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Funding and the Bildungsgutschein
You can have this training course funded by the Agentur für Arbeit (employment agency) with a Bildungsgutschein (training voucher). This page explains what a Bildungsgutschein is, who issues it, which rule applies to your situation and how you apply. It also tells you what can go wrong.
The basics
What a Bildungsgutschein is
A Bildungsgutschein is a letter from the Agentur für Arbeit. It states a training goal, a time period and a note that the costs will be covered. You take this letter to an approved training provider. The provider bills the Agentur für Arbeit directly for the teaching. You do not receive an invoice.
You cannot download the Bildungsgutschein from the internet, and you cannot buy it. You only get it in a meeting at your Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter. The person who looks after you there is called a Vermittlungsfachkraft (placement officer).
One thing we say right at the start: there is no legal right to a Bildungsgutschein. It is a discretionary benefit — your Agentur für Arbeit decides in your individual case.
A firm entitlement only exists for further training that leads to a qualification in a recognised training occupation (§ 81 Absatz 2 SGB III), for example with an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Ours is not one of them: nine months, and at the end a certificate that we issue ourselves.
The Bildungsgutschein also shows a date. You must redeem it by that date. Usually that is three months.
Before you go
Three things that are often misunderstood
You should know these three points before your first appointment.
Even if the Jobcenter looks after you and you receive Grundsicherung (basic income support), it is still the Agentur für Arbeit that issues the Bildungsgutschein.
The Jobcenter advises you and refers you to the Agentur für Arbeit. This also applies if you are under 25. At the office, ask politely which department is responsible.
Nobody can guarantee you the Bildungsgutschein, and neither can we. But you can do a lot to make sure your case reaches the office with good reasons behind it. That is exactly what we help you with.
The Bundesagentur für Arbeit does not accept an application that a training provider submits on your behalf with a power of attorney.
We write the documents and the reasoning for you. You go to the appointment yourself. That is the authority's rule.
The video
The Bildungsgutschein in 42 seconds
Who issues it, what it pays for — and what it expressly does not pay for.
The sound is off until you turn it on.
Four life situations
Which rule applies to your situation
The law contains different sections (§). Which one applies to you depends on where you are right now. Pick the one that fits your situation.
This is the most common route. The Agentur für Arbeit can fund your further training if it is necessary to get you back into work.
If you are unemployed, it is enough if the further training improves your chances on the job market and matches occupations that are in demand (§ 81 Absatz 1a SGB III).
If you receive Grundsicherung, the same further-training rules from SGB III apply (§ 16 SGB II). The Bildungsgutschein is still issued by the Agentur für Arbeit. Your money is still paid by the Jobcenter.
Have you been given notice? Or is your contract fixed-term and coming to an end?
Then you can count as being at risk of unemployment (§ 17 SGB III) — and the full Bildungsgutschein is possible without your employer having to take part. Three things must be true for this: you are in a job with compulsory social insurance, your employment is ending soon, and you will probably be unemployed after that.
Also register as a jobseeker, at the latest three months before your last working day. If you only find out later that your job is ending, you have three days to do this (§ 38 SGB III).
If your job continues, the normal Bildungsgutschein does not apply to you — § 82 SGB III does instead.
The funding then goes through your employer: they must release you from work and, depending on the size of the company, pay part of the course costs. If you are 45 or older and your company has fewer than 500 employees, this share can be waived completely (§ 82 Absatz 2 Satz 4 SGB III).
The whole company is counted — if it belongs to a corporate group, all employees of the group count, not just those at your location (§ 82 Absatz 6 SGB III).
For employed people, the Agentur für Arbeit can also waive the Bildungsgutschein; then an Anmeldebescheinigung (confirmation of enrolment) from us is enough (§ 81 Absatz 4 Satz 4 SGB III). And we say this openly: our classes run full-time for nine months, Monday to Friday. That is not possible alongside a job.
If you took a break to raise children or to care for a relative and want to return to work, you are what § 20 SGB III calls a Berufsrückkehrerin or Berufsrückkehrer — a person returning to work.
In this case, funding is also under § 81 SGB III. You do not need to be receiving any money from the office for this. Contact your Agentur für Arbeit and ask for a consultation about further vocational training.
