Careers for management assistants in the skilled crafts

The goal: A management position in skilled crafts businesses. A pathway: The new advanced vocational education and training qualification “Certified commercial business administrator under the Crafts and Trades Regulation Code (HwO)”. The new occupational profile offers a career pathway into skilled crafts for commercial vocational education and training graduates - such as “Office management assistants” or “Specialist sales person”. The state approved advanced vocational education and training developed by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in conjunction with an advisory board, enters into force on 1 April.

The advanced training regulations from the Chamber of Crafts and Trades which currently exist in this area are very popular. Currently, around 1000 individuals complete the relevant examination. The new advanced training examination regulation now establishes a national uniform standard.

The new advanced vocational education and training qualification integrates consistently within the advanced education and training concept for the skilled crafts. Dual vocational education and training forms the foundation; developing on from this there are consultants and specialists at an initial level of continuing education and training, business administrators and master craftspeople at a second and management specialists at the third and final level. The amendment to this advanced vocational educa-tion and training qualification means that a key cornerstone of the occupational career path in the skilled crafts has been restructured at the second level of continuing education and training.

The “commercial business administrators” have detailed business knowledge. Their skills and capabilities focus on the organisation and optimisation of processes which are typical for companies in the skilled crafts sectors. They therefore possess relevant qualifications and competencies in the commercial areas of business accounting, controlling and finance and investment; procurement, production and service processes and in marketing, personnel, as well as employee management and company-based education and training. They also offer long-term support for the development and implementation of strategic corporate goals.

In future, a EUROPASS Certificate Supplement will be available in German, English and French in order to raise the level of transparency on the European labour market of the qualification acquired. This will clarify the main fields of activity, the competences and also the level of qualification achieved at both a European and an international level.

Those interested can seek advice from the Chamber of Crafts and Trades or from the Federal Employ-ment Agency.

Further information regarding advanced education and training as a “Commercial business administrator under the Crafts and Trades Regulation Code” is available at www.bibb.de/de/berufeinfo.php/profile/advanced_training/07032016 (German only)
and also regarding EUROPASS www.bibb.de/en/659.php

Contact at the BIBB:
Martin Elsner

Specimen copy requested if printed.