Staatlich geprüfter Agrarwirtschaftlich-technischer Assistent/Staatlich geprüfte Agrarwirtschaftlich-technische Assistentin

Agricultural-technical assistants are trained in a school-based format. Learning locations include vocational schools/colleges (Berufsfachschule/Berufskolleg): classrooms (classroom instruction), school-owned laboratories, and practical training companies. Practical training companies can be, for example, research institutes, agricultural and environmental protection offices, food safety offices, food and feed production companies, seed producers, companies in the chemical or pharmaceutical industry, laboratories, and breeding stations.

Occupation type: Apprenticeship (Ausbildungsberuf). Type of training: School-based training at vocational schools and colleges (Berufsfachschulen und Berufskollegs) (regulated by state (Bundesland) law). Training duration: 2 years. Learning locations: Vocational school/college (Berufsfachschule/Berufskolleg) and practical training company. What does one do in this profession? Agricultural-technical assistants support scientific specialists in areas such as plant and animal production, dairy and meat industry, food and environmental analysis, and related fields like agricultural chemistry and phytomedicine. In the laboratory, they analyze, for example, the composition of soil samples or the properties of seeds, detect pest infestation on plant roots, examine the ingredients of milk, meat, and plant-based foods, or use samples to check if and how different housing systems or cultivation methods affect the quality of agricultural products. For animal and plant breeding, they conduct, for example, genetic analyses. In experimental cultivation...

Job title: Agricultural-technical assistant. Occupation type: Vocational school (Berufsfachschule) occupation. Training duration: 2 years. Entry requirement: Usually a secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss). What does one do in this profession? Agricultural-technical assistants support scientific specialists in areas such as plant and animal production, dairy and meat industry, food and environmental analysis, and related fields like agricultural chemistry and phytomedicine. In the laboratory, they analyze, for example, the composition of soil samples or the properties of seeds, detect pest infestation on plant roots, examine the ingredients of milk, meat, and plant-based foods, or use samples to check if and how different housing systems or cultivation methods affect the quality of agricultural products. For animal and plant breeding, they conduct, for example, genetic analyses. In experimental cultivation, they participate in the selection and, if necessary...

2 years

Vocational schools or colleges (Berufsfachschulen bzw. Berufskollegs) select applicants according to their own criteria. Good performance in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics is usually valued.

Time guidelines according to KMK agreement: Cross-occupational learning area: 320 hours. Occupation-specific learning area: 2,240 hours. Total hours: 2,560 hours. The division into subjects, learning fields, or projects is regulated in the vocational school ordinances of the states (Bundesland). Example for the distribution of hours: General compulsory subjects: Chemistry: 160 hours. Mathematics and laboratory physics: 80 hours. Information technology: 80 hours. Quality assurance and statistics: 80 hours. Technical English: 80 hours. Total general compulsory subjects: 480 hours. Subject-specific compulsory subjects (focus on food analysis): Special chemistry: 160 hours. Molecular biology: 80 hours. Microbiology: 120 hours. Food technology: 120 hours. Food law: 80 hours. Chemical-physical food examination and chemical-physical laboratory techniques: 280 hours. Microbiological food examination and microbiological laboratory techniques: 280 hours. Practical vocational training: 1,200 hours. Subject-specific...

Ausbildung (vocational training) at public schools is generally free for students, but admission and examination fees may apply. Private schools, however, usually charge tuition fees. Additional costs may arise, for example, for learning materials, professional or protective clothing, travel to the training facility, or external accommodation. Under certain conditions, students participating in vocational training can receive funding under the Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (BAföG). For more information, please refer to BAföG.

During theoretical and practical lessons, one learns, for example, how to plan, execute, and evaluate specific workflows in various areas of application – stables, fields, laboratories, greenhouses. It also covers how to handle machinery and equipment for cultivating crops and keeping livestock, how to take and prepare samples, and how to perform qualitative and quantitative analyses. The curriculum includes how to conduct chemical and instrumental analyses for various sample types, with particular attention to spectroscopic, chromatographic, and electrophoretic methods. Students also learn how to prepare, examine, and process microscopic specimens, how to apply microbiological and molecular biological working techniques and procedures, and how to perform biotechnological and genetic engineering breeding methods, as well as how to assess and select within various breeding procedures. Agricultural products, soils, substrates, and agrochemicals are examined using diagnostic working techniques.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: Theoretical lessons involve classroom instruction, possibly project work, and reviewing content at home. In agricultural businesses, practical work is performed under guidance, such as preparing culture media, operating and monitoring incubators and ovens, and documenting results. The environment can be in a laboratory under artificial lighting, outdoors (cold, heat, rain, drafts), in greenhouses, or in stables. Protective clothing (e.g., gloves, safety glasses, lab coat) may be required. Important qualities include diligence (e.g., when precisely preparing nutrient solutions or documenting measurement results), a sense of responsibility (e.g., monitoring the microbiological quality of food and feed), observational accuracy and attentiveness (e.g., recognizing damage patterns and harmful organisms on plants), and perseverance (often lengthy series of experiments).