The three requirements
What the Agentur für Arbeit has to check
Three points are set out in the law (§ 81 Absatz 1 SGB III). All three must be met. You take care of one yourself, one is our job, and the Agentur für Arbeit decides the third.
- The further training is necessary — It must be needed to get you back into work or to prevent you from becoming unemployed. The Agentur für Arbeit decides this. This is the point the meeting is really about. That is what we write your reasoning for.
- You received advice beforehand — Before the course starts, you must have had a consultation at the Agentur für Arbeit. Without this appointment there is no Bildungsgutschein. This is the step you take yourself.
- Provider and programme are approved — We have this in place. The CYBERSQUAD Akademie is an approved provider under § 178 SGB III in conjunction with the AZAV. This training course itself has also been individually checked and approved. The approval numbers are further down on this page.
- And even then, a person decides — If all three points are met, funding is possible, but not certain. Your Vermittlungsfachkraft decides in your individual case.
You now know what the Agentur für Arbeit looks at.The funding check tells you in two minutes which rule applies to your situation — no sign-up needed.
Check which rule applies to youMoney
What you live on during the nine months
The Bildungsgutschein pays for the lessons. It does not pay your rent. What you live on depends on what you receive today. Clarify this before the start, not afterwards.
One thing we are open about: a monthly Weiterbildungsgeld (training allowance) is only available for training programmes that lead to a qualification in an Ausbildungsberuf, a recognised training occupation (§ 87a SGB III). Our training is not that kind of programme. So you will not receive this money with us. Don’t let anyone promise it to you either.
of further training
1 day stays with you
Your Arbeitslosengeld continues to be paid during the training.
And it is used up only half as fast: for every two days of training, only one day is deducted from your entitlement. So after the nine months, you still have some left. Your Agentur für Arbeit (employment agency) will work out exactly how many days. Ask about it at your appointment.
Your benefit continues and is still paid by the Jobcenter. The training does not change the amount. Even so, the Bildungsgutschein itself is issued by the Agentur für Arbeit.
You can get a Bildungsgutschein even if you receive no benefits.
But be careful: in that case, nobody pays your living costs. You are also not covered by health insurance through the Agentur für Arbeit. Before you start, clarify what you will live on for nine months and how you are insured.
Childcare costs can also be covered (§ 87 SGB III).
This also applies if the lessons take place at your home. Ask about it before you say no. § 83 SGB III sets out which costs connected with training can be covered.
The real hurdle
The Vermittlungsvorrang and how to counter it
Since 1 July 2026, the Vermittlungsvorrang (priority for job placement) has applied in the Grundsicherung (§ 3a SGB II). This means: the first check is whether you can be placed in a job quickly. Training only comes after that. For many applications, this is the real hurdle today.
How to counter it — click to open
There is an exception. The priority does not apply if another form of support is more promising for lasting integration (§ 3a Absatz 2 SGB II). Training is such a form of support. ‘Erfolgversprechender’ (more promising) is exactly the word that appears in the law.
For your appointment, this means: it is not enough to say that you want this training. You have to show why a job you could take today would not get you out of unemployment permanently.
And why this training will do that. That includes your career so far, your health and your language skills, and the job you want to do afterwards.
We write this justification for you. It links your CV with the job of Junior SOC Analyst. That is the person who is the first to notice an attack on a company’s computers.
And it links that job with what is taught in this training. You receive the justification as a document you can present at your appointment. In the end, the Agentur für Arbeit has to decide.
If you receive Arbeitslosengeld, § 3a SGB II does not apply to you. But your Agentur für Arbeit also checks whether job placement is the faster route. The standard is then set out in § 81 Absatz 1 SGB III: the training must be necessary to integrate you into working life. So you need the justification in both cases.
Preparation
The documents you need
Four things come from you. Four things we write for you; they appear in your personal area shortly afterwards, and you print them out there. Take everything with you and put it on the table at the start of the appointment.
- An appointment with your Vermittlungsfachkraft (caseworker) — Without a consultation, there is no Bildungsgutschein. Call your Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter, or write via your Online-Postfach (online mailbox). Say that it is about further vocational training.
- Your CV — With the jobs you have done so far and without major gaps. If you like, we can look over it beforehand.
