Geprüfter Berufsspezialist für Systemintegration und Vernetzung/Geprüfte Berufsspezialistin für Systemintegration und Vernetzung

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 during in-person phases. For combined learning formats (e.g., blended learning), training rooms are used for in-person events, and home for online learning units.

Occupation type: Advanced training occupation (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. 7-12 months (part-time). Tasks and activities: Professional specialists for system integration and networking plan, integrate, and commission networked IT systems. For example, they network industrial production systems or infrastructures of transport systems by selecting and connecting suitable components. For this, they use various operating systems and platforms, integrate protocols, and thus enable data exchange and machine control. Subsequently, they test the systems and develop concepts to quickly restore them in case of failures. They also analyze process, operational, and sensor data and solve problems in case of deviations. In doing so, they always pay attention to IT security, evaluate risks, and provide support.

Part-time: Approx. 7-12 months.

Distribution of hours (example): Learning and working methodology: 10 teaching hours. Planning IT infrastructures, integrating and networking systems and components, and ensuring function and operation: 400 teaching hours. Planning, conceptualization, integration: 130 teaching hours. Ensuring ongoing operation: 90 teaching hours. Quality assurance and IT security: 90 teaching hours. Organizational and legal requirements: 40 teaching hours. Project support and coordination: 50 teaching hours. Total hours: 410 teaching hours.

Course fees are incurred for attending preparatory courses, and examination fees for the examination itself. Additional costs may arise, e.g., for work materials, travel to the training location, 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 IT infrastructures, integrating and networking systems and components, and ensuring function and operation. Planning, conceptualization, integration, e.g., integrating different operating systems, platforms, and architectures, planning required resources, selecting possible license models. Ensuring ongoing operation, e.g., developing recovery concepts in case of component and system failures, preparing and evaluating operational, process, and sensor data. Quality assurance and IT security, e.g., participating in the creation and development of IT security concepts and their implementation, conducting test scenarios through simulation of selected operating situations. Organizational and legal requirements, e.g., determining requirements for data security concepts, considering and implementing data security concepts. Project support and coordination, e.g., participating in the effort analysis and calculation of projects, project-related training.

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for successfully passing the advanced training examination: Informatics/Technology: e.g., to configure cyber-physical systems. German/English: e.g., to create multilingual data security concepts.

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 advanced training on weekends or in the evenings. For digital learning formats (e.g., virtual classroom): exclusive learning via electronic learning platforms and systems (primarily from home in a class setting). For combined learning formats (e.g., blended learning): in-person classes in a class setting at the educational institution and self-directed learning via electronic learning platforms and systems from home.

Participation in preparatory courses is not remunerated.

The following advanced training alternatives are available for the profession of Specialist in System Integration and Networking: Area of Networking, Data and Information Security: State-certified Technician in Informatics with a focus on Network Technology / Bachelor Professional in Technology; Network Service Technician; State-certified Technician in Production Technology and Data Management / Bachelor Professional in Technology; Certified Specialist in Data Analysis; Certified Specialist in Information Security; Certified Specialist in IT Consulting. Commonality: connecting operational and production processes and systems. Area of Hardware and Software Development: Certified Specialist in Software Development.

In 2002, IT advanced training programs were reorganized: The nationwide 'Ordinance on Vocational Advanced Training in the Field of Information and Telecommunications Technology' (IT Advanced Training Ordinance) 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. In 2010, the IT Advanced Training Ordinance was amended: Admission requirements for Operative Professionals were changed (shorter professional experience), and specialist profiles were included in the ordinance, reducing the number of specialist profiles from 29 to 14. In 2020, the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) and the Crafts Code (HWO) were revised: Among other things, the advanced training qualifications 'Certified Specialist', 'Bachelor Professional', and 'Master Professional' were introduced to emphasize the equivalence of vocational and academic education. The use of these professional titles depends on the issuance of corresponding new regulations.

Qualification Title: Certified Specialist in System Integration and Networking.

The Specialist for System Integration and Networking is a professional advanced training in Germany. The examination is uniformly regulated nationwide. It is not mandatory to attend a course to be admitted to the examination.

After completing this advanced training, Specialists for System Integration and Networking primarily work in the IT sector. They can also be employed in companies across various economic sectors or in public administration. To keep your expertise current and expand it, you can pursue adaptive advanced training in areas such as system and network administration, IT security, and data protection. If you wish to advance your career, you might consider further advanced training, such as becoming a Bachelor Professional in IT. With this advanced training qualification, you can gain access to university studies (Studium) even without a general higher education entrance qualification.

For the examination: Ordinance on the examination for the recognized advanced training qualification named Geprüfter Berufsspezialist für Systemintegration und Vernetzung or Geprüfte Berufsspezialistin für Systemintegration und Vernetzung (Systemintegration-und-Vernetzung-Fortbildungsprüfungsverordnung - SIVFPrV), promulgated as Article 5 of the Ordinance of 24.09.2024 (BGBl. I 2024 Nr. 296). Further: Geprüfter Berufsspezialist für Systemintegration und Vernetzung/Geprüfte Berufsspezialistin für Systemintegration und Vernetzung - Framework plan with learning objectives, 2024 (German Chamber of Commerce and Industry - DIHK).

The prerequisite for admission to the advanced training examination is usually one of the following: a final or journeyman's examination in a recognized vocational training (Ausbildung) in the field of information and communication technology; or a qualification in another recognized vocational training and at least 1 year of relevant professional experience; or at least 60 credit points in a university degree (Studium) 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 system integration and networking.