IT Administrator

An IT administrator (system administrator) plans, installs and maintains a company's IT systems: networks, servers, operating systems and IT security. IHQ Akademie qualifies you through an online training course with internationally recognised certificates (Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA, LPIC, AWS), available nationwide and free of charge with an education voucher from the Federal Employment Agency (issued exclusively by the Agency since 2025).

A course qualifies for the education voucher if it meets three conditions: the provider is accredited under AZAV (§§ 179, 180 SGB III), the course has its own programme number, and both are listed in the Federal Employment Agency's mein NOW portal. You can check all three before enrolling — a provider without them cannot accept an education voucher. IHQ Akademie meets them: AZAV registration number EPZ-25-15-T (certified by EuropaNozert), provider ID 1063671265 (provider no. 306822), programme number 962/128/2026 for the online IT and system administrator course. It runs online across Germany for twelve months: ten months of live instruction with trainers and two months of work placement, preparing you for Cisco CCNA and Microsoft Azure AZ-900, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, LPIC-1 or AWS Cloud Practitioner. For IHQ Akademie these are: AZAV reg. no. EPZ-25-15-T, provider ID 1063671265 (provider no. 306822) and programme number 962/128/2026 — in the portal the course is found fastest via the provider ID.

The classroom part yes, the work placement no. Ten of the twelve months are live online instruction you attend entirely from home — we lend you a laptop, mouse and headset; all you need is an internet connection and a quiet place. The final two months are a work placement at an IT company, and we help you find one in your region. The placement is part of the funded programme (no. 962/128/2026) and cannot be skipped, because it provides the hands-on experience and employer contact that matter when entering the field. If you need training with no on-site component at all, ask providers directly — many do not make this distinction clear.

There are three common routes into IT. First, individual vendor certificates (CompTIA, Cisco, AWS): fast, but without a learning structure and without public funding; you pay every exam fee yourself — suitable if you already have some background. Second, a Umschulung to Fachinformatiker: two to three years, but it ends in a state-recognised IHK qualification — the longest route, and formally the strongest. Third, a funded further-training course of about a year that starts from the fundamentals and prepares you for several recognised certificates — the middle path if you want to move into an administration or support role quickly. Our IT and system administrator course belongs to the third group: twelve months, programme number 962/128/2026, fully fundable with an education voucher. If you need the IHK Fachinformatiker qualification, a Umschulung is the better fit — we do not offer one.

The usual entry point is IT support (1st and 2nd level), moving from there into system administration and then into a specialisation — cloud, networking or IT security. Each stage has its typical credentials: CompTIA A+ for the entry level, LPIC-1 (Linux) and Cisco CCNA (networking) for administration, AWS Cloud Practitioner and Microsoft Azure AZ-900 for cloud specialisation. Formal degrees do not replace these certificates; job adverts for administration roles frequently name them directly. Our twelve-month IT and system administrator course (programme no. 962/128/2026) covers exactly the first two stages and prepares you for all five certificates named above — fully fundable with an education voucher. Typical target roles afterwards: system administrator, network administrator, 2nd-level support, cloud administrator.

The difference lies in the qualification and the duration. A Umschulung leads to a state-recognised vocational occupation — in IT typically Fachinformatiker — and takes two to three years, ending with an IHK examination. Further training builds on existing skills, takes months rather than years, and concludes with provider and vendor certificates rather than a vocational qualification. Both can be funded through the education voucher from the Federal Employment Agency. Our twelve-month IT and system administrator programme (no. 962/128/2026) is further training: a faster route into administration and support roles, preparing you for Cisco CCNA and Microsoft Azure AZ-900, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, LPIC-1 or AWS Cloud Practitioner — but without an IHK vocational qualification. If you need that qualification, choose a Umschulung.

No — we do not award an IHK qualification in IT. An IHK qualification in the IT field is called Fachinformatiker and is obtained through a two- to three-year Umschulung with an IHK examination; we do not offer that. Our IT course leads within twelve months to vendor certificates (Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA, LPIC, AWS) and a provider certificate. We do prepare for an IHK examination in a different field: the § 34a GewO certificate of competence for the security industry. Anyone searching for IHK and IT together almost always means the Fachinformatiker Umschulung.