- Certificates and supporting documents — School-leaving certificate, vocational training, employer references. For qualifications from abroad, bring what you have, even without German recognition.
- Your Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit), if you do not have a German passport — Funding is for people who have access to the German labour market. A time-limited permit is not a reason for exclusion. The Bildungsgutschein itself is only valid for up to three months anyway; it is not shortened to the date on your permit. Tell us how long your permit is valid and whether an extension is under way.
- The fact sheet for the training — One page with content, duration, teaching hours, qualification and all approval details. That way your contact person has all the details on a single page.
- The approval certificate — Proof from the certification body Kiwa ZERTPUNKT that this training is approved for funding with a Bildungsgutschein. Without this proof, the Agentur für Arbeit is not allowed to pay at all.
- Your justification — The text that explains why this training is more promising for you than quick job placement. Written for your own career path, not as a template.
- An Anmeldebescheinigung (registration certificate), if it is needed — This is a document from us that confirms your registration. You need it if you are employed (§ 82 SGB III) or if the Agentur für Arbeit decides not to issue a Bildungsgutschein and registers you directly (§ 81 Absatz 4 Satz 4 SGB III). We sign it. You do not sign anything on it.
Two options, one goal
How to hand in your documents
You don’t have to print anything or take anything there. Both options count the same.
Option 1 · The Agentur für Arbeit app
It is called BA-mobil. For this you need an account with the Agentur für Arbeit.
Option 2 · Without the app
- Online-Postfach — in your Agentur für Arbeit account, the same route without a phone.
- Drop off in person — at the reception desk of your Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter.
- By post — an ordinary letter is enough, no registered post needed.
Important for Jobcenter customers: BA-mobil requires an account with the Agentur für Arbeit. If the Jobcenter looks after your case, take Option 2 — it is not a detour, it is the right way for you.
Whichever option you choose: keep a copy and write down the date. You need both in case anyone asks.
Details for the office
The details of the training
Your Vermittlungsfachkraft (caseworker) needs these details. Copy them down or take the fact sheet with you.
| Title of the programme (Maßnahme) | AI-Driven Security Operations Specialist |
|---|---|
| Maßnahme-ID | A260100101-1 |
| Approval of the programme (Maßnahme) | Kiwa ZERTPUNKTCertificate reg. no. A260100101, valid from 20 July 2026 to 19 July 2029 |
| Approval of the provider (Träger) | fixed start date for the groupZertifikat Reg.-Nr. A2601001, Fachbereich 4, gültig bis 10.06.2031. Zugelassener Träger nach § 178 SGB III in Verbindung mit der AZAV. |
| Certification body | Kiwa ZERTPUNKT GmbH, |
| Duration | 9 months full-time, Monday to Friday. Four weeks of holiday are included. |
| Scope | 1,400 teaching units of 45 minutes each, all of them live with an instructor. There is no self-study component. |
| Planned start | Monday, 2 November 2026 |
| Delivery format | mein NOWDigitale (virtuelle) Maßnahme, ortsunabhängig, im virtuellen Klassenraum |
| Qualification | In-house certificate from the CYBERSQUAD Akademie. Not a qualification in an Ausbildungsberuf (recognised training occupation). |
| Entry in the course database of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit | can be found via cybersquad-akademie.de/now |
The appointment
How your appointment at the office will go
In the appointment, the order matters. Follow these six steps.
- Arrange an appointment
Say on the phone or in your Online-Postfach: it is about further vocational training, and you want to apply for a Bildungsgutschein. Without this appointment, nothing happens.
- Lay out your documents
Put your folder on the table right at the start and say one sentence about each document. That shows you are prepared and saves time for what matters.
- Name your job goal first
Name the job, not the course name. The Bildungsgutschein will later state a Bildungsziel (training goal), not the name of a provider. Only after that do you say what the training is called.
- Give your reasons
Now comes the most important part: why does this further training bring you into work for the long term, while a quick job placement does not? That is exactly why you have our text with you.
- Ask clearly for the Bildungsgutschein
Say this sentence clearly: I am applying for a Bildungsgutschein for this programme. Without this sentence it remains an advice meeting without an application.
