Geprüfter Abwassermeister/Geprüfte Abwassermeisterin

Preparation courses for the examination take place, for example, at educational centers of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK), master schools, and other educational institutions. For in-person events, learning locations are classrooms. For digital learning forms (e.g., virtual classroom) and distance learning, learning occurs at home, possibly in classrooms during in-person phases. For combined learning forms (e.g., blended learning), in-person events are in classrooms, and online learning units are at home.

This is an advanced vocational training for a master craftsman/craftswoman. The type of advanced training is a master examination according to nationwide standardized regulations; participation in preparatory courses is not required. The duration of advanced training varies depending on the educational offer, class time (full-time/part-time), and learning format. Wastewater masters plan work processes, instruct skilled workers, and train apprentices. They monitor wastewater treatment plants or sewer networks from control rooms for proper wastewater discharge, wastewater treatment, and environmental safety. They also ensure that facilities and laboratory equipment function smoothly and that sewage sludge is disposed of in accordance with regulations. They optimize the use of operating resources and control cost development in their area of responsibility. Wastewater masters are employed in the wastewater industry, for example, in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants.

The duration varies depending on the educational offer, class time (full-time/part-time), and learning format.

The exemplary distribution of hours is as follows: Learning and working methodology: 10 teaching hours; Cross-disciplinary basic qualifications: 400 teaching hours; Action-specific qualifications: 690 teaching hours in total, comprising 'Technology' (300 teaching hours), 'Organization' (210 teaching hours), and 'Leadership and Personnel' (180 teaching hours). Professional and work-pedagogical qualifications: 115 teaching hours. The total number of teaching hours is 1,215.

Course fees are incurred for attending preparatory courses, and examination fees for the examination itself. Further costs may arise for working materials, travel to the training location, or external accommodation. Preparatory courses for the master examination can be financially supported according to the Upgrading Training Promotion Act (Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz). Further information: Upgrading BAföG - Advancement with funding. Support for particularly gifted young skilled workers: Foundation for the Promotion of Talented Vocational Education (Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung - SBB) - Advanced Training Scholarship.

Fundamental qualifications include: Acting in accordance with legal principles (e.g., Basic Law, labor and social law, environmental protection law, occupational safety regulations); Business management actions (e.g., economic principles, cost center accounting, and calculation methods); Applying methods of information, communication, and planning (e.g., recording, analyzing, and preparing operational, product, and process data, project management methods); Collaboration in the workplace (e.g., applying leadership methods and techniques, resolving operational problems and social conflicts); Considering scientific and technical laws (e.g., on materials, machines, processes, humans and environment, and mechanical motion processes). Action-specific qualifications include: Technology (operation, monitoring, and maintenance); Organization (cost management, operational management, customer orientation, occupational, environmental, and health protection, law); Leadership and Personnel (personnel management and development, management).

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for successfully passing the advanced training examination: Mathematics (e.g., to calculate costs and create schedules or invoices), Business/Law (e.g., to manage a department), Technology (e.g., to maintain drainage systems and control wastewater treatment plants), and Employee Leadership and Guidance (e.g., to foster and develop employees).

The advanced training consists of theoretical and practical lessons. Depending on the educational provider, one should be prepared for the following conditions: Full-time instruction typically involves full-day classes on at least four weekdays. Part-time instruction is usually career-accompanying, held on weekends or evenings, or as block instruction. For in-person events, classes are held in a classroom setting at the educational institution (possibly not in the place of residence). In digital learning forms (e.g., virtual classroom), learning occurs exclusively via electronic learning platforms and systems (primarily from home in a classroom setting). Combined learning forms (e.g., blended learning) involve in-person classes at the educational institution and self-directed learning via electronic learning platforms and systems from home. Distance learning involves individual processing of learning material from home, which demands high self-discipline and work organization.

Participation in preparatory courses is not remunerated.

