Geprüfter Berufsspezialist für Softwareentwicklung/Geprüfte Berufsspezialistin für Softwareentwicklung

Preparatory courses for the examination take place at the respective educational institution. For digital learning formats (e.g., virtual classroom), learning locations are at home or, if necessary, training rooms for in-person phases. For combined learning formats (e.g., blended learning), learning locations are training rooms for in-person events and at home for online learning units.

Occupation type: Advanced training profession (Berufsspezialist/in). Type of advanced training: Advanced training examination according to nationwide uniform regulations. Participation in preparatory courses is not required. Duration of advanced training: Approx. 8-12 months (part-time). Tasks and activities: Software development specialists plan, develop, and ensure the implementation of software. They analyze framework conditions and customer requirements, design solutions, and coordinate these with clients. They select suitable system environments, define the design, plan migration and maintenance, and develop and integrate databases. They program applications, review existing systems, and continuously improve them. Through regular tests, they ensure the quality of the software. Furthermore, they create documentation and training materials, conduct training sessions, and support projects and data security. Areas of work and locations: Employing companies: Software development specialists.

Part-time: Approx. 8-12 months.

Distribution of hours (example): Learning and working methodology: 10 teaching hours. Planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating software solutions: 400 teaching hours. Analyzing and planning software architecture: 60 teaching hours. Developing software architectures: 60 teaching hours. Ensuring product quality: 50 teaching hours. Creating software and user documentation: 40 teaching hours. Handing over and introducing the system: 60 teaching hours. Conducting evaluation as a basis for continuous improvement: 40 teaching hours. Organizational and legal requirements: 40 teaching hours. Project support and coordination: 50 teaching hours. Total teaching hours: 410 teaching hours.

Course fees are incurred for attending preparatory courses, and examination fees for the examination itself. Additional costs may arise, for example, for work materials, travel to the training institution, or external accommodation. Funding opportunities: Preparatory courses for the advanced training examination can be financially supported according to the Advanced Training Assistance Act (Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz). Further information: Aufstiegs-BAföG - Advancement with Funding. Funding for particularly talented young professionals: Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung (SBB) - Advanced Training Scholarship.

Planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating software solutions. Analyzing and planning software architectures, e.g., determining customer requirements, selecting system platforms and system environments. Developing software architectures, e.g., analyzing, defining, implementing, and testing interfaces, designing databases. Ensuring product quality, e.g., defining and providing a test environment, selecting and implementing test procedures. Creating software and user documentation, e.g., creating process-accompanying software documentation, maintaining knowledge databases. Handing over and introducing systems, e.g., defining acceptance procedures, handing over software solutions to customers. Conducting evaluation as a basis for continuous improvement, e.g., evaluating process steps of software development, initiating measures for optimizing data models. Organizational and legal requirements, e.g., participating in the development of data security concepts, data security.

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for successfully passing this advanced training examination: Informatics, for example, to plan, develop, and implement software solutions; German/English, for example, to communicate with business contacts.

The advanced training consists of theoretical and practical lessons. Depending on the education provider, one should be prepared for the following conditions: Class times are usually part-time, alongside work, on weekends or in the evenings. For digital learning formats (e.g., virtual classroom), learning takes place exclusively via electronic learning platforms and systems (primarily from home in a class setting). For combined learning formats (e.g., blended learning), there are in-person classes at the educational institution in a class setting and self-directed learning via electronic learning platforms and systems from home.

For advanced training abroad, the following options are available, for example: In Austria, training offers can be found via AMS - Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich - Weiterbildungsdatenbank and WIFI Österreich (e.g., with the search terms "Softwareentwickler/in" or "Software Developer"). In Switzerland, training offers are available via wab - Die Weiterbildungsdatenbank der Schweiz (e.g., with the search terms "Softwareentwicklung" or "Software Development"). Europass offers the possibility to document learning stays completed abroad. Further information on Europass is available.

Participation in preparatory courses is not remunerated.

The following advanced training alternatives are available for the profession of Software Development Specialist: In the field of Information and Communication Technology: Certified Specialist for System Integration and Networking, Certified Specialist for Information Security, Certified Specialist for IT Consulting, Certified Specialist for Data Analysis. Commonality: developing IT solutions. In the field of Hardware and Software Development: Bachelor Professional in Business Informatics, State-certified Technician (Specializing in Informatics, Focus on Business Informatics) / Bachelor Professional in Technology, State-certified Technician (Specializing in Informatics, Focus on Technical Informatics) / Bachelor Professional in Technology.

In 2002, IT advanced training courses were reorganized: The nationwide "Ordinance on Professional Advanced Training in the Field of Information and Telecommunication Technology" (IT-Fortbildungsverordnung) established 3 career levels (Specialists, Operative Professionals, Strategic Professionals). Examination regulations for 4 Operative and 2 Strategic Professionals were set, along with 29 specialist profiles, including the Software Developer profile and 11 other profiles in software and solution development. In 2010, the IT-Fortbildungsverordnung was amended: Admission requirements for Operative Professionals were changed (shorter professional experience). Specialist profiles were included in the ordinance, reducing the number of specialist profiles from 29 to 14: The area of software and solution development was reduced to 4 profiles, with the Software Developer profile remaining. In 2020, the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and the Crafts Code (HWO) were revised, introducing new regulations among other changes.

Qualification title: Geprüfter Berufsspezialist für Softwareentwicklung (Certified Specialist for Software Development) / Geprüfte Berufsspezialistin für Softwareentwicklung (Certified Specialist for Software Development, female).

The Specialist for Software Development is a vocational advanced training. The examination is uniformly regulated nationwide in Germany. It is not necessary to attend a course to be admitted to the examination.

After their advanced training, Specialists for Software Development primarily work in the IT industry. They can also be employed in companies across various economic sectors or in public administration. To maintain and expand their expertise, they can pursue adaptive advanced training (Anpassungsweiterbildung). The range of topics extends from software development to IT application consulting. Building on existing qualifications, promotional advanced training (Aufstiegsweiterbildung) can broaden and complement the competency profile. It is a natural progression to take an examination as a Bachelor Professional in IT. With their advanced training qualification, Specialists for Software Development can also gain access to a Studium (university degree program) without a general higher education entrance qualification and, for example, obtain a bachelor's degree.

For the examination: Regulation on the examination for the recognized advanced training qualification named Certified Specialist for Software Development (Softwareentwicklung-Fortbildungsprüfungsverordnung - SEFPrV), promulgated as Article 4 of the Regulation of 24.09.2024 (BGBl. I 2024 No. 296). Further information: Certified Specialist for Software Development - Framework plan with learning objectives, 2024 (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag - DIHK).

The prerequisite for admission to the advanced training examination is generally: the final or journeyman's examination in a recognized Ausbildung (vocational training) occupation in the field of information and communication technology; or a qualification in another recognized Ausbildung occupation and at least 1 year of relevant professional experience; or at least 60 credit points in a Studium (university degree program) and at least 2 years of professional experience; or at least 4 years of professional experience with significant relevance to tasks in the field of software development.