{"id":3252,"date":"2021-01-04T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-04T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/3.237.101.193\/en\/uncategorized\/what-is-a-bildungsgutschein-guide\/"},"modified":"2025-04-24T11:28:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T09:28:52","slug":"what-is-a-bildungsgutschein-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/career-change\/what-is-a-bildungsgutschein-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is A Bildungsgutschein? A Comprehensive English Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>What is a Bildungsgutschein and how do you apply for one in 2025? Learn everything you need to know in this guide.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you find yourself <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/career-change\/unemployment-benefits-germany\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">unemployed in Germany<\/a>, you\u2019ve probably heard of the <em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em>\u2014otherwise known as the Jobcenter. You may have also gotten wind of something called a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em>\u2014or a training voucher.<\/p>\n<p>But what exactly is this training voucher? How can you get one and, more importantly, why should you?<\/p>\n<p>In short, a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> allows you to take a course for free from a certified educational institution. It\u2019s your key to learning new skills and landing a well-paid job\u2014and could not only be your ticket out of unemployment, but also into a truly exciting new career.<\/p>\n<p>In this guide, we\u2019ll tell you everything you need to know about applying for a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> and studying your way to a new profession. We\u2019ll answer all your most burning questions, including:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#what-is-a-bildungsgutschein\">What is a Bildungsgutschein?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#who-is-eligible-for-a-bildungsgutschein\">Who is eligible for a Bildungsgutschein?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#how-to-apply-for-a-bildungsgutschein\">How to apply for a Bildungsgutschein<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-costs-does-a-bildungsgutschein-cover\">What costs does a Bildungsgutschein cover?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-courses-are-available-with-a-bildungsgutschein\">What can I study using my Bildungsgutschein?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#how-will-a-bildungsgutschein-help-you-land-a-job\">How will a Bildungsgutschein help me get a job?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#studying-with-a-bildungsgutschein-what-next\">Studying with a Bildungsgutschein: What next?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>By the end of this post, you\u2019ll know exactly how to go about locating your nearest <em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em> and applying for a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em>. So let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-a-bildungsgutschein\">1. What is a Bildungsgutschein?<\/h2>\n<p>As already mentioned, <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> is the German word for an educational or training voucher. Issued by the <em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em> (aka the German Jobcenter), this voucher entitles you to learn new skills for free. Once you have obtained a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em>, the Jobcenter will cover the costs of your chosen course\u2014and no, you won\u2019t need to pay them back once you start working.<\/p>\n<p>The purpose of a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> is to equip jobseekers with valuable, in-demand skills that will help them find a job. It\u2019s important to note that, while studying with a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em>, you will still be entitled to receive your unemployment benefits.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"who-is-eligible-for-a-bildungsgutschein\">2. Who is eligible for a Bildungsgutschein?<\/h2>\n<p>In order to obtain a training voucher from the German Jobcenter, you\u2019ll need to fulfil certain criteria. You may be eligible for a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> if you belong to one of the following categories:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You are currently employed but facing the possibility of unemployment<\/li>\n<li>You are currently unemployed and want to re-enter the job market<\/li>\n<li>You require further training or retraining in the absence of a relevant vocational qualification<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your local Jobcenter will ultimately decide if you are eligible for a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em>. Before you can seek advice from the Jobcenter, you need to be resident in Germany and to have completed the official registration process (<em>Anmeldung<\/em> in German).<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve got both of these boxes ticked, you\u2019re ready to start the application process! Let\u2019s take a look at that in more detail now.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-apply-for-a-bildungsgutschein\">3. How to apply for a Bildungsgutschein<\/h2>\n<p>So you\u2019re either unemployed or soon to be unemployed, resident in Germany and in possession of your <em>Anmeldebescheinigung<\/em> (proof that you have completed the official registration process). <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/career-change\/how-to-apply-for-a-bildungsgutschein\/\">You can now see if you\u2019re eligible for a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To apply for a Bildungsgutschein, you will need to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Schedule an appointment with your local job center<\/li>\n<li>Be ready to demonstrate how a course will benefit you<\/li>\n<li>Prepare and bring all necessary documents to your appointment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We&#8217;ve put together a full guide showing you <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/career-change\/how-to-apply-for-a-bildungsgutschein\/\">how to apply for a Bildungsgutschein here<\/a>, and we&#8217;ve provided more detail in the following sections.