Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin (Fachschule) für Außenwirtschaft/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft

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: 2-4 years (full-time/part-time). Tasks and activities: Business administrators (Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin für Außenwirtschaft) for foreign trade plan the import of raw materials, semi-finished products, finished goods, and operating resources from abroad, or optimize procurement channels and possibilities. In marketing and sales, they determine, for example, sales planning abroad and develop sales-promoting measures. They also monitor international and national markets and develop foreign trade strategies. In finance and accounting, they prepare financing plans and monitor business accounting. Furthermore, they provide steering and control information for company management. Work areas and locations: Business administrators for foreign trade are employed in foreign trade companies, in import and export departments.

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

Distribution of hours (example): Compulsory area. Cross-disciplinary learning area: Communication and work techniques: 120 teaching hours. Profession-related communication in a foreign language: 160 teaching hours. Economics and economic policy: 80 teaching hours. Total cross-disciplinary learning area: 360 teaching hours. Subject-specific learning areas: Corporate management and employee leadership: 120 teaching hours. Corporate finance: 120 teaching hours. Taxes and commercial law: 80 teaching hours. Controlling: 120 teaching hours. Information management and data processing: 120 teaching hours. Quality management: 80 teaching hours. Total subject-specific learning areas: 640 teaching hours. Focus-related learning areas: International procurement: 100 teaching hours. International transport: 100 teaching hours. International marketing: 120 teaching hours. European law: 80 teaching hours. Payment transactions.

Advanced training at state technical colleges (Fachschule) is generally free of charge 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 institution, 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 - Aufstieg mit Förderung. Funding for particularly talented young specialists: Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung (SBB) - Weiterbildungsstipendium.

Learning areas: Subject-specific, e.g.: Corporate management and employee leadership, International transport, Payment transactions and financing in foreign trade, Corporate finance, European law, Taxes and commercial law, Controlling, Information management and data processing, French or Spanish. Cross-disciplinary, e.g.: Communication, English, Economics/Politics. Additional knowledge: Schools may provide additional knowledge that enables the acquisition of instructor qualification (Ausbildereignung) or university of applied sciences entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife).

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for successfully passing the advanced training examination: Economics/Law (e.g., to handle foreign trade transactions and adhere to the available budget) and Mathematics (e.g., to calculate costs and evaluate statistics).

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 typically in-person events: classroom instruction at the educational institution (which may not be in the place of residence).

Participation in advanced training is not remunerated.

The following advanced training alternatives are available for the profession of Business Administrator (Fachschule) for Foreign Trade: In the field of Sales and Marketing: Business Administrator (Fachschule) for general business administration/Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft, Business Administrator (Fachschule) for trade, Certified Specialist for Foreign Trade/Bachelor Professional in Foreign Trade, Certified Commercial Specialist (advanced training), Certified Business Specialist. Commonality: developing concepts for marketing and sales. In the field of Foreign Languages: Certified Professional Specialist for Foreign Language Communication. Commonality: looking after foreign language business partnerships and customers.

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

The school and technical college regulations of the federal states (Bundesland) govern the duration, as well as 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 mentioned federal states (Bundesland) and leads to the following qualification titles: In Baden-Württemberg, the title 'Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin - Fachrichtung Betriebswirtschaft und Unternehmensmanagement' may be used with an additional descriptor characterizing the profile. The title 'Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft' can also be used in addition to the qualification. In Berlin, the title 'Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin - Schwerpunkt Außenwirtschaft' and additionally the title 'Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft' can be used. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the title 'Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin - Fachrichtung Außenhandel' and additionally the title 'Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft' can be used. In Rhineland-Palatinate, the title 'Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin - Fachrichtung Betriebswirtschaft und Unternehmen' is awarded.

A state-certified business economist (Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin für Außenwirtschaft) for foreign trade is a vocational advanced training (Weiterbildung). It is regulated by state law and takes place at vocational schools (Fachschule). The advanced training lasts 2 years full-time, or 3-4 years part-time. A partial qualification as a business specialist (Betriebsfachwirt/Betriebsfachwirtin) is also possible depending on the federal state. Additionally, there is a dual-qualifying initial vocational training (Erstausbildung) to become a business economist in foreign trade. This is generally aimed at high school graduates (Abiturienten).

After their advanced training (Weiterbildung), business economists for foreign trade work in almost all sectors of the economy. They can keep their specialized knowledge up-to-date, bring it to the latest standard, and expand it through adaptive advanced training (Anpassungsweiterbildung). The range of topics extends from foreign trade to commercial law. Building on existing qualifications, career advancement training (Aufstiegsweiterbildung) specifically designed for advanced training graduates can broaden and complement their competence profile. It is a logical step to take the examination as a business economist according to the Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz). With their advanced training qualification, business economists can also gain access to a university degree program (Studium) even without a general university entrance qualification, and for example, obtain a Bachelor's degree (Bachelorabschluss) in International Economics. The step into self-employment is also possible.

The advanced training (Weiterbildung) is regulated by state law in the following federal states (Bundesland): School and Vocational School Regulations, School Trial Provisions, Ordinance on the Study Programs at the State Vocational Schools (Fachschule) of the Technical, Agricultural Economics, and Economic Departments of the State of Berlin (Fachschulverordnung Technik, Agrarwirtschaft und Wirtschaft) of 30.04.2014 (Ber.GVBl. S. 125), last amended by Article 2 of the Ordinance of 15.09.2025 (Ber.GVBl. S. 470). Ordinance on Training and Examination in the Educational Courses 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). Vocational School Ordinance for Agricultural Economics, Design, Home Economics, Technology, and Economics, promulgated as Article 1 of the Ordinance of 30.10.2024 (GVBl.Rh-Pf. S. 351). In the following federal states, there are no state-specific regulations: Bavaria, Brandenburg.

Vocational schools (Fachschule) generally require a qualification in a relevant recognized vocational training (Ausbildung) occupation and professional experience. The minimum educational requirement is a secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss).