Funding
How your retraining is paid for.
With an education voucher, the employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit) covers the course fees. Your money to live on usually continues. On top of that, there is money for completing your qualification.
On top of your benefits
up to€6,700
- Further training allowance€150 × 28 months, including holidays and work placement€4,200
- Bonus for part 1 of the examafter passing part 1 of the journeyman’s exam€1,000
- Bonus for the final examafter passing the journeyman’s exam€1,500
If you meet the requirements. Guidance only, not a funding commitment: the employment agency decides.
How the money adds up.
Example with the next start: 01/03/2027 to 09/07/2029.
Electronics technician, 28 months: 28 × €150 further training allowance, plus €1,000 after part 1 of the journeyman’s exam and €1,500 after the journeyman’s exam. Up to €6,700 in total.
Separate, not added up
Your benefits
Your unemployment benefit or basic income support usually continues. The amount depends on your situation.
Course fees
€0 for you. The employment agency pays with an education voucher.
Who does what?
Who is responsible depends on what you receive today. Choose your situation.
Step 1
BFI-Bildung
Consultation with aptitude test and tour. We help you with the application.
Step 2
Employment agency
Advises you, decides on funding and issues the education voucher.
Step 3
Your retraining
You start at BFI. The costs are agreed in writing beforehand.
Money to live on: Your unemployment benefit usually continues. During retraining it is used up only half as fast.
Travel, childcare and housing, too.
The employment agency checks these costs individually. They are not part of the total above.
Reimbursed
Travel costs
For example, your bus and train ticket. Route and means of transport are checked individually.
€160 a month
Childcare
A flat rate for each child who needs care.
up to €588 a month
Accommodation and meals
Only if you have to live away from home: accommodation up to €60 a day, at most €420 a month; meals up to €24 a day, at most €168 a month.
What applies to which course?
The further training allowance and bonuses are only available for retraining that leads to a vocational qualification.
- Electronics technicianRetraining€6,700
- Course fees covered
- Yes
- €150 a month
- Yes
- Bonuses up to €2,500
- Yes
- Industrial mechanicRetraining€6,100
- Course fees covered
- Yes
- €150 a month
- Yes
- Bonuses up to €2,500
- Yes
- ELAQ electronics technician, module 1Partial qualification
- Course fees covered
- Yes
- €150 a month
- Case by case
- Bonuses up to €2,500
- Not available
- Industrial mechanic, module 3Partial qualification
- Course fees covered
- Yes
- €150 a month
- Case by case
- Bonuses up to €2,500
- Not available
- Preparatory coursePreparation
- Course fees covered
- Yes
- €150 a month
- Not available
- Bonuses up to €2,500
- Not available
- Industrial electricianFurther training
- Course fees covered
- Case by case
- €150 a month
- Not available
- Bonuses up to €2,500
- Not available
“Case by case”: we look at this in your consultation, then the employment agency or your employer decides.
Frequently asked questions.
Do I get the €150 on top?
Yes. The further training allowance comes on top of your unemployment benefit or basic income support. You receive it every month of your retraining, including holidays and the work placement.
Requirement: the employment agency funds your retraining, and you belong to the group of people named in the law. The employment agency checks this before you start.
Will my unemployment benefit last for the whole retraining?
That depends on your entitlement. During retraining it is used up only half as fast: for every two days of retraining, one day is deducted.
If your entitlement does not last until the end, basic income support may be an option afterwards. Ask the employment agency how long your entitlement lasts.
I am still working. Is that possible?
Yes, employees can also be funded. Talk to your employer first. The employer service of the employment agency then checks with the company what can be funded and which share the company pays.
Further training allowance is only paid if you are unemployed or receive basic income support. The bonuses apply to you too.
Employer service: 0800 4 5555 20, free of charge.
Do I have to take a test?
Yes, everyone takes a short aptitude test with us. It is part of the free consultation.
Often, but not always, the employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit) also invites you to its Occupational Psychology Service. Whether that is necessary is decided by your adviser at the employment agency or the job centre.
