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

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

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 economists for information processing analyze and create organizational concepts for the use of IT in companies. They develop databases, application software, and web-based information and knowledge management systems. Furthermore, they advise customers, management, and departments on the acquisition of hardware and software, and check existing systems for security and economic efficiency. They manage, maintain, and service IT systems and conduct user training. They also take on tasks in data management and archiving and ensure efficient information management. Work areas and locations: Business economists for information processing are employed in companies in almost all sectors.

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

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 Assistance Act (Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz). Further information: Aufstiegs-BAföG - Promotion with funding. Support for particularly gifted young professionals: Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung (SBB) - Further Education Scholarship.

Learning areas: Subject-specific, e.g.: Information Processing, Business Administration, Accounting, Business Mathematics. Interdisciplinary, e.g.: Communication and Work Techniques, Professional Communication in a Foreign Language. Additional knowledge: Schools may provide additional knowledge that enables the acquisition of instructor qualification (Ausbildereignung) or university of applied sciences entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife).

Technical colleges (Fachschule) may offer additional qualifications, e.g., certification as a project manager.

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for successfully passing the advanced training examination: Economics/Law (e.g., to evaluate business documents), Mathematics (e.g., to analyze IT systems for economic efficiency), Computer Science/Data Processing (e.g., to conceptualize information and knowledge management systems), English (e.g., for English-language specialist literature).

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 training on weekends or in the evenings. The learning format is generally in-person events: classroom instruction 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 Business Administrator (Betriebswirt/in) for Information Processing: In the field of Networking, Data and Information Security: Certified Professional Specialist for Data Analysis (Geprüfter Berufsspezialist für Datenanalyse), Certified Professional Specialist for IT Consulting (Geprüfte/r Berufsspezialist/in für IT-Beratung), Certified Professional Specialist for Information Security (Geprüfte/r Berufsspezialist/in für Informationssicherheit), Certified Professional Specialist for System Integration and Networking (Geprüfte/r Berufsspezialist/in für Systemintegration und Vernetzung). Also, State-certified Technician (Staatlich geprüfter Techniker/in) specializing in Computer Science with a focus on Technical Computer Science, Network Technology, or Sustainable Digitalization, leading to a Bachelor Professional in Technik.

In 2020, the Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz - BBiG) and the Crafts Code (Handwerksordnung - HWO) were amended. This included the introduction of advanced 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 advanced training regulations.

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

This advanced training is legally regulated only in the mentioned Bundesländer (federal states). It leads to the following qualification titles there: Rhineland-Palatinate: State-Certified Business Administrator (Specialization in Information Processing and Information Management) (Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft), State-Certified Business Specialist for Information Processing (Partial Qualification). Saxony-Anhalt: State-Certified Business Administrator (Bachelor Professional in Wirtschaft). Schleswig-Holstein: State-Certified Business Administrator (Bachelor Professional in the Field of Business). For internally regulated advanced training programs: Business Administrator (VWA) - with a focus on Business Informatics, Certified IT Business Administrator.

State-certified business administrator for information processing is a vocational advanced training. It is regulated by state law and takes place at Fachschulen (technical colleges). The full-time training lasts 2 years, while part-time training takes 3-4 years. Depending on the federal state, a partial qualification as a business specialist is possible. There are also educational offers based on internal regulations.

Improve opportunities with additional qualifications: Aspiring business administrators for information processing can gain a good starting position by acquiring additional qualifications during their advanced training, such as certification as a project manager. Find suitable employment: After their advanced training, business administrators for information processing work in companies in almost all economic sectors and in public administrations. Secure employability: Through adaptive advanced training (Anpassungsweiterbildung), one can keep their specialized knowledge current, up-to-date, and expand it. The range of topics extends from software development to IT project management. Advance professionally: With their advanced training qualification, business administrators can gain access to a Studium (university degree program) even without a school-based higher education entrance qualification and, for example, obtain a bachelor's degree in business informatics.

Federal level: Framework Agreement on Fachschulen (Resolution of the Kultusministerkonferenz of 07.11.2002 as amended by the Bildungsministerkonferenz of 12.12.2025). The framework agreement of the Kultusministerkonferenz on advanced training at Fachschulen is not directly applicable law. The individual Bundesländer (federal states) regulate advanced training in their school or Fachschule regulations based on the framework agreement. State level: School or Fachschule regulations. Advanced training is regulated by state law in the following federal states: Fachschule Ordinance for Agriculture, Design, Home Economics, Technology, and Business, promulgated as Article 1 of the Ordinance of 30.10.2024 (GVBl.Rh-Pf. S. 351). Ordinance on Vocational Schools (BbS-VO) of 10.07.2015 (GVBl. LSA S. 322, S. 652), last amended by Ordinance of 17.06.2022 (GVBl. LSA S. 137). State Ordinance on the Fachschule (Fachschulverordnung - FSVO) of 10.05.2021 (NBI.MBWK.Schl.-H. S. 174, corr. S. 221), last amended by Article 7.

Fachschulen generally require a qualification in a relevant recognized Ausbildung (vocational training) profession and professional experience. The minimum school-based prerequisite is usually a secondary school leaving certificate.