Many people in Germany want to advance their careers, change career paths, or improve their prospects in the job market. But often, the first question that comes to mind is:
“How am I supposed to pay for continuing education or retraining?”
The good news:
In Germany, there are funding programs such as the Education Voucher (Bildungsgutschein) that can fully finance further training courses.
If you are looking for work, receiving Bürgergeld (citizen’s benefit), or are at risk of unemployment, the Jobcenter or the Employment Agency may support your further training.
In this article, you will learn:
what an Education Voucher is
who can receive one
how the process works
how to improve your chances of approval
and how AKAZA supports you
The Education Voucher is a funding program provided by the Employment Agency or the Jobcenter.
It can be used to finance various educational programs, such as:
further training courses
retraining programs
professional qualifications
job-related German language courses
career and integration programs
Depending on your situation, the following costs may be covered:
course fees
examination fees
travel expenses
accommodation costs
childcare expenses
The goal is clear:
👉 to improve your long-term opportunities in the labor market.
An Education Voucher may be available if further training is necessary to improve or stabilize your professional situation.
Possible target groups include:
job seekers
unemployed individuals
recipients of Bürgergeld or unemployment benefits
people with fixed-term employment contracts
individuals at risk of unemployment
people returning to work after a career break
individuals with missing or outdated qualifications
people who wish to change career paths
The final decision is always made by the responsible advisor at the Jobcenter or the Employment Agency.
The labor market is constantly changing.
New technologies, digitalization, and international requirements mean that many qualifications that were sufficient in the past are no longer enough today.
That is why further training is becoming increasingly important in Germany:
for better career opportunities
for greater job security
for professional reorientation
for long-term integration into the labor market
International professionals especially benefit from strong German language skills and practical qualifications.
The first step is a personal consultation.
During this meeting, your professional situation, goals, and previous qualifications will be discussed.
The advisor will assess whether further training can improve your opportunities in the labor market.
For the consultation, you should ideally have the following documents ready:
CV / résumé
certificates and qualifications
proof of professional experience
job application documents
possible training interests
The clearer your professional goal is, the easier it will be to explain why the training is necessary.
An Education Voucher is often approved when the training:
improves your job prospects
closes qualification gaps
supports your professional integration
helps prevent unemployment
👉 It is therefore important that the training has a clear connection to the labor market.
If your application is approved, you will officially receive the Education Voucher.
It includes, among other things:
the approved field of education
the duration
possible regional restrictions
the validity period of the voucher
After approval, you can select a certified training provider.
It is important that the training:
aligns with your professional goals
realistically improves your opportunities
is practice-oriented
provides recognized qualifications
At AKAZA Education Leipzig, we guide participants step by step through the entire process.
We support you with:
initial orientation
questions about funding opportunities
selecting suitable training programs
professional reorientation
job-related German language skills
flexible learning formats, online or on-site
Our goal is to make further training understandable, structured, and practical.
For many international professionals, language is one of the biggest challenges in everyday working life.
The combination of:
further training
job-related German courses
communication training
can significantly improve opportunities in the German labor market.
That is why at AKAZA we focus on:
✅ small groups
✅ practical learning
✅ real communication
✅ clear learning structures
✅ individual support
Because sustainable learning success is achieved where people can actively speak and apply what they learn.
Yes – employed individuals may also receive funding under certain conditions.
For example, if:
qualifications have become outdated
new professional requirements arise
a career change becomes necessary
the current job is at risk
The decision is always made on an individual basis.
An Education Voucher can be a great opportunity to start a new career path or to develop professionally in a targeted way.
Whether you:
want to advance your career
need new qualifications
want to strengthen your German for professional purposes
or are looking for better job opportunities
it often all starts with an initial consultation and the right support.
At AKAZA, we are happy to accompany you on this journey.
About the Author
AKAZA Education
Job seekers are often given well-meant but generic advice: a resume template here, a group course there. The problem: every professional starting point is different. Someone who recently arrived from abroad and is still working on B1-level German needs something completely different from someone with fluent German looking for a career change. A one-size-fits-all program rarely fits anyone particularly well.