- Clarify the next step
Ask before you leave: When will I get a decision? How will I be told about it? Do you need anything else from me? Write down the name of your contact person. Afterwards, let us know how it went.
To take with you
Three sentences for your appointment
You can use these three sentences word for word. Let us know once your appointment is booked — then we will put them into your area again, adapted to your situation.
- “I would like to apply for a Bildungsgutschein for vocational further training.” — The first sentence gives the reason for the appointment. Say it early, not at the end.
- “My goal is a job as a Junior SOC Analyst. That is the person who is first to notice an attack on a company’s computers.” — The second sentence names the job and explains it at the same time. Not every caseworker knows the English job title.
- “The programme is called AI-Driven Security Operations Specialist, Maßnahme-ID A260100101-1. The provider and the programme are both approved under AZAV, and the entry is in the course database of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit.” — The third sentence makes the check easy. With the title and the Maßnahme-ID your caseworker can clearly identify the further training.
- And if it is heading towards a no — Do not argue at the appointment. Calmly ask for a decision in writing: Please give me the decision in writing. Then call us. What happens next is in the next section.
The risks
What can go wrong
Not every path goes smoothly. These six situations do happen. If you know about them, you can react instead of giving up.
The most common problems and what helps — expand to read
This does happen. Ask for a decision in writing.
You can lodge a Widerspruch — a formal objection — against a written decision: you tell the office in writing that you do not agree with the decision. As a rule you have one month for this, from the day the decision reaches you; the exact deadline is stated in the decision.
You cannot do that against a spoken refusal — so always ask for the reason. Often just one document is missing, or the reason given was too general. Then we work on it with you. And to put your mind at ease: if you do not get a Bildungsgutschein, or do not redeem it, that does not put you at risk of a Sperrzeit — a period without Arbeitslosengeld.
There is a date on the Bildungsgutschein.
If you get it long before the course starts, it can expire before then. Tell us straight away which date is on it. Then we will arrange with you when to apply for it. The Agentur für Arbeit decides on an extension or a new Bildungsgutschein, not us.
Our group starts together and keeps learning together.
Joining later is not possible. If your Bildungsgutschein arrives too late, you wait for the next group. We will then tell you the next date. One more important point: we need to have the Bildungsgutschein before the start — first as a photo in your personal area, then the copy for the provider (Ausfertigung für den Träger) by post.
The planned date is 2 November 2026.
For a group to start, we need a minimum number of registrations. If there are too few, we move the start back by two to four weeks and tell you straight away.
Never quit your job in order to start with us.
Quitting your job yourself can trigger a Sperrzeit of twelve weeks. That is twelve weeks without Arbeitslosengeld. On top of that, a quarter of your entitlement is permanently lost.
You cannot rely on further training being recognised as an important reason. As a rule, that only applies to further training that leads to a qualification in a recognised trade or profession (Ausbildungsberuf). Talk to us and to your Agentur für Arbeit beforehand.
Lessons run Monday to Friday, and there is practice time on top of that.
If you have a job alongside this, or look after children on your own, you should talk it through with us beforehand. Better to talk to us before the start than to drop out in the middle of the further training.
Questions
Common questions about funding
If your question is not here, give us a call.
Do I have to pay the Bildungsgutschein back?
What does the further training cost me?
Is my German good enough?
I do not have a German passport. Is it still possible?
I am under 25. Is there an age limit for me?
I am 45 or older. Am I too old?
I have already had a funded further training course.
Can I also redeem the Bildungsgutschein with a different provider?
Do I get a vocational qualification at the end?
Can I do this alongside my job?
Next step
If you get stuck
Not sure which rule applies to you? Take the funding check on the home page. Three questions, about two minutes, no sign-up and no obligation. After that you will know which rule fits your situation and what we can write for you.
Would you rather talk? Call 0211 81994488, Monday to Friday. Marsí, our AI adviser, answers first. She answers most questions right away. If you want to speak to a person, a member of our team will call you back. You do not have to fill in anything beforehand.
The Bildungsgutschein is a discretionary benefit. The Agentur für Arbeit decides on funding case by case. We cannot promise you that it will be approved. What we can do is make sure your documents are complete and that your reasons fit your situation.
Two minutes. Then you know which rule applies to you.
Three questions, no sign-up and no obligation.