crafts corresponds to the content of the respective vocational training, in which the training takes place parallel to the Business Assistant - Crafts qualification.

Candidates attend courses in addition to their dual Ausbildung (vocational training) processes. This is a training situation that includes theoretical lessons.

During a dual Ausbildung (vocational training) with an integrated additional qualification as a Betriebsassistent/in (business assistant) in the skilled crafts sector, trainees receive the usual Ausbildung (vocational training) remuneration applicable to the respective training occupation. No remuneration is received for participating in further training courses.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects is a good prerequisite for successful Ausbildung (vocational training): Mathematics (e.g., for making calculations), Economics (e.g., for using cost and performance accounting), German (e.g., for correspondence with suppliers, authorities, and associations).

The following Ausbildung (vocational training) alternatives are available for the profession of Betriebsassistent/in (business assistant) in the skilled crafts sector: In the field of office and secretarial work, Managementassistent/in (management assistant) (dual-qualified Ausbildung) or Geprüfter Berufsspezialist Technischer Kaufmann/Geprüfte Berufsspezialistin Technische Kauffrau (certified technical specialist/commercial clerk) (dual-qualified Ausbildung). Their commonality is performing office and organizational tasks, including in sales, purchasing, and accounting. In the field of management and corporate leadership, Technischer Betriebswirt/in (technical business economist) (dual-qualified Ausbildung) or Betriebswirt/in (business economist) (dual-qualified Ausbildung) for general business administration are also alternatives. Their commonality is performing organizational tasks, possibly at the interface between business administration and technology.

In 2020, the Berufsbildungsgesetz (BBiG - Vocational Training Act) and the Handwerksordnung (HWO - Skilled Crafts Code) were amended. These amendments included the introduction of a minimum Ausbildung (vocational training) remuneration and the expansion of the possibility to complete Ausbildung (vocational training) in part-time. In 2024, the Berufsbildungsvalidierungs- und -digitalisierungsgesetz (Vocational Training Validation and Digitalization Act) came into force. This law introduced changes to the BBiG and HWO, among other things, legally anchoring the possibility of digital mobile Ausbildung (vocational training) and introducing a determination and certification procedure (vocational validation) for individual professional competence based on the standard of a recognized training occupation, regardless of a formal vocational training qualification.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) as a Betriebsassistent/in (business assistant) in the skilled crafts sector is a dual-qualified initial Ausbildung. It leads to a qualification in a recognized skilled crafts occupation and, in parallel, to the Betriebsassistent/in (business assistant) qualification regulated by state law or by the regulations of the competent chambers of skilled crafts. This typically 3-year Ausbildung (vocational training) is carried out in skilled crafts educational institutions, skilled crafts businesses, and Berufsschule (vocational schools) or Berufskolleg (vocational colleges).

This qualification is legally regulated only in the specified Bundesland (federal state) and leads to the following qualification title there: North Rhine-Westphalia: Business Assistant in Crafts (Betriebsassistent im Handwerk). Alternatively, qualifications regulated by the regulations of the relevant Handwerkskammern (chambers of crafts) can also be acquired. These also lead to the qualification of Business Assistant in Crafts or to qualifications such as European Assistant in Crafts (Europaassistent im Handwerk), European Assistant (HWK) or Management Assistant (HWK). Generally, an additional qualification in a recognized Ausbildung (vocational training) profession in crafts is also acquired.

It is possible to find suitable employment after Ausbildung (vocational training). Business Assistants in Crafts work in craft businesses in various economic sectors. Through adaptive continuing education (Anpassungsweiterbildung), one can keep their specialized knowledge current, up-to-date, and expand it. The range of topics extends from accounting to materials management. To advance professionally, further training for career progression (Aufstiegsweiterbildung) helps to achieve leadership positions. It is advisable to take the examination as a Specialist in Commercial Business Management (HwO). With a higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung), one can also pursue a Studium (university degree) and, for example, obtain a Bachelor's degree in Craft Management. Starting one's own business is also possible, for example, with one's own craft business. If necessary, an entry in the Handwerksrolle (crafts register) may be required for this.

This qualification is regulated by state law in the following Bundesland (federal state): Ordinance on Training and Examination in the Educational Programs of the Vocational College (Ausbildungs- und Prüfungsordnung Berufskolleg - APO-BK) of 26.05.1999 (GV. NRW. S. 240, ber. GV. NRW. 2000 S. 563, GV. NRW. 2001 S. 766), last amended by Article 3 of the Ordinance of 29.01.2026 (GV. NRW. S. 130). Supplement to the curriculum of the specialized classes of the dual system of vocational training "Business Assistant in Crafts" of 29.03.2001. There are no state law regulations in the following Bundesländer (federal states): Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thüringen. The relevant Handwerkskammern (chambers of crafts) issue examination regulations for this qualification. Example of a Handwerkskammer regulation: Law.

Generally, the general higher education entrance qualification (allgemeine Hochschulreife) or the university of applied sciences entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife), sometimes also a secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss), and an Ausbildung (vocational training) contract in a recognized craft profession are required.