Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin (Fachschule) für Handel

The 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), the learning locations are classrooms for in-person events and home for online learning units.

Occupation type: Advanced training occupation (Weiterbildungsberuf), Business Administrator (Betriebswirt/in). Type of advanced training: Advanced training according to the internal regulations of the educational institutions. Duration of advanced training: Approx. 3 years (part-time). Tasks and activities: Business administrators in trade take on steering and controlling tasks in purchasing, marketing, sales, human resources, or accounting. In merchandise purchasing, they negotiate delivery and payment conditions, monitor delivery dates, and control goods receipt. In marketing and sales, they determine sales conditions, monitor order execution, plan advertising measures, and evaluate market research results. In human resources, they coordinate personnel deployment and handle payroll. Furthermore, in accounting and finance, they monitor business transactions and control bookkeeping. Areas of work and locations: Business administrators in trade are employed in wholesale and retail companies.

Part-time: approx. 3 years.

Hour distribution: Compulsory area: Applying learning and working techniques: 20 teaching hours. Leading and motivating personnel: 170 teaching hours. Conducting trade marketing and sales control: 150 teaching hours. Classifying the trade business in the national and global environment: 90 teaching hours. Managing a trade company: 180 teaching hours. Controlling procurement and logistics processes: 90 teaching hours. Using data processing in trade: 100 teaching hours. Understanding the legal framework of a trade business: 100 teaching hours. Applying business accounting: 180 teaching hours. Acting economically in trade: 180 teaching hours. Acquiring assortment competence in food retail: 180 teaching hours. Applying business English in a trade company: 40 teaching hours. Total compulsory area: 1,480 teaching hours. Project work: Preparatory lessons for project work: 30 teaching hours. Elective area: Applying mathematics for economics.

Advanced training at state technical colleges (Fachschule) and technical 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). Further information: Aufstiegs-BAföG - Advancement with Funding. Support for particularly talented young professionals: Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung (SBB) - Advanced Training Scholarship.

Personnel management and motivation, trade marketing and sales control, corporate management in trade, procurement and logistics processes, data processing in trade, legal framework of a trade business, business accounting, assortment competence in food retail, business English.

Vocational schools may offer additional qualifications, such as proof of expertise for retail trade in over-the-counter medicines.

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for successfully passing the advanced training examination: Economics/Law: e.g., to prepare and conclude contracts. Mathematics: e.g., to perform cost and performance accounting.

The advanced training consists of theoretical and practical lessons. Depending on the education provider, one should be prepared for the following conditions: Lesson time: Usually part-time 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 via electronic learning platforms and systems from home.

Participation in advanced training is not remunerated.

The following advanced training alternatives are available for the profession of business administrator in trade (Handelsbetriebswirt/in): Marketing and Advertising Sector: Business Administrator (Vocational School) for Sales/Marketing / Bachelor Professional in Business. Certified Marketing Specialist (Geprüfter Fachwirt für Marketing) / Bachelor Professional in Marketing. Commonality: Developing and implementing marketing concepts. Sales and Distribution Sector: Business Administrator (Vocational School) for General Business Administration / Bachelor Professional in Business. Certified E-Commerce Specialist (Geprüfter Fachwirt im E-Commerce) (Advanced Training). Certified Retail Sales Specialist (Geprüfter Fachwirt für Vertrieb im Einzelhandel) (Advanced Training). Certified Business Specialist (Geprüfter Wirtschaftsfachwirt). Commonality: Developing and implementing sales strategies. Trade Sector: Business Administrator (Vocational School) for Foreign Trade / Bachelor Professional in Business. Certified Foreign Trade Specialist (Geprüfter Fachwirt für Außenwirtschaft).

Degree Title: State-Certified Business Administrator in Trade (Staatlich geprüfter Handelsbetriebswirt/in). State-Certified Trade Specialist (Staatlich geprüfter Handelsfachwirt/in) (Partial Qualification).

The Handelsbetriebswirt (Business Administrator for Trade) qualification is a vocational advanced training. It is regulated by the internal rules of the educational institutions. Part-time training lasts approximately 3 years. A partial qualification as a Handelsfachwirt (Trade Specialist) is also possible.

Improve opportunities with additional qualifications: Future business administrators for trade can secure a good starting position by acquiring additional qualifications during their training, such as proof of expertise for retail sales of over-the-counter medicines. Find suitable employment: After their training, business administrators for trade work in wholesale and retail companies. Ensure employability: Through adaptive advanced training, one can keep their specialized knowledge current, bring it up to date, and expand it. The range of topics extends from wholesale and retail to commercial law. Advance professionally: Building on existing qualifications, career advancement training courses specifically designed for advanced training graduates can broaden and complement their competence profile. It is logical to take the Betriebswirt (Business Administrator) examination according to the Berufsbildung (Vocational Training) Act.

The training and examination to become a Handelsbetriebswirt are not uniformly regulated nationwide; the internal regulations of the educational institution apply. For example, there is the examination regulation for state-certified Handelsbetriebswirt from August 31, 2021, by the Bundesfachschule des Lebensmittelhandels (food akademie Neuwied) - a state-recognized Fachschule (technical school).

Educational institutions typically require a qualification from a relevant recognized Ausbildung (vocational training) program and 1 year of commercial professional experience. The minimum educational requirement is usually a secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss).