Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin (Fachschule) für allgemeine Betriebswirtschaft/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft

This advanced training takes place at technical colleges (Fachschule) and other educational institutions. For in-person events, the learning locations are classrooms and computer rooms. For combined learning forms (e.g., blended learning), classrooms and computer rooms are used for in-person events, and home for online learning units. For distance learning, the learning location is home, with classrooms and computer rooms potentially used for in-person phases.

This is an advanced training profession at the Bachelor Professional level. The advanced training is offered at technical colleges (Fachschule) and specialized academies (Fachakademie) (regulated by state law). The duration is 2-4 years full-time, or 3-4 years part-time. Business administrators (Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin) design internal company organization, optimize workflows and information flows, and manage processes in their areas. In finance and accounting, they evaluate statistics, create profitability analyses, and plan financing. They control bookkeeping and procure loans for investments. In purchasing, they acquire raw materials, goods, and operating resources, analyze markets, and negotiate supply contracts. In human resources, they plan personnel requirements, support employees, and organize training and further education, while in marketing and sales, they develop strategies and manage key accounts. With sufficient professional experience, they lead teams, departments, or branches.

Full-time: 2 years. Part-time: 3-4 years.

Distribution of hours (example): Compulsory area, interdisciplinary learning area: German/Communication: 120 teaching hours, English: 120 teaching hours, Commercial and Labor Law: 120 teaching hours, Political Education: 80 teaching hours. Total interdisciplinary learning area: 440 teaching hours. Subject-specific learning area: Business Administration: 420 teaching hours, Accounting/Controlling: 400 teaching hours, Financing/Investment: 240 teaching hours, Economics: 240 teaching hours, Tax Law: 240 teaching hours, Statistics: 180 teaching hours, Applied Informatics: 240 teaching hours. Total subject-specific learning area: 1,960 teaching hours. Total compulsory area: 2,400 teaching hours. Elective area (for acquiring the Fachhochschulreife - university of applied sciences entrance qualification): Mathematics: 160 teaching hours. Total teaching hours: 2,560 teaching hours.

Advanced training at state technical colleges (Fachschule) and specialized academies (Fachakademie) 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 work materials, travel to the training location, or external accommodation. Funding opportunities: Business administration advanced training can be financially supported according to the Advanced Training Assistance Act (Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz). For more information: Aufstiegs-BAföG - Advancement with Funding. For the promotion of particularly talented young specialists: Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung (SBB) - Further Education Scholarship.

Learning areas: Subject-specific, e.g.: Business Administration, Financing/Investment, Economics, Accounting/Controlling, Tax Law, Statistics, Applied Informatics. Interdisciplinary, e.g.: German/Communication, English, Commercial and Labor Law. Additional knowledge: Schools may provide additional knowledge that enables the acquisition of the Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification).

Vocational colleges or academies may offer additional qualifications, for example, preparation for the instructor aptitude test.

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for successfully completing the advanced training: Economics/Law: for example, to plan, organize, and control economic and administrative processes.

The advanced training consists of theoretical and practical lessons. Depending on the education provider, one should be prepared for the following conditions: Lesson time for full-time instruction: full-day instruction on at least four weekdays. Lesson time for part-time instruction: typically career-accompanying advanced training on weekends or in the evenings. Learning format for in-person events: classroom instruction at the educational institution (possibly not at the place of residence). For combined learning formats (e.g., blended learning): in-person events in a classroom setting at the educational institution and self-directed learning or online instruction via electronic learning platforms and systems from home. For distance learning: individual processing of learning material from home (high demands on self-discipline and work organization); possibly additional in-person phases at the educational institution.

For advanced training abroad, the following options are available, for example: Switzerland: Advanced training offers: wab - The Swiss advanced training database (e.g., with the search term "Betriebswirtschafter/in"). Documentation of professional experience abroad: Europass offers the possibility to document learning stays completed abroad. More information about Europass.

Participation in advanced training is not remunerated.

The following advanced training alternatives are available for the profession of Business Administrator (Fachschule): Management and Corporate Leadership Area: Business Administrator (Fachschule) for Sales/Marketing/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft, Business Administrator (Fachschule) for Foreign Trade/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft, Business Administrator (Fachschule) for Information Processing/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft, Business Administrator (Fachschule) for Communication and Office Management/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft, Business Administrator (Fachschule) for Marketing Communication/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft, Business Administrator (Fachschule) for Corporate Leadership/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft. Commonality: Taking on specialist and leadership tasks in the management of a business. Office and Secretariat Area: Certified Specialist for Office and Project Organization, Certified Human Resources Specialist, Certified Specialist.

In 2020, the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and the Crafts Code (HWO) were amended. This included the introduction of further training qualifications such as 'Geprüfte/r Berufsspezialist/in', 'Bachelor Professional', and 'Master Professional' to emphasize the equivalence of vocational and academic education. The use of these professional titles depends on the enactment of corresponding new further training regulations.

The school and vocational school (Fachschule) regulations of the federal states (Bundesland) govern the duration, possibilities for shortening, and extending the training. Participants with a degree in another specialization within the field of economics or in a second focus of a specialization can shorten the further training. Participants can, in some cases, make up for missing professional experience during the further training, which may extend its duration.

This further training is legally regulated only in the mentioned federal states (Bundesland) and leads to the following qualifications: Baden-Württemberg: State-Certified Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin) - Specialization in Business Administration. Bavaria: State-Certified Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin) (Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft). Brandenburg: State-Certified Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin). The title 'Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft' can be used in addition to the qualification. Hamburg, Lower Saxony: State-Certified Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin) - Specialization in Business Administration (Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft). North Rhine-Westphalia: State-Certified Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin). The title 'Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft' can be used in addition to the qualification. Saxony: State-Certified Business Administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin) for Business Administration (Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft).

State-certified business administrator (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin) is a professional further training. It is regulated by state law and takes place at vocational schools (Fachschule) and specialized academies (Fachakademie). It lasts 2 years full-time, or 3-4 years part-time. There are also educational offers based on internal regulations. Furthermore, there is a dual-qualification initial vocational training (Erstausbildung) to become a business administrator, which is typically aimed at Abitur (high school diploma) graduates.

Improve Opportunities with Additional Qualifications: Prospective business administrators can gain a good starting position by acquiring additional qualifications during their further training. For example, one can obtain the E-Business Junior Assistant (EBJA-Certification). Find the Right Employment: After their further training, business administrators work in industrial, commercial, and service companies across all economic sectors. Secure Employability: Through adaptive further training (Anpassungsweiterbildung), one can keep their specialized knowledge current, up-to-date, and expand it. The range of topics extends from purchasing to human resources. Advance Professionally: Building on existing qualifications, advanced further training (Aufstiegsweiterbildung) specifically designed for further training graduates can expand and complement their competence profile. It is logical to take the examination as a business administrator according to the Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz).

School and Vocational School (Fachschule) Regulations: The further training is regulated by state law in the following federal states (Bundesland): Baden-Württemberg: Ordinance of the Ministry of Culture on training and examination at the two-year vocational schools for economics (Betriebswirtverordnung - BetriebswirtVO) of 27.06.1998 (BW.GBl. S. 447), last amended by Article 28 of the law of 17.12.2015 (BW.GBl. S. 1210, 1225). Bavaria: School Regulations for the Specialized Academies (Fachakademieordnung - FakO) of 09.05.2017 (Bay.GVBl. S. 118), last amended by § 13 of the ordinance of 04.07.2025 (Bay.GVBl. S. 298). Brandenburg: Ordinance on the Educational Paths of the Technical and Economic Vocational School (Fachschulverordnung Technik und Wirtschaft - FSTuWV) of 12.07.2023 (Bra.GVBl. II Nr. 47). Hamburg: Training and Examination Regulations for Vocational Schools with a two-year training period in the fields of Technology, Economics, and Design (APO-FS TWG) of 16.07.2002 (HmbGVBl. S. 151), last amended by Article 2 of the ordinance of 16.01.2026 (HmbGVBl. S. 29). Vocational training regulations.

Vocational colleges and specialized academies typically require a degree in a relevant, recognized Ausbildung (vocational training) program and professional experience. The minimum educational requirement is a Hauptschulabschluss (secondary school certificate) or a mittlerer Bildungsabschluss (intermediate school certificate), which varies depending on the respective Bundesland (federal state).