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"schedule-an-appointment-with-your-local-agentur-fr-arbeit\">Step 1: Schedule an appointment with your local <em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>First things first, you need to make an appointment with your local <em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em>. If you haven\u2019t been in touch with the Jobcenter before, you can find your local center simply by searching online, e.g. \u201c<em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit Berlin<\/em>\u201d or \u201c<em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit near me<\/em>\u201d. Once you\u2019ve made an appointment, you\u2019ll be assigned an advisor. They will act as your designated contact person for all further appointments.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-to-prepare-for-your-appointment-at-the-agentur-fr-arbeit\">Step 2: How to prepare for your appointment at the <em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve got your appointment, you need to show your advisor at the Jobcenter how you could benefit from a training voucher\u2014so it\u2019s important to come prepared.<\/p>\n<p>It helps if you already have a particular course in mind that you would like the <em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em> to subsidize. This way, you can explain the benefits of the course in detail and present a good case for why you should receive a training voucher.<\/p>\n<p>The course you have chosen should have a vocational identification number (<em>Berufskennzahl<\/em> in German, or BKZ) and a measure number (<em>Ma\u00dfnahmennummer<\/em>). You can get these numbers from the educational institution providing the course. We\u2019ll explore the kinds of programs you can take with your <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> a little later on.<\/p>\n<p>Whichever program you\u2019ve got your eye on, it helps if you can demonstrate some kind of continuity between your professional background and the program you intend to take. If there is no obvious link, you can focus on the benefits of the program itself, and how it will improve your career prospects. Highlight the kinds of opportunities you\u2019ll be able to access once you\u2019ve taken the program, and explain why you want to enter into this field. You might come prepared with job ads and statistics to show that there is plenty of demand for the skills you hope to learn using your <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"what-should-you-bring-to-your-job-center-appointment\">Step 3: What should you bring to your Jobcenter appointment?<\/h3>\n<p>Aside from a well-thought-out case for your desired program, there are a few things you should bring with you to your Jobcenter appointment. In terms of documents, make sure to have an up-to-date copy of your CV to hand, together with the aforementioned proof of registration in Germany (<em>Anmeldebescheinigung<\/em>) and some form of ID, such as your passport or ID card.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no guarantee that the <em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em> advisors will speak English, so if you don\u2019t speak German, you may want to bring a German-speaker with you to your appointment.<\/p>\n<p>So, just to recap, here\u2019s your <em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit \/ Bildungsgutschein<\/em> appointment checklist:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Personal ID (passport, ID card)<\/li>\n<li>Proof of registration in Germany (<em>Anmeldebescheinigung<\/em>)<\/li>\n<li>Up-to-date CV<\/li>\n<li>Information about the program you want to take, including job ads and employment stats<\/li>\n<li>The vocational identification number (<em>Berufskennzahl<\/em>) and measure number (<em>Ma\u00dfnahmennummer<\/em>) for your chosen program<\/li>\n<li>A German speaker\/translator if necessary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em> is not legally obliged to grant you a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em>; it\u2019s decided on a case-by-case basis. However, it is their mission to get you back into the job market, so if you come well-prepared for your appointment, the odds are very much in your favor.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-costs-does-a-bildungsgutschein-cover\">4. What costs does a Bildungsgutschein cover?<\/h2>\n<p>When studying with a Bildungsgutschein, the following costs may be reimbursed:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Course fees and assessment\/exam fees<\/li>\n<li>Any travel expenses related to your course<\/li>\n<li>Costs for accommodation and meals away from home (if necessary as part of your studies)<\/li>\n<li>Childcare expenses incurred as a result of the course<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can find more information about the maximum reimbursement for each of these costs on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arbeitsagentur.de\/en\/further-training\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">official <em>Bundesagentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em> website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-courses-are-available-with-a-bildungsgutschein\">5. What programs are available with a Bildungsgutschein?<\/h2>\n<p>Now you know what a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> is and how to apply for one, let\u2019s consider what kinds of programs are available.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arbeitsagentur.de\/kursnet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kursnet<\/a> is an online database of all courses that can be taken using a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em>\u2014and there are approximately 400,000 courses to choose from! You can quickly search for relevant courses via the search box on the homepage as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In the <em>Suchbegriff<\/em> field, enter a search term, such as \u201cUX design\u201d or \u201cGerman\u201d.<\/li>\n<li>Tick the box next to <em>Nur Angebote mit Bildungsgutschein<\/em> to show all relevant courses that can be subsidized with a training voucher.<\/li>\n<li>To include online courses, make sure the box next to <em>E-Learning ber\u00fccksichtigen<\/em> is also checked.<\/li>\n<li>Click <em>Suche starten<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"A screenshot showing how to search for relevant Bildungsgutschein courses on Kursnet\" src=\"\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/old-blog-uploads\/website-screen-afa.png\" alt=\"A screenshot showing how to search for relevant Bildungsgutschein courses on Kursnet\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You can find everything from German language courses to marketing, office management, accounting, and beyond. Your <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> can also be used to learn cutting-edge tech skills. If you want to train for a high-paid job in a rapidly-growing industry, consider using your voucher to <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">train yourself up and land a job in tech<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-will-a-bildungsgutschein-help-you-land-a-job\">6. How will a Bildungsgutschein help you land a job?