What is an education voucher?
The education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is a written commitment from the Federal Employment Agency or the job centre to cover the cost of vocational continuing education. The legal basis is section 81 SGB III; for people receiving benefits from the job centre the same rule applies via SGB II. With the voucher you choose a suitable course from an approved provider.
The voucher states the training goal, the maximum duration, the validity and often a region. The course you choose has to match these details.
The four requirements
- The training is necessary to get you back into work, to avoid unemployment or to obtain a missing vocational qualification.
- You were advised beforehand. The meeting with your adviser must take place before the course starts.
- The provider is approved under AZAV.
- The course is approved. Every single course has its own approval and number. An AZAV-certified provider can also offer courses that are not funded.
Even if all of this applies, funding is a discretionary decision. We check with you whether you are eligible and how to make a good case.
How it works
| Step | What happens | Who |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose a course that fits your goal and is AZAV-approved | You, with our help if you like |
| 2 | Arrange an advisory meeting at the employment agency or job centre and bring the course details | You |
| 3 | The voucher is issued, with goal, duration and validity | Employment agency or job centre |
| 4 | Hand in the voucher to the provider before the course starts | You |
| 5 | Start the course; billing runs directly between provider and authority | Provider |
What can be covered
Besides the course fees, section 83 SGB III allows travel costs, childcare and, if you have to stay away from home, accommodation and meals to be covered. During the course, unemployment benefit for vocational training may be paid. The details are in your decision letter.
Education voucher for employees
The voucher is not only for unemployed people. Under section 82 SGB III employees can be funded if the training goes beyond simple on-the-job adjustment and lasts more than 120 hours. Depending on company size, the employer contributes to the costs.
Common pitfalls
- The course is booked before the advisory meeting.
- The provider is AZAV-certified, but the chosen course is not approved.
- The voucher expires before a course is found.
- The course duration does not match the duration on the voucher.
Read more in our guides, for example How to apply for an education voucher.
Häufige Fragen
Who gets an education voucher?
People who are unemployed or at risk of unemployment, if the training is necessary for their return to work and if they were advised beforehand. If you receive benefits from the job centre, the job centre is responsible. Employees can also be funded under section 82 SGB III. It is a discretionary decision, there is no automatic entitlement.
What does the education voucher pay for?
The course fees of the approved course. Travel costs, childcare and, for courses away from home, accommodation and meals can also be covered (section 83 SGB III). What applies in your case is stated in the decision letter.
How long is an education voucher valid?
The validity is printed on the voucher. Within that period you need to find a suitable course and hand the voucher to the provider. The voucher also states the training goal, the maximum duration and often a region. The course has to match these details.
Can I choose the course myself?
Yes, within the limits stated on the voucher. You choose the course and the provider, as long as the course is AZAV-approved and matches the training goal. That is where we help: we show you suitable courses and prepare the meeting with you.
My application was rejected. What now?
Ask for the reasons and for a written decision. You can file an objection (Widerspruch) within one month. It often helps to explain more clearly why exactly this course improves your job prospects, for example with real job ads.
Do you charge for your advice?
No. Our advice is free of charge for you. We work with selected training providers and receive a fee from them if you start a course there. We say this openly so you can put our recommendations into context.
Quellen
Die Rechtsgrundlagen und offiziellen Stellen, auf die sich dieser Beitrag stützt. Links zuletzt geprüft am .
- Section 81 SGB III: Principle of funding vocational continuing educationFederal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de (German)
- Section 82 SGB III: Funding for employeesFederal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de (German)
- Section 83 SGB III: Training costsFederal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de (German)
- Accreditation and Approval Ordinance for Employment Promotion (AZAV)Federal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de (German)
- Funding of vocational continuing educationFederal Employment Agency (German)
Hinweis: Diese Informationen dienen der Orientierung und sind keine Rechtsberatung. Ob Sie gefördert werden, entscheidet Ihre Arbeitsagentur oder Ihr Jobcenter im Einzelfall. Stand: 06.11.2026.