Applying for an education voucher can be daunting. You probably automatically think of tedious bureaucracy, time-consuming administrative procedures and obscure training programs. But there is another way. In the following article, we have summarized how you can easily get an education voucher, how you can find the right professional training for you and how it can help you start your new dream job.
What is an education voucher and why do you need it?
The education voucher is an official document that guarantees the complete coverage of your continuing education costs. This means that if you have received an education voucher, you can undergo further vocational training free of charge. However, there is no guarantee or legal entitlement to an education voucher, also known as an AZAV voucher. It is issued by the Federal Employment Agency (BA) or the Jobcenter (JC), which will check your need for further training in advance and decide independently in a personal consultation whether to confirm or reject your claim. If you are no longer able to work for health reasons and would like to apply for vocational rehabilitation, the pension insurance (RV) can also issue you with an education voucher.
But don't worry: good preparation for the interview can help you with your application and significantly increase your chances of receiving free professional development. In addition, it is possible that in some cases the costs for Travel expenses, Accommodation and Catering as well as Care costs be taken over for children.
Both jobseekers and those in employment can receive an education voucher under certain conditions and receive subsidized further training, but not everyone meets the necessary requirements. So first of all, let's clarify whether you are eligible to apply.
What requirements do I need for the education voucher?
An education voucher is a grant from the employment agency or job center that can be used to finance further training or retraining. Whether you receive an education voucher depends on your personal situation. Here is an overview of the most important requirements.
Basic requirements
To be eligible for an education voucher, you should:
- Being unemployed, threatened by unemployment or looking for new career prospects.
- Be registered as a job seeker or be in contact with the employment agency or job center.
- Seek further training or retraining that is necessary to:
- improve your chances on the job market,
- to avert the threat of unemployment, or
- to facilitate professional reintegration.
Personal requirements
An education voucher can be particularly useful if you:
- You do not have a usable professional qualification or your profession is no longer in demand.
- Need further training, e.g. through new skills due to digitalization or a shortage of skilled workers.
- have health restrictions that make retraining necessary.
Formal requirements
A number of formal criteria must be met for an education voucher to be approved:
- A consultation with your employment agency is mandatory.
- It is checked whether the planned measure is eligible for funding (certified training provider, AZAV-approved).
- The further training must have a clear professional benefit.
What is financed
The following costs can be covered with an education voucher:
- Course fees
- Travel expenses
- Childcare costs (under certain conditions)
- Maintenance allowance during further training (if applicable)
Important: In the end, it is always your employment agency or case manager who decides whether you receive the education voucher. There is no legal entitlement to an education voucher, even if all requirements are met - each decision is made individually.
How do you get an education voucher?
If you meet the above criteria, you can talk to your case officer. Since May 2022, you have the option of taking the Apply for an education voucher online. However, you cannot avoid a personal interview at the employment agency or job center, where your application will be approved. Where you can attend your personal interview depends on your unemployment status. You will need to go to the relevant employment agency if you are receiving unemployment benefit 1, to the job center if you are receiving citizens' allowance, or to the pension insurance fund if you are seeking vocational rehabilitation.
Education voucher for working people?
Yes, you can do that too! The Qualification Opportunity Actwhich also makes employees fit for the new requirements of the constantly changing labor market. If you are in an existing employment relationship but are at risk of unemployment, you can also apply to the Federal Employment Agency for funding for further vocational training. Soldiers can obtain advice from the Bundeswehr Vocational Training Service and receive further training allowances.
Approval for your education voucher: convince the Employment Agency & Co.
You have the best chances if the further training or retraining is in the professional environment of your trained profession. For this reason, further training in the field of digitalization and data is particularly suitable, as almost all professions are affected by the digital transformation are affected by these changes and they significantly alter the demands placed on employees. It may be worth consulting with your line manager to find out what the joint benefits of continuing professional development are for your career and your employer and whether the training qualifies you for a job role that needs to be filled in the company in the near future.
Training courses that can be taken part-time, online, and at flexible times are advantageous. In the case of part-time, full-time or face-to-face courses, you should discuss the feasibility with your supervisor. Collect these reasons to present to your caseworker during the interview. Good preparation will significantly improve your chances of obtaining an education voucher and thus having your costs covered.