For Ausbildung (vocational training) abroad, the following option is available, for example: France. Training offers can be found on onisep - the French training database (e.g., by using the free text search with the term "technicien/technicienne agricole").

No remuneration is paid for this Ausbildung (vocational training).

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects is a good prerequisite for successful Ausbildung (vocational training): Biology/Chemistry/Physics (e.g., to cultivate bacteria in bioreactors and isolate DNA) and Mathematics (e.g., to calculate the compositions of chemical compounds).

The following Ausbildung (vocational training) alternatives are available for the profession of Agrarwirtschaftlich-technische/r Assistent/in: In the laboratory field, Plant Technologist, Medical Technologist for Veterinary Medicine, Biology Laboratory Assistant, State-certified Biological-technical Assistant, Dairy Laboratory Assistant, Environmental Protection Technical Assistant, Food Technical Assistant. Commonalities include: conducting biological and chemical analyses in the laboratory and documenting experimental results.

2 years (including practical vocational training)

1964: Framework regulation for the training and examination of Technical Assistants. 1981: Framework agreement for the training and examination of Technical Assistants at Berufsfachschulen (vocational schools). Ausbildung (vocational training) as an Agricultural-technical Assistant in various specializations or fields. 2011: Framework agreement for the training and examination of State-certified Technical Assistants and State-certified Commercial Assistants at Berufsfachschulen, repealing the 1981 framework agreement. 2024: New version of the 2011 framework agreement. Ausbildung as a State-certified Agricultural-economic-technical Assistant.

State-certified Agricultural Technical Assistant - Food-Plant-Environment Specialization. During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in the following areas: General compulsory subjects: Chemistry, Mathematics and Laboratory Physics, Information Technology, Quality Assurance and Statistics, Technical English. Specialization-related compulsory subjects: Focus on Food Analysis: special chemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, food technology, food law, chemical-physical food analysis and chemical-physical laboratory techniques, microbiological food analysis and microbiological laboratory techniques, practical vocational training. Focus on Plant and Environmental Analysis: special chemistry, molecular biology (with molecular biological analyses), microbiology (with microbiological analyses), chemical-physical analyses, plant technology, plant analysis, soil analysis, practical vocational training. State-certified Agricultural Technical Assistant - Specialization.

Agrarwirtschaftlich-technische/r Assistent/in is a school-based Ausbildung (vocational training) regulated by state law at Berufsfachschulen (vocational schools) and Berufskollegs (vocational colleges). It lasts 2 years and leads to a state examination.

This Ausbildung (vocational training) is legally regulated only in the specified Bundesländer (federal states) and leads to the following qualification titles there: Baden-Württemberg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: State-certified Agricultural-technical Assistant. Bavaria: State-certified Agricultural Technical Assistant - Food-Plant-Environment Specialization, Focus on Food Analysis; State-certified Agricultural Technical Assistant - Food-Plant-Environment Specialization, Focus on Plant and Environmental Analysis; State-certified Agricultural Technical Assistant - Biotechnology Specialization. Brandenburg: State-certified Agricultural-technical Assistant, Focus on Agricultural Chemistry and Environmental Analysis. Lower Saxony: State-certified Agricultural-economic.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in the Bundesland (federal state) of Brandenburg lasts 2 years.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in the Bundesland (federal state) of Niedersachsen lasts 2 years.

During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in the following areas: Biology/Microbiology, Biochemistry, Informatics/Statistical Methods/Documentation, Analytics (qualitative and quantitative analyses), Ecological assessment of agricultural production, German, Political Education/Economics, Technical English, Sports. The lessons are supplemented by an internship.

Improve opportunities with additional qualifications: Future Agricultural Economics-Technical Assistants can improve their chances during their Ausbildung (vocational training) by acquiring additional qualifications, for example, the Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification) as a basis for a later Studium (university degree). Find the right employment: After their Ausbildung, Agricultural Economics-Technical Assistants work, for example, at research institutes, agricultural chambers, veterinary offices, or in the chemical industry. Secure employability: Through adaptive further training, one can keep their specialized knowledge current or bring it up to date. The range of topics extends from agriculture to natural science laboratories. Advance professionally: Further training for career advancement helps to progress professionally and reach leadership positions. It is logical to take the examination as a Plant Technology Master. With a Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (higher education entrance qualification), one can also pursue a university degree.