More details
They will also tell you whether the appointment is mandatory for you. The appointment at the agency takes several hours: first a conversation, then usually tasks on a computer, such as arithmetic, logical thinking and spatial reasoning. At the end, the results are discussed with you.
You don’t need to study for it. The employment agency offers free sample tasks (in German). Don’t buy test training: according to the agency, the free samples are enough.
Can’t make an appointment? Let them know straight away.
Already have a recent assessment, for example from the job centre? The agency can use it if you agree.
Is there a minimum age?
Not by law. In practice, though, the employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit) usually funds retraining from age 25.
Younger than 25? Talk to us anyway. We’ll look at your options together and help you prepare for the meeting at the agency.
More details
The reason: if you are younger and have no vocational qualification yet, you are expected to do an apprenticeship with a company first. Companies are looking for apprentices. If you have worked for less than three years, the law explicitly gives an apprenticeship priority.
Exceptions are possible but rare. For example, if an apprenticeship isn’t workable for you for personal reasons, such as caring for a family, or if you have applied for apprenticeships many times without success. Your adviser at the employment agency decides.
I have a health condition. Can I still retrain?
It depends on the condition. But you can find out beforehand, without pressure.
At your consultation, we’ll tell you exactly what the workshop, the work placement and the exam involve physically. You don’t need to tell us your diagnosis.
If you like, we’ll put these requirements in writing, for example for your employment agency or job centre. And you can sit in with us for a day or two beforehand.
For more time to try things out, there is the preparatory course: six weeks of basic maths, metalwork and electrical engineering.
More details
Funding is decided by the employment agency, even if you receive basic income support from the job centre. If you wish, you can get the decision in writing.
You can ask whether a medical assessment is possible. The employment agency decides whether it is needed. A recent medical report can help in that conversation.
Is your health itself the reason for the retraining? Then vocational rehabilitation may also be an option. You can apply informally, even verbally, at the employment agency or the German pension insurance. If they are not responsible, they pass it on.
If you tell us about your condition, we take it into account when choosing your work placement. With a disability, even without a severe disability card, we help you apply for exam adjustments, for example more time. The chamber responsible for the exam decides.
We teach in regular classes. If it turns out that you need more support than is possible there, there are specialised vocational rehabilitation centres (Berufsförderungswerke). Whether this is needed is decided by the employment agency or the German pension insurance.
EUTB, an independent counselling service, offers free advice to people with a disability or at risk of one, and to their families.
Examples of electronics work away from building sites are on our page for advisers.
Well prepared for your appointment.
Clarify these questions with your adviser at the employment agency. Ideally before the start and in writing.
We help you with the application. Simply bring the list to your consultation.
Which course?
The printout then also shows start date, duration and approval.
- Is my goal agreed: which retraining course and which start date?
- Who is responsible for me: employment agency, job centre or employer service?
- Will I get the education voucher, and by when do I have to use it?
- Will my unemployment benefit or basic income support continue, and for how long?
- Will I get the further training allowance of €150 a month?
- Will travel or childcare costs be covered?
- Is everything agreed in writing before the start?
Notes
Legal basis
Professionally checked on 12/08/2026; § 82 and § 148 SGB III on 03/10/2026. Guidance only, not legal advice and not a funding commitment. The employment agency decides before the start.
Further funding options are shown on the continuing education portal of the Federal Employment Agency (in German): mein NOW funding navigator
- Course fees§§ 81, 83 SGB III
- Further training allowance§ 87a Abs. 2, 3 SGB III
- Bonus for part 1 of the exam§ 87a Abs. 1 Nr. 1 SGB III
- Bonus for the final exam§ 87a Abs. 1 Nr. 2 SGB III
- Travel costs§ 85 SGB III
- Childcare§ 87 SGB III
- Accommodation and meals§ 86 SGB III
- Funding for employees§ 82 SGB III
- Unemployment benefit during further training§ 148 Abs. 1 Nr. 7 SGB III
Let’s sort it out together.
In your consultation we look at which funding suits you. And we help you with the application.
You will meet
Gabriele Herrmann
Silvia Haala
Maximilian Weber
Johannes Weber
Two portraits edited with AI, based on real photos