<\/h2>\n<p>So how will a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> and your chosen course help you land a job?<\/p>\n<p>The idea behind the training voucher is to enable jobseekers to learn new skills\u2014skills that will improve their employment prospects and help them re-enter the job market. It is therefore important to choose a path that both interests you and is likely to open up some good opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps you\u2019ve been out of work for a while and are keen to get back into your previous career. In this case, you could use your <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> to update your skillset.<\/p>\n<p>If you are looking for a complete career change, your <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> can help with that, too. In the tech field especially, there is an ever-growing demand for designers, so learning these skills is certainly going to make you more employable.<\/p>\n<p>Here at CareerFoundry, we\u2019ve partnered with the <em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em> to make our <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/courses\/become-a-ux-designer-with-your-bildungsgutschein\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UX design<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/courses\/become-a-ui-designer-with-your-bildungsgutschein\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UI design<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/courses\/become-a-web-developer-with-your-bildungsgutschein\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">full-stack web development,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/courses\/become-a-data-analyst-with-your-bildungsgutschein\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">data analytics,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/courses\/become-a-digital-marketer-with-your-bildungsgutschein\/\">digital marketing<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/courses\/become-a-product-manager-with-your-bildungsgutschein\/\">product management<\/a> programs available to <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em>-holders.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll receive <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/career-change\/the-importance-of-having-a-mentor-and-how-to-make-the-most-of-yours\/\">one-to-one mentorship from an industry expert<\/a>, work on hands-on tasks and projects that will go towards your portfolio, and receive tailored job coaching from our in-house career specialists; essentially everything you need to forge a new career path!<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"studying-with-a-bildungsgutschein-what-next\">7. Studying with a Bildungsgutschein: What next?<\/h2>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve received your training voucher from the Jobcenter, you\u2019ll need to take it (or send it off) to the educational institution running your chosen program. Once they have filled out the relevant information, you\u2019ll need to bring the completed <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> back to your advisor at the <em>Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em>. Then you\u2019re ready to go!<\/p>\n<p>So there you have it: Everything you need to know about applying for a <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> and studying your way to a new career. If you\u2019d like to learn more about taking a Jobcenter-subsidized programs with CareerFoundry, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/connect\/bildungsgutschein-contact-advisor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get in touch with our <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em> program advisors here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Want to dip your toe into UX or UI design, web development, data analytics, digital marketing, or product management before making your decision? Try our free short courses:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/short-courses\/become-a-ux-designer-afa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UX design short course<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/short-courses\/become-a-ui-designer-afa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UI design short course<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/short-courses\/become-a-web-developer-afa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Web development short course<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/short-courses\/become-a-data-analyst-afa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Data analytics short course<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/short-courses\/become-a-digital-marketer-afa\/\">Digital marketing short course<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/short-courses\/become-a-product-manager-afa\/\">Product management short course<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In need of a little career-change inspiration? <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/magazine\/marketing-to-ux-design-career-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read how CareerFoundry graduate Jes\u00fas got his career back on track<\/a> after studying UX design with his <em>Bildungsgutschein<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unemployed in Germany? You could be eligible to study for free. Learn all about the Bildungsgutschein and how to apply for one here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[91],"class_list":["post-3252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-change","tag-category-page"],"acf":{"homepage_category_featured":false,"cards_inner_programs_lists_left":"","cards_inner_programs_lists_right":"","related_plan_cards":""},"modified_by":"Rash SEO","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3252"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3252\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40465,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3252\/revisions\/40465"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}