Interactive checklist for applying for your education voucher
Not sure if you are properly prepared for your education voucher appointment at the job center or employment agency? No problem, we have created a two-page interactive checklist to help you prepare for your application. In it, we clarify the most important questions with you and you have the ideal discussion guide to convince your case officer and get your education voucher approved.
Your checklist is only one Click removed.
If possible, you should also bring the result of your placement test with you. This certifies to the employment agency, pension insurance company or job center that we, as a further education provider, can confirm that you are basically suitable for the course and will probably complete it successfully.
Which sponsored continuing education program is right for you?
Further training and retraining can be the path to professional fulfillment and a new, exciting career. But regular professional development is also essential for people who want to remain successful in their profession.
However, not every thematically relevant further training course is really suitable for you and your career. Before choosing a sponsored further training you should therefore always ask yourself first:
- Do you need expertise that you lack for your work?
- Does further training improve your chances on the job market or in your existing job in the long term?
- Are there many job openings in the profession for which you want to qualify?
- Does the training really provide you with the in-depth, specialized knowledge you need?
- Is the training provider of your choice accredited by the state and does it offer subsidized training?
The agency will ask you why you think you can learn the content, why you of all people need this further training and whether you have a genuine interest in the profession. You will most likely be asked these questions during the interview. It therefore helps if you prepare good answers in advance.
Find a training provider: These criteria will help you decide
Depending on whether you are a jobseeker or in employment, you have a different amount of time and opportunities for further training. Are there certain requirements that are important to you and that the training provider should fulfill? The following points should help you to identify the criteria that could be important for your individual selection. Check:
- The duration of the training. How much time can you invest in your training per week?
- Whether you will incur (additional) costs, e.g. for technical equipment or materials (e.g. a laptop or PC) that you need.
- The place where the training takes place. Can you train online or are you tied to one location?
- What time flexibility a course offers you and whether there are fixed times.
- Whether the training provider offers different course models. Subsidized continuing education courses for jobseekers are usually designed for full-time participation. If you are working and want to continue your education, it is important for you to know whether part-time and part-time models are also offered and how much time your employer can make available to you.
- What support you need for the course content and whether mentoring, specialist support or even a learning community are included in the course offer. This is particularly important for training courses that are highly technical or require a lot of specialist knowledge. Personal contact with mentors, the support team or a community ensures that you never lose touch and receive support if necessary.
- Do you receive an official certificate of completion? Does the training provider offer a career service or even job placement for specific professions?
To create a state-certified training provider you can either use the CourseNet or you can google "subsidized further training" and the profession of your choice, e.g. "data analyst".
It can be very helpful to bring specific job advertisements with you to the appointment. Based on the requirements in the advertisements, you can argue very well which skills you currently lack and what you would like to focus on in your further training. You can also show that there are jobs advertised that you can actually apply for with an additional qualification.
Education voucher and now?
Get your checklist for applying for an education voucher. The checklist is only one Click removed.
Your success combo: education voucher and supported further education from StackFuel
Don't be deterred and get the most out of your education certificate.We have given you many tips in this article, but also many questions that may not be so easy for you to answer. Make it easy on yourself and get the support you need to answer your questions. A consultation with us can clarify many unanswered questions and clear up uncertainties so that you can make your choice with a good gut feeling. Then nothing stands in your way of a new career.
Further training in the field of digital skills and data in particular will bring you many new job opportunities or can advance your career. That's why further training in data science, with which you can Data Analyst or Data Scientist are becoming increasingly popular. Since advanced data skills are in demand in almost every profession and industry and there are not enough trained specialists in this field, they increase the chances of a simplified lateral entry into a very well-paid profession after further training.
Changing careers is not always easy, but with StackFuel's subsidized training courses, you are well prepared for the professional transition and will be supported by experienced data science mentors and career advisors during your career change. We advise you personally and find together with you the best training for you.
Further information on the education voucher in your area
We are often asked: "What if my desired further education course with an education voucher is not offered in my area? Are there regional differences when applying for the education voucher?"
To answer these questions, we have Special information on education vouchers for all federal states collected for you.
Just click on the link below for the state you live in and go to the collected information even better prepared in your appointment with your local contact person!
English 
German 