State-certified Agricultural Economics-Technical Assistant - Focus on Plant Production: During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in the following areas: Cross-vocational learning area (English/Communication, Politics, Sports, Religion, Information Processing, Chemistry and Physics) and Vocational learning area - Theory (Experimentation, Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Crop Cultivation, Plant Protection, Plant Breeding, Biology, Microbiology). Vocational learning area - Practice: Additionally, practical training takes place during the course in suitable recognized company training facilities. State-certified Agricultural Economics-Technical Assistant - Focus on Animal Production: During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in the following areas: Cross-vocational learning area (English/Communication, Politics, Sports, Religion, Information Processing, Chemistry and Physics) and Vocational learning area - Theory (Experimentation).

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in the Bundesland (federal state) of Baden-Württemberg lasts 2 years.

During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in the following areas: Compulsory Subjects: General Area: Religious Education, German, English, Economics and Social Studies. Theoretical Area: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Ecology/Environmental Protection, Microbiology, Biometrics, Photography and Documentation, Data Processing and Statistics, Analytical Chemistry, Fundamentals of Agricultural Production, Crop Cultivation and Breeding, Plant Protection, Animal Husbandry, Animal Nutrition. Practical Area: Chemical Practical, Biological Practical, Microbiological Practical, Laboratory Methodology, Experimental Methodology, Work Methodology, Field Trials, Experimental Systems, Experimental Animal Husbandry.

This Ausbildung (vocational training) is also offered, depending on the Bundesland (federal state), with specializations or fields such as Agricultural Chemistry and Environmental Analytics, Biotechnology, Food-Plant-Environment, Crop Cultivation or Plant Production, Plant Protection, and Animal Husbandry.

2 years.

The regulation at the federal level is the Framework Agreement on the Ausbildung (vocational training) and examination for 'Staatlich geprüfter technischer Assistent' and 'Staatlich geprüfte technische Assistentin' and for 'Staatlich geprüfter kaufmännischer Assistent' and 'Staatlich geprüfte kaufmännische Assistentin' at Berufsfachschulen (vocational schools) (Resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of 30.09.2011 as amended on 21.03.2024). The framework agreement of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs on Ausbildung at Berufsfachschulen is not directly applicable law. The individual Bundesländer (federal states) regulate assistant Ausbildung in their school or Berufsfachschule (vocational school) regulations based on the framework agreement. Regulations at the state level: The Ausbildung is regulated by state law in the following Bundesländer: Ordinance of the Ministry of Culture on the Ausbildung and examination at the two-year Berufskollegs for technical assistants (Technical Assistants Ordinance - TAVO) of 11.10.1983 (BW.GBl. S. 637, BW.ABl. S. 653), last amended by article.

Generally, a secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss) is required. Further requirements may vary depending on the Bundesland (federal state) and the educational offer.

During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in the following areas: Cross-occupational Learning Area: German, Social Studies, Religion or Philosophy, Sports. Occupation-specific Learning Area: Planning, conducting, and evaluating specific work processes in various areas of application - stable, field, laboratory, greenhouse; handling machines and equipment in the cultivation of crops and the keeping of farm animals; applying techniques of sampling and sample preparation for analytics; conducting qualitative and quantitative analyses; performing chemical and instrumental analysis procedures for various sample types with special consideration of spectroscopic, chromatographic, and electrophoretic methods; preparing, examining, and processing microscopic preparations; applying microbiological and molecular biological work techniques and procedures; performing biotechnological and genetic breeding procedures.

In Bavaria, the requirements for this Ausbildung (vocational training) include a secondary school certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss) and a medical certificate confirming good health.

In Brandenburg, the requirements for this Ausbildung (vocational training) include Fachoberschulreife (technical college entrance qualification) and a medical certificate confirming good health.

In Lower Saxony, the requirements for this Ausbildung (vocational training) include a Sekundarabschluss I - Realschulabschluss (secondary school certificate) and a contract with a practical training company.

In Baden-Württemberg, the requirements for this Ausbildung (vocational training) include a Realschulabschluss (secondary school certificate) or the qualification to attend the gymnasiale Oberstufe (upper secondary school).

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the requirements for this Ausbildung (vocational training) include Mittlere Reife (secondary school certificate) or the qualification to attend the gymnasiale Oberstufe (upper secondary school).