The following advanced training alternatives are available for the profession of Wastewater Master (Abwassermeister/in): In the Supply and Disposal Sector: Certified Master for Circular and Waste Management and Urban Cleaning (Geprüfter Meister/Geprüfte Meisterin für Kreislauf- und Abfallwirtschaft und Städtereinigung) and Certified Master for Pipe, Canal, and Industrial Service (Geprüfter Meister/Geprüfte Meisterin für Rohr-, Kanal- und Industrieservice). Their commonality is taking on specialized and leadership tasks in the disposal and cleaning of wastewater. In the Environmental and Nature Protection Sector: Technical Environmental Specialist (Technischer Umweltfachwirt/Technische Umweltfachwirtin), State-Certified Technician specializing in Environmental Protection Technology (Staatlich geprüfter Techniker/Staatlich geprüfte Technikerin Fachrichtung Umweltschutztechnik) or with a focus on Process Technology. Their commonality is taking on specialized and leadership tasks in environmental technology. In the Office and Secretarial Sector: Certified Technical Business Administrator (Geprüfter Technischer Fachwirt/Geprüfte Technische Fachwirtin). Their commonality is taking on commercial-business management specialized and leadership tasks.

In 2005, the Ordinance on the Master Examination Professional Profile and Examination Requirements in the Wastewater Management Sector came into force. In 2020, the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and the Crafts Code (HWO) were amended, including 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.

Qualification Title: Geprüfter Abwassermeister/Geprüfte Abwassermeisterin

Becoming a Certified Wastewater Master (Geprüfter Abwassermeister/Geprüfte Abwassermeisterin) is a vocational advanced training. The master craftsman examination is uniformly regulated nationwide in Germany. It is not required to attend a course to be admitted to the examination.

After completing this advanced training, Wastewater Masters work in municipal and industrial wastewater management companies. They can keep their specialist knowledge current, up-to-date, and expand it through adaptive training. The range of topics extends from wastewater to environmental law. For those seeking career advancement, further training programs (Aufstiegsweiterbildung) specifically designed for advanced training graduates can broaden and complement their skill profile, building on existing qualifications. For instance, taking the examination as a Technical Business Administrator (Technische/r Betriebswirt/in) is a logical step. With their advanced training qualification, masters can also gain access to university studies (Studium) even without a general higher education entrance qualification (schulische Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) and, for example, obtain a Bachelor's degree (Bachelorabschluss) in Waste and Disposal Technology.

For the examination: Ordinance on the Examination for the Recognized Qualification of Certified Wastewater Master (Geprüfter Abwassermeister/Geprüfte Abwassermeisterin) (AbwasserMeistPrV) of 23.02.2005 (BGBl. I S. 369), last amended by Art. 33 of the Ordinance of 09.12.2019 (BGBl. I S. 2153). Instructor Aptitude Ordinance of 21.01.2009 (BGBl. I S. 88). Further information: Certified Wastewater Master (Geprüfter Abwassermeister/Geprüfte Abwassermeisterin) - Framework Plan with Learning Objectives, 2006 (German Chamber of Industry and Commerce - DIHK). Framework Plan for the Training of Instructors, Recommendation of the Main Committee of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung) of 25.06.2009 (amended version of 20.06.2023).

The prerequisite for admission to the master craftsman examination is generally: A completed vocational training (Berufsausbildung) as an environmental technologist for wastewater management (Umwelttechnologe/-technologin für Abwasserbewirtschaftung) or as a specialist for wastewater technology (Fachkraft für Abwassertechnik - predecessor occupation) with corresponding professional experience; or A completed vocational training as a supply and disposal specialist (Ver- und Entsorger/in), electrical qualification, and corresponding professional experience; or A final examination in another recognized apprenticeship (Ausbildungsberuf), electrical qualification, and subsequently at least 3 years of professional experience; or At least 3 years of professional experience, electrical qualification, and subsequently at least 3 years of professional experience. The electrical qualification includes skills and knowledge such as: describing basic quantities and their relationships, checking and replacing fuses and measuring devices, installing, checking, and maintaining battery systems.