§34a GewO Certification.
for foreign skilled workers
Preparation for the IHK certification exam, including subject-specific language training, de-escalation & intercultural competence. Specifically for foreign skilled workers from language level A2.
Kurz erklärt
The Sachkunde § 34a GewO is the statutory IHK exam for the private security industry. It covers 9 subject areas (law, data protection, de-escalation and more). At IHQ Akademie you prepare 100 % online over 13 weeks — free with a Bildungsgutschein.
Training information
Training information
Comprehensive preparation for all 9 examination areas of the IHK §34a GewO certification, with integrated technical German, de-escalation & personal coaching.
Duration
13 weeks · 528 LU × 45 minutes
Completion
IHK §34a GewO certification
Format
100% digital, synchronous
Cost
100% fundable with the education voucher
IT equipment included
Laptop · Camera · Headset (loaner possible)
Programme number
being applied for
Who is the § 34a preparation course for?
This 34a online course is designed for
100 % online, multilingual support, available nationwide, built for a fast entry into the security industry (officially classified as a bottleneck profession by the German Federal Employment Agency).
You speak German at A2 level and want to pass the IHK § 34a GewO certification exam. Our course integrates 132 lessons of vocational German using the CLIL method, you raise your level to B1+ in parallel while learning the security content. Consulting in Arabic, Persian, Ukrainian and English.
You have a Bildungsgutschein (education voucher) from the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter, or want to apply for one. The course is AZAV-certified (Reg.-No. EPZ-25-15-T) and 100 % free for you, including the IHK exam fee on the first attempt.
You hold a residence permit with work authorization and are looking for a fast, recognized entry into the German labour market. The security industry is a bottleneck profession, nationwide demand, fast permanent employment, often paid under collective agreements.
You currently have no formal vocational qualification and want your first recognized credential. With the IHK § 34a certification you gain a nationally valid proof of competence, a legal prerequisite for many roles in the private security sector.
You are switching from hospitality, retail, logistics or care into the security sector, or returning after a break. Full-time course (13 weeks), 100 % online from home, no commuting. Requirements: adulthood and a clean police clearance certificate.
The security industry actively seeks more women, for reception, event security, large-event personal screening, and other sensitive roles. The course runs full-time over 13 weeks, 100 % online from home, with no commuting. Jobcenters and the Employment Agency actively fund women's entry into this field.
You have already completed the 40-hour § 34a GewO IHK training and now want the full certification exam, to qualify for higher-responsibility roles such as city patrol, store detective, door supervision, lead-level event security or refugee shelter security. Higher pay, more responsibility, nationally recognized.
Does this fit you?
Request a consultation
What you learn with IHQ Akademie
What you'll learn at IHQ Akademie
Practical preparation for all 9 examination areas of the IHK certification, with integrated technical German and soft-skill modules.
Law of public safety and order
Learning objectives: You know the basic rights of the German constitution (Grundgesetz) and assembly law, understand the responsibilities of the police and regulatory authorities in the federal states, and can clearly distinguish the tasks of private security services from sovereign police powers.
Trade law (§ 34a GewO, BewachV)
Learning objectives: You know the licensing obligation under § 34a GewO and the requirements of the security regulation (BewachV), understand reliability, the proof of competence and instruction, as well as liability and insurance, and can correctly apply duties regarding service ID, identification and the guard register (Bewacherregister).
Data protection law (DSGVO, BDSG)
Learning objectives: You know the principles of the GDPR (DSGVO) and the BDSG, understand the lawful processing of personal data and the requirements for video surveillance in security work, and can correctly assess data subjects' rights, documentation duties and the consequences of data protection breaches in daily practice.
Civil Code (self-defence, necessity, citizen's rights)
Learning objectives: You know the civil-law foundations of the BGB as well as the citizen's rights (Jedermannsrechte), understand self-defence, necessity and the right of provisional arrest, and can confidently apply ownership, possession, domiciliary rights and mistake of prohibition in order to act proportionately and lawfully on duty.
Criminal and procedural law (StGB, StPO)
Learning objectives: You know the most important criminal offences of the StGB (e.g. bodily harm, coercion, theft) and the basics of the StPO, understand provisional arrest under § 127 StPO, and can recognise offences, secure evidence and document incidents in a legally sound way.
Dealing with people and de-escalation
Learning objectives: You know the basics of communication, perception and conflict analysis, understand intercultural competence and behaviour in dangerous and stressful situations, and can defuse conflicts through de-escalation techniques without unnecessarily resorting to physical confrontation.
Accident prevention regulations (UVV / DGUV)
Learning objectives: You know the accident prevention regulations (UVV) and the DGUV rule for guarding and security services, understand occupational safety, self-protection and first-aid duties, and can behave in a traffic- and work-safe manner on duty as well as correctly initiate emergency calls and reporting channels.
Handling of weapons / weapons law (WaffG)
Learning objectives: You know the basics of the Weapons Act (WaffG), understand the licensing requirements for firearms and bladed/striking weapons as well as carrying, acquiring and storing them, and can assess in which cases aids for physical force are permitted in the security industry.
