What Is an Education Voucher? Definition, Funding, and How It Works

„At first glance, “education voucher” sounds like red tape—but there’s actually some pretty good news behind it: The Employment Agency can cover the entire cost of your continuing education without you having to pay anything up front. For most people, however, it’s unclear exactly what this voucher is, who issues it, and what it covers. That’s exactly what we’ll clarify here—from the basic concept to the first step.

What is a Bildungsgutschein?

An education voucher is a Approval from the Employment Agency or the Job Center to cover the costs of continuing vocational education. It is not a sum of money paid out to you, but rather a certificate: You use it to prove that your continuing education is being funded. The costs are paid directly to the accredited training provider.

This distinction is key and clears up the most common misunderstanding: You don’t receive any cash that you would have to spend or repay. The training voucher is a document that confirms that the Employment Agency has approved funding for a specific continuing education program. You submit it to the training provider, and billing is handled directly between the provider and the Employment Agency.

Good to know: Since you are never the payee, the education voucher itself does not create any debt. What happens if you drop out is a separate issue—in short: as a general rule, no repayment is required.

How does an education voucher work?

The process is simpler than the bureaucratic term might suggest. In order for a Continuing education can be financed through the education voucher, it takes place in three steps:

1. Approval. The Employment Agency will review your situation and, if you meet the requirements, issue a training voucher for a specific type of continuing education.
2. Redemption. You choose an approved continuing education program offered by an AZAV-certified provider and submit the voucher there.
3. Billing. The provider settles the course fees directly with the Employment Agency. You don't pay anything.

In order for continuing education to be funded through the education voucher, the provider must be certified in accordance with the Accreditation and Approval Ordinance for Employment Promotion (AZAV) and must register the program in the Federal Employment Agency’s continuing education database. You can find this today via the my NOW Portal, which has replaced the former KURSNET search. Each eligible program has a Action Number.

Who issues the education voucher—and who receives it?

The education voucher is issued by the Employment Agency or, if you receive basic income, by the Job Center. The decision is made by your personal case manager on a case-by-case basis—there is no legal entitlement to the education voucher. The legal basis is § 81 SGB III.

Generally speaking, the program is primarily intended for people who are looking for work or at risk of unemployment and whose Improve Your Job Prospects Through Continuing Education. We've covered the exact terms and conditions—and how you can improve your chances—in a separate article on the Eligibility Requirements for the Education Voucher in summary.

What the Education Voucher Covers

The education voucher covers more than just the course fee. It generally covers:

• The full cost of the continuing education course.
• Travel expenses to the learning location, provided the program takes place in person.
• Costs for lodging and meals away from home, if necessary.
• Childcare costs during the program, under certain conditions.

While you’re enrolled in a full-time continuing education program, you’ll generally continue to receive unemployment benefits—the education voucher covers the cost of the program itself, not your living expenses, but the two overlap.

Here's How to Get an Education Voucher

To obtain an education voucher, you’ll need to attend a consultation with the Employment Agency, during which you’ll present your planned continuing education program in detail. We describe step by step in our guide how to prepare for this and what sequence of steps makes approval more likely. Guide to the Education Voucher.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Bildungsgutschein?

A commitment from the Employment Agency or the Job Center to cover the costs of continuing vocational education. It is not a cash payment, but rather a certificate; the costs are paid directly to the accredited training provider.

How does an education voucher work?

In three steps: The Employment Agency approves and issues the voucher; you redeem it with an AZAV-certified provider; the provider bills the Employment Agency directly. You don't pay anything.

Who issues the education voucher?

The Employment Agency or, if you receive the citizen's income, the Job Center. The decision is made by your case worker on a case-by-case basis—there is no legal entitlement.

What does the education voucher cover?

Generally, the full cost of the training program, plus—depending on the situation—travel expenses, lodging, and child care. Unemployment benefits generally continue to be paid during a full-time training program.

Explore your options during a free consultation

The quickest way to find out whether you’re eligible for an education voucher and which subsidized continuing education program is right for your situation is to talk to us. During the free consultation, we'll take a look at this together – with no obligation and no pressure.

StackFuel has been AZAV-certified since 2020, and all training programs can be found in „My NOW.“. More than 8,000 graduates have completed continuing education programs in data and AI with us, with a completion rate of 93 percent.