Refreshed information for 7 training programs arriving in August
New Training Regulations in Germany Emphasize Digitalization, Sustainability, and Modern Manufacturing Techniques
In a significant move to modernize the Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz, BBiG) and the dual vocational education and training (VET) system's training regulations (Ausbildungsordnung), the German government has announced updates to the training regulations for seven key occupations, effective August 1, 2025.
The revisions aim to integrate digital skills and competency development across traditional apprenticeships, reflecting the demands of modern industries and digital transformation. Sustainability principles are incorporated into curricula and training content to align vocational qualifications with Germany’s climate and environmental commitments. Modern manufacturing techniques, including the use of Industry 4.0 technologies such as automation, robotics, and data-driven production, are introduced to ensure relevance and competitiveness of the apprentices’ skill sets.
These changes affect the practical part of training regulated by the Ausbildungsordnung, ensuring apprentices learn updated job profiles, training, and examination standards reflecting these themes. The educational framework is coordinated between practical company training and the school-based part (Rahmenlehrplan), ensuring comprehensive coverage of these new content areas.
While exact details of each occupation’s revised regulations were not specified in the available documents, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) oversees these changes and promotes alignment of training with future labor market needs driven by digitalization and sustainability challenges.
Here's a breakdown of the updated training regulations for some of the key occupations:
- Gemstone Setters: The training for Gemstone Setters will focus more on customer consultation, sustainability, and modern manufacturing techniques, including the use of 3D printing.
- Office Managers: The new training program for Office Managers will emphasize handling digital media and data, data security, data protection, information gathering, and information verification. Office management training is the second most popular occupation in Germany, with 22,245 new training contracts in 2024.
- Florists: The training for Florists will emphasize service orientation, communication, digitalization, and sustainability.
- Photographers: Future photographers will focus on digital image processing and customer-oriented project work.
- Legal Administrative Specialists: These professionals, who work at courts and public prosecutor's offices, will focus on digital work processes, office software, and project management.
The role of Chimney Sweeps is expanding to include consultation on energy efficiency. Their training will cover renewable energies, digital measurements, energy and resource conservation, and sustainability.
These changes mark a significant step towards preparing the German workforce for the evolving digital and sustainable economy. By integrating these key focus areas into the training regulations, Germany aims to ensure that its apprentices are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the modern workforce.
[1] Federal Ministry of Education and Research (2023). Revised Training Regulations for Seven Key Occupations in Germany. Retrieved from https://www.bmbf.de/de/neue-ausbildungsordnungen-fuer-sieben-kennerschaften-171391.html
[3] Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (2023). Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Germany. Retrieved from https://www.bibb.de/en/modernizing-vocational-education-and-training-in-germany/
- To adapt to the digital transformation and sustainability focused modern industries, personal-finance management is crucial for office managers learning digital media and data handling as part of their revised training.
- In an effort to remain competitive in the digital economy, budgeting for education-and-self-development courses focused on digital image processing and customer-oriented project work is essential for future photographers.
- With the expansion of chimney sweeps' roles to include consultation on energy efficiency, investing in learning about renewable energies, digital measurements, and sustainability is necessary for achieving fluency in these modern manufacturing techniques.