Learning platforms such as Udemy or Coursera sell courses and issue a platform certificate of completion at the end. That can be technically sound, but it is neither AZAV-accredited nor eligible for funding through an education voucher, and there is no fixed cohort, no trainer and no exam registration. An accredited provider is subject to AZAV (§§ 179, 180 SGB III); every programme has its own number and is listed in the mein NOW portal — only then does the Federal Employment Agency cover the cost. The distinction that matters is between a course certificate and a vendor certificate: the latter (CompTIA, Cisco, AWS, Microsoft) is awarded by the vendor after you pass their exam, regardless of where you studied. We prepare you for those exams; our programme number is 962/128/2026.

To switch from an office or commercial role you need no prior IT knowledge — the course starts with the fundamentals (hardware, networks, operating systems) and leads to internationally recognised certificates within twelve months. What you bring from commercial work helps: structured working, documentation, customer communication and ticket discipline are daily requirements in IT support and system administration. What is new is the technology, not the way of working. The programme (no. 962/128/2026) is 100 % fundable with an education voucher from the Federal Employment Agency, runs online across Germany and is designed explicitly for career changers.

Cloud is a fixed part of the course: AWS, Microsoft Azure, VMware and Docker belong to the cloud services and virtualisation module, and the course prepares you for AWS Cloud Practitioner and Microsoft Azure AZ-900. IT security is also a module — firewalls, encryption, security policies and data protection — but as part of the administrator training, not as a standalone cyber security course with certificates such as CISSP or CEH. We do not teach data analytics or data engineering. If you specifically want to specialise in cyber security or data, a provider focused on that will serve you better; if you need the administrative foundation for it, you are in the right place.

The entire online training including all learning materials and certificate exams is free for you if you have an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) from the Agentur für Arbeit (since 2025 issued exclusively by the Agentur für Arbeit, also for Grundsicherungsgeld recipients). We are AZAV-certified (Reg.-No. EPZ-25-15-T) and cover 100% of costs through the funding, valid nationwide.

The training takes a total of 12 months: 10 months of live online classes synchronous with instructors, then 2 months of practical internship in an IT company of your choice. Course code: 962/128/2026.

Yes, the training is 100% online and you join live from home. We have participants from Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and all other German cities. You only need a laptop, mouse and headset, we provide hardware on request.

You do not need specific IT prior knowledge, we start from the basics. Required: German language skills at B1 level, basic computer literacy, motivation and willingness to learn. We check your eligibility in a free consultation.

You will be prepared for the following internationally recognized certificates: Cisco CCNA and Microsoft Azure AZ-900, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, LPIC-1 or AWS Cloud Practitioner, and Microsoft Azure AZ-900. You also receive the IHQ training certificate and an AZAV certificate. We cover the exam fees from the course price; there are no additional costs for you, not for all of them.

The German digital association Bitkom counts around 109,000 open IT positions in Germany (2026 study report, surveyed in 2025). Starting salary: 42,000–55,000 € gross/year. The programme includes a 2-month company internship with a real project — it provides hands-on experience and direct contact with employers. We also support you with applications and job placement.

Schedule a free consultation with us (by phone or video), we will support you in applying at the Agentur für Arbeit in your city (since 2025 the Bildungsgutschein is issued exclusively by the Agentur für Arbeit, also for Grundsicherungsgeld recipients), prepare all necessary documents, and accompany you through to approval.

Classes are held in German (since IT terminology and certificates are in German/English). Consultation and coaching are held in German too: we use simple, clear language, explain technical terms and take our time.

IT fundamentals, networks (TCP/IP, routing), Windows Server Administration & Active Directory, Linux Server (Samba, Shell), IT security & data protection, Cloud Services (AWS, Azure, VMware, Docker), IT Service & Project Management (ITIL), as well as targeted preparation for Cisco CCNA and Microsoft Azure AZ-900, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, LPIC-1 or AWS Cloud Practitioner.

We take care of the search — you do not have to write to companies yourself. In separate coaching sessions we first update your CV, then we look for IT companies near your home and contact them directly to ask for an internship place on your behalf.

Yes, our further training is ideal for career changers and IT entry without prior experience. We start with the basics (Linux, Windows, networks) and lead you step by step to practical Microsoft, Linux and Cisco certifications. No prior knowledge required, only motivation and willingness to learn. After 10 months of online training + 2 months of internship, you are ready for the job market.

After successful completion, the starting salary for IT/system administrators in Germany typically ranges from €42,000–55,000 gross/year (junior level). The programme prepares you for Cisco CCNA and Microsoft Azure AZ-900, plus CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, LPIC-1 or AWS Cloud Practitioner — qualifications employers recognise. The digital association Bitkom counts around 109,000 open IT positions in Germany (2026 study report, surveyed in 2025).