Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin (Fachschule) für Agrarbetrieb/Bachelor Professional in Agrarwirtschaft

This advanced training takes place at technical colleges (Fachschule) and other educational institutions. Learning locations include classrooms and computer rooms.

Occupation type: Advanced training occupation, Bachelor Professional. Type of advanced training: Advanced training at technical colleges (Fachschule) (regulated by state law). Duration of advanced training: 1-4 years (full-time/part-time). Tasks and activities: Agricultural business managers coordinate and manage processes in agricultural businesses. They work, for example, as independent farmers or employed administrators. They plan how land is used and organize crop cultivation and animal husbandry. They also market agricultural products, take on administrative tasks, and decide which machinery and equipment to use. In experimental research, they organize and control field trials in areas such as cultivation, plant protection, fertilization, and propagation. Work areas and locations: Agricultural business managers are employed in agricultural businesses involved in animal husbandry and crop production.

Full-time: 1-3 years. Part-time: 3-4 years.

Distribution of hours (example): Cross-disciplinary learning area: German/Communication: 200 hours, Foreign language (English): 160 hours, Mathematics: 140 hours, Social Studies/Economics: 100 hours. Total cross-disciplinary learning area: 600 hours. Subject-specific learning area: Applied Business Administration: 480 hours, Vocational and Work Pedagogy: 120 hours, Production and Marketing of Plant Products: 340 hours, Production and Marketing of Animal Products: 320 hours, Landscape Management/Nature and Environmental Protection: 60 hours, Agricultural Technology/Agricultural Construction: 300 hours, Agricultural Energy Production and Use: 60 hours, Organic Farming: 60 hours, Law: 120 hours, Corporate Management: 220 hours, Project Work: 40 hours. Total subject-specific learning area: 2,120 hours. Elective area: Subject-specific electives: 40 hours. Total hours: 2,760 hours.

Advanced training at state technical colleges (Fachschule) is generally free for students. Private technical colleges, however, usually charge course fees, and sometimes also admission and examination fees. Additional costs may arise, for example, for working materials, travel to the training location, or external accommodation. Funding opportunities: Business administration advanced training can be financially supported according to the Advanced Training Promotion Act (Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz). Further information: Aufstiegs-BAföG - Advancement with Funding. Support for particularly talented young specialists: Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung (SBB) - Weiterbildungsstipendium.

Learning areas: Subject-specific, e.g.: Applied Business Administration, Vocational and Work Pedagogy, Production and Marketing of Plant Products, Production and Marketing of Animal Products, Landscape Management/Nature and Environmental Protection, Agricultural Technology/Agricultural Construction, Agricultural Energy Production and Use, Organic Farming, Law, Corporate Management, Subject-specific electives. Cross-disciplinary, e.g.: German/Communication, Foreign language (English), Mathematics. Additional knowledge: Schools may also provide additional knowledge that enables the acquisition of trainer suitability (Ausbildereignung).

In-depth knowledge in the following areas are good prerequisites for successfully passing the advanced training examination: Economics/Law (e.g., to determine costs and comply with regulations), Mathematics (e.g., to perform cost calculations and billing), Biology/Chemistry (e.g., to correctly use fertilizers and plant protection products), Physics/Technology (e.g., to operate machines and equipment).

The advanced training consists of theoretical and practical lessons. Depending on the education provider, one should be prepared for the following conditions: For full-time instruction, lessons are full-day on at least four weekdays; for part-time instruction, it is usually career-accompanying advanced training on weekends or in the evenings. The learning format is generally in-person events: lessons are held in a classroom setting at the educational institution (possibly not at the place of residence).

Participation in advanced training is not remunerated.

The following advanced training alternatives are available for the profession of Agricultural Business Administrator (Agrarbetriebswirt/in): Plant Sector: State-certified Economist (Staatlich geprüfter Wirtschafter/in Fachrichtung Landwirtschaft/Bachelor Professional in Agrarwirtschaft), State-certified Viticulture Economist (Staatlich geprüfter Wirtschafter/in Fachrichtung Weinbau/Bachelor Professional in Agrarwirtschaft), State-certified Horticulture Economist (Staatlich geprüfter Wirtschafter/in Fachrichtung Gartenbau/Bachelor Professional in Agrarwirtschaft), Master Farmer (Landwirtschaftsmeister/in), Master Agricultural Service Provider (Agrarservicemeister/in), Master Vintner (Winzermeister/in), State-certified Agricultural Engineer (Staatlich geprüfter Techniker/in Fachrichtung Agrartechnik/Bachelor Professional in Technik), State-certified Viticulture and Cellar Management Engineer (Staatlich geprüfter Techniker/in Fachrichtung Weinbau und Kellerwirtschaft/Bachelor Professional in Technik). Commonality: Organizing and managing work processes in handling plants. Sales and Distribution Sector: Certified Customer Advisor (Geprüfter Kundenberater/Geprüf).