Fundamentals of security technology
Learning objectives: You know the fundamentals of security technology such as intrusion, fire and hold-up alarm systems, video and access-control technology as well as mechanical safeguards, and can apply preventive fire protection, patrol rounds and the handling of technical alarm systems in practice.
Completion & Certificates
Your path to recognized certifications
After successful completion, you will receive the IHK certificate for the §34a GewO certification, the legal prerequisite for qualified activities in the private security industry.
Also included: DGUV mandatory first aid course, IHK de-escalation certificate, and the IHQ certificate of participation.
Funding & Cost Coverage
100% cost coverage possible
This program is AZAV-certified and can be 100% funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) from the Federal Employment Agency or the Jobcenter.
- 100% funded with the education voucher
- Support during the application process
- IHK examination fees (first attempt) included
Our funding partners
- 1 Consultation Non-binding first conversation, by phone or video.
- 2 Application We support you with the application at the Jobcenter or the Agentur für Arbeit.
- 3 Approval The funding body approves the funding; there are no costs for you.
- 4 Start Your course or coaching begins, with multilingual support.
Anerkannt & gefördert, bundesweit
Your Benefits
Why IHQ Akademie is the right choice for your §34a GewO certification
Live classes, fully synchronous
Direct interaction with instructors in the virtual classroom
Integrated technical German (132 LU)
CLIL method raises your language level to B1+ in parallel
Excellent job opportunities in security
Shortage occupation per BA analysis, secure your dream job
Monthly individual coaching (2 LU/month)
Learning strategy, exam preparation & career orientation
Your career opportunities in the security industry
After passing the IHK certification, diverse fields of activity are open to you. Here you see your prospects at a glance.
Specific fields of activity after the certification
- Object protection / plant security Protection of buildings and facilities
- Event security Security for events and trade fairs
- Reception / front desk Access and visitor control
- City patrol / patrol service Public security service
- Store detective / loss prevention Theft prevention in retail
- Security staff at refugee shelters Care in refugee accommodations
Frequently asked questions about the §34a online course
Answers to the most important questions about the §34a certificate, education voucher and IHK exam, no matter where in Germany you join from.
The entire online preparation course, including the IHK exam fee, is free for you if you have an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) from the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter. We are AZAV-certified (Reg.-No. EPZ-25-15-T) and cover 100% of costs through the funding, valid nationwide.
The course lasts 13 weeks with 528 lesson units of 45 minutes each. Classes are held live online, synchronous with instructors, not self-study. You can join from anywhere in Germany.
Yes, the course 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, headset and stable internet, loan devices are possible.
The IHK exam takes place at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) responsible for you, usually in your city or region. We help you register at your local IHK and prepare you specifically for all 9 exam areas (written + oral).
You need German language skills at level A2 or higher. We integrate 132 lesson units of professional German into the course and raise your level to B1+ in parallel. No professional prior knowledge required.
Our pass rate at the IHK §34a GewO exam is over 80%. You also receive monthly individual coaching for exam preparation.
The lessons are held in German (since the IHK exam is in German). Additional consultation and coaching are available in Arabic, Persian (Farsi), Ukrainian, and English, a unique strength of IHQ Akademie for participants throughout Germany.
Schedule a free consultation with us (by phone or video), we will support you in applying at the Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit in your city, prepare all necessary documents, and accompany you through to approval.
If you fail, you can retake the IHK exam. We offer repeat participants targeted follow-up with individual coaching, your success is our goal.
Yes, the IHK §34a GewO exam is recognized nationwide. With the certificate you can work in the private security industry anywhere in Germany, from Hamburg to Munich, from Cologne to Berlin.
Yes, the § 34a certificate is ideal for career changers and offers a quick entry into the security industry. After passing the IHK exam, you can work as a security officer in security services, as a doorman, bouncer, in event security or facility protection, demand is high nationwide and no prior knowledge is required.
Yes. A prerequisite for working in the security industry under § 34a GewO is a clean police clearance certificate (Führungszeugnis without relevant entries) and being of legal age. The clearance certificate is not required for the IHK competence exam itself, but for the subsequent application for the § 34a GewO permit at the trade authority. We advise you in the course on all requirements and support you with the application.
For participation in the preparation course, language level A2 is sufficient as entry requirement. For the IHK competence exam itself, however, IHK and the Federal Employment Agency recommend level B1, as the exam contains legal terminology (BGB, StGB, GewO, BDSG). Solution for our multilingual participants: Our course integrates 132 UE of specialized German using the CLIL method, you improve your German to B1+ in parallel while learning the security content.
Unterrichtung according to § 34a GewO (40 UE mandatory training, IHK attendance certificate without exam) qualifies for simple security activities: stationary plant security, reception/doorman, simple object protection. Sachkundeprüfung §34a (comprehensive IHK exam, written + oral) is required for more demanding activities: city patrols, anti-shoplifting protection, door control in nightclubs, event security in management function, supervision of refugee shelters. Our course prepares for the complete Sachkundeprüfung, the highest qualification proof in the security industry.
Haben Sie weitere Fragen zur Sachkundeprüfung §34a oder zum Bildungsgutschein?
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