This means that professional experience without training can be recognized

Proof of professional skills is usually provided through appropriate training in the relevant field. But since January 2025, it has been possible to have professional experience and professional skills identified and certified even without prior training. This is provided for by the so-called Professional Validation and Digitalization Act.

Professional validation possible for people without training

The legal regulation on professional validation aims to make skills visible and usable and to reward professional CVs. This is intended to give people who have not completed any training but have gained experience and know-how in a particular profession the opportunity to join the vocational training system.

Requirements: Minimum age 25 years

The prerequisite for participation in the professional validation process is that the professional experience or professional competence has been accumulated over a period of time that corresponds to one and a half times the training time in the respective profession. In addition, a minimum age of 25 years is required to access professional validation.

The introduction of a minimum age with regard to professional validation was discussed during the legislative process. Ultimately, the advocates of a minimum age prevailed. The concern was that waiving the minimum age could encourage young people to decide against dual training and to choose the path of professional validation, which in turn would be at the expense of in-company training. This is intended to be avoided by introducing the minimum age.

Digitization of documents and procedures

In addition, the Vocational Validation and Digitalization Act is intended to promote the digitalization of vocational training. For example, documents that are necessary for training should be consistently made available digitally and administrative processes should be digitized.

is a freelance journalist from Biberach/Baden and regularly writes news and articles in the field of labor law.