In 2020, the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and the Crafts Code (HWO) were amended. Among other things, these amendments introduced the advanced training qualifications "Certified Professional Specialist" (Geprüfte/r Berufsspezialist/in), "Bachelor Professional," and "Master Professional" to emphasize the equivalence of vocational and academic education. The use of professional titles depends on the enactment of corresponding new advanced training regulations.

The school and technical college regulations of the Bundesländer (federal states) govern the duration, possibilities for shortening, and extending the training. Shortening: Participants with a degree in another specialization of the business field or in a second focus of a specialization can shorten the advanced training. Extension: Participants can partly make up for missing professional experience during the advanced training. This may extend the duration of the advanced training.

This advanced training (Weiterbildung) is legally regulated only in the specified Bundesländer (federal states). It leads to the following qualification titles in those states: Bavaria: State-certified Agricultural Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Agrarbetriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Agrarbetriebswirtin). The title Bachelor Professional in Agrarwirtschaft can be used in addition to the qualification. Hesse: State-certified Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin), specialization in Agricultural Economics (Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft). Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony-Anhalt: State-certified Agricultural Business Administrator – specialization in Agriculture. Lower Saxony: State-certified Agricultural Business Administrator (Bachelor Professional in Agrarwirtschaft). North Rhine-Westphalia: State-certified Agricultural Business Administrator – specialization in Horticulture (Bachelor Professional in Agrarwirtschaft). State-certified Agricultural Business Administrator – specialization in Agriculture.

State-certified Agricultural Business Administrator is a vocational advanced training (Weiterbildung). It is regulated by state law and takes place at Fachschulen (technical colleges). The advanced training lasts 1-3 years full-time, and 3-4 years part-time.

It is possible to find suitable employment after the advanced training (Weiterbildung). Agricultural business administrators work, for example, in agricultural businesses involved in animal husbandry and crop cultivation. Through adaptive advanced training (Anpassungsweiterbildung), one can keep their specialized knowledge current, up-to-date, and expand it. The range of topics extends from agriculture to finance and accounting. With their advanced training qualification, business administrators can gain access to a Studium (university degree program) even without a general university entrance qualification from school, and for example, obtain a Bachelor's degree (Bachelorabschluss) in Agricultural Management. Starting one's own business is also possible, for example, as an independent farmer.

School and Fachschule (technical college) regulations: This advanced training (Weiterbildung) is regulated by state law in the following Bundesländer (federal states): Bavarian Agricultural School Regulations (BayAgrSchO) of 05.09.2019 (Bay.GVBl. S. 564), last amended by § 1 of the Ordinance of 23.07.2025 (Bay.GVBl. S. 418). School trial of the state agricultural schools, Department of Agriculture and the state higher agricultural schools, Announcement of the Bavarian State Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Forestry of 15.05.2020 (Bay.MBl. Nr. 329), amended by Announcement of the Bavarian State Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism of 08.08.2024 (Bay. MBl. Nr. 384). Ordinance on Training and Examination at One- and Two-Year Fachschulen (FS-APrVO) of 05.07.2011 (Hess.ABl. S. 323), last amended by Article 28 of the Ordinance of 16.12.2025 (Hess.GVBl. Nr. 110). Ordinance on Admission, Training and Examination at the Fachschule for Agricultural Economics (Fachschulverordnung für die Agrarwirtsch).

Fachschulen (technical colleges) generally require a qualification in a relevant recognized Ausbildung (vocational training) and professional experience. The minimum educational requirement is a Hauptschulabschluss (basic secondary school leaving certificate) or a mittlerer Bildungsabschluss (intermediate secondary school leaving certificate). This depends on the respective Bundesland (federal state). Some federal states also require a qualification as a state-certified economist in the field of agriculture.