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The apprenticeship as a Fachinformatiker, Germany's state-recognised IT specialist qualification, is one of the most popular IT training routes in the country. It combines practical work in a company with lessons at a vocational school and ends with an exam before the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). This article explains how the apprenticeship is structured, which specialist tracks exist and what to consider if you train in Kiel.
The dual system: company and vocational school
Fachinformatiker is a recognised training occupation under Germany's Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz, BBiG). Training takes place in the dual system, meaning at two places of learning:
- At the training company, you learn the practical side: setting up systems, developing software, advising customers and working on projects in a team.
- At vocational school, you learn the theoretical foundations, including computer science, networking, programming, economics and social studies, plus general subjects.
Depending on the school, vocational school lessons take place on individual days each week or in blocks lasting several weeks. In Schleswig-Holstein, vocational schools are often organised as Regional Vocational Training Centres (RBZ). Which school you attend depends on where your training company is located, and the company registers you there.
Duration and requirements
The standard duration is three years. Under certain conditions, such as good school results, a higher school-leaving qualification or prior knowledge, the apprenticeship can be shortened on application. The responsible chamber decides on this.
The law does not require a specific school-leaving qualification. In practice, training companies set their own requirements. Helpful traits include an interest in technology, logical thinking, enough English to read documentation and a willingness to keep learning new topics.
Apprentices receive a training allowance. The Vocational Training Act sets a statutory minimum; the actual amount depends on the company and, where applicable, a collective agreement.
The 2020 reform
Germany's IT occupations were restructured with effect from 1 August 2020. Since then, a revised training regulation has applied to the Fachinformatiker apprenticeship. Two new tracks were added to the existing ones, application development and system integration. The exam structure also changed: instead of an intermediate exam, there is now a final exam split into two parts.
The four specialist tracks
| Track | Focus | Typical tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Application development (Anwendungsentwicklung) | Designing and programming software | Developing, testing and documenting applications, designing user interfaces |
| System integration (Systemintegration) | Planning and running IT infrastructure | Setting up servers, networks and workstations, administering systems, fixing faults |
| Data and process analysis (Daten- und Prozessanalyse) | Analysing data and business processes | Tapping data sources, preparing and analysing data, mapping processes digitally |
| Digital networking (Digitale Vernetzung) | Networked systems and devices | Setting up, monitoring and securing networks and cyber-physical systems |
Part of the training content is the same for all tracks, especially in the first 18 months leading up to Part 1 of the exam. After that, specialisation becomes more important. Which track is available depends on the training company, as the track is specified in the training contract.
Which track suits you?
- You enjoy programming and want to build your own applications: application development.
- You are interested in servers, networks and keeping IT running smoothly: system integration.
- You like working with numbers and want to understand what data says about a business: data and process analysis.
- You are drawn to connecting IT with machines, sensors and networks: digital networking.
The final exam
The final exam consists of two parts, both of which count towards the final grade.
According to the training regulation, Part 1 takes place in the fourth half-year of training, roughly halfway through. For all tracks, it covers setting up an IT-supported workstation. This part accounts for 20 percent of the overall result.
Part 2 takes place at the end of the apprenticeship and is track-specific. Its core is an in-company project with documentation, followed by a presentation and a technical interview. The project is limited to a maximum of 80 hours in application development and 40 hours in the other three tracks. There are also written exam areas on technical topics as well as economics and social studies.
The exact dates and registration deadlines are set by the responsible chamber.
The IHK zu Kiel as the responsible body
For training companies in Kiel and its chamber district, the responsible body is the IHK zu Kiel, the Kiel Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which is part of the IHK Schleswig-Holstein network. The chamber registers the training contract, advises apprentices and companies, conducts the exams and decides on applications such as shortening the apprenticeship.
If you have questions or problems during your apprenticeship, you can turn to the IHK's training advisers. The IHK Schleswig-Holstein website also has information on exam dates and registration.
Apprenticeship, dual study or university?
If you want to work in IT, there are several routes. An apprenticeship is practical, takes three years and is paid from day one. A university degree is more theoretical and usually requires a higher school-leaving qualification (Abitur or Fachabitur). A dual study programme combines both but is usually especially demanding in terms of time.
None of these routes is better in principle. What matters is whether you would rather start contributing in a company straight away or first study the fundamentals in depth. Completing an apprenticeship does not rule out going to university later.
After the apprenticeship
Qualified IT specialists work at IT service providers, software companies, industrial firms, public authorities and in many other sectors. There are various paths for further development after the apprenticeship, such as advanced vocational qualifications with an IHK certificate or a university degree. Many also specialise further through vendor certifications.
Checklist: preparing your application
- Choose a track: consider which focus matches your interests.
- Do an internship: a school internship or voluntary placement shows whether the work suits you.
- Research companies: look specifically for companies offering your preferred track.
- Show your own projects: small programs, a home network you set up yourself or your own website make good talking points.
- Prepare your documents: cover letter, CV and school reports. Briefly explain why you are interested in your chosen track.
- Mind the deadlines: many companies fill apprenticeships starting in August or September during the preceding autumn or winter.
- Ask questions: in the interview, ask about contacts, vocational school and projects during the apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships and internships at Simplify Data
Simplify Data is an IT service provider based in Kiel. We advertise current apprenticeship and internship positions on our careers page, where you will also find the requirements and contact persons: Go to the careers page.