Obtaining an Ausbilderschein (AdA trainer’s certificate) in just a few weeks – whilst you’re still studying: at THWS, students from all disciplines can acquire this sought-after additional qualification. This not only offers financial benefits but also provides valuable skills for your career.
Published on 04 September 2026
The dual vocational training system is a successful German model – but it can only work if trainees receive expert support within the company. “When you imagine starting out in a company at the age of 16, it’s absolutely vital to have someone by your side who supports you in every way,” says Laura Wolf, coordinator of the Ausbilderschein programme at the THWS Campus for Professional Development. She knows the importance of well-trained trainers from her own experience: “Their responsibilities go far beyond simply imparting knowledge: they act as a link between the company, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and the vocational school.” They also take care of organisational tasks such as timetables, the training logbook, and liaising with various departments and senior management. At the same time, it’s about keeping the apprentices’ personal goals in mind – where do they want to go, and how can they be supported individually on their journey?
In Germany, staff holding a trainer’s certificate – also known as an AdA certificate (training of trainers) or trainer qualification – are a formal requirement for companies to be permitted to provide training in recognised occupations. Since the summer semester of 1985, the University has been offering examinations in accordance with the Trainer Aptitude Ordinance, initially exclusively for students of business administration. The programme is now open to all enrolled students, regardless of their field of study or term. “At our University, the process is entirely digital: from registration to the lectures, everything takes place online. The final examination can also be taken either online or on campus,” explains Laura Wolf. Twice a year, at the end of each semester during the lecture-free period, around 100 participants complete the eleven modules in total. “Over a two-week period, you have around three hours of lectures in the evenings,” she says, explaining the structure of the block course.
It pays to start early
The Ausbilderschein can also be obtained later in one’s career. However, there are many advantages to obtaining it whilst still a student. Michael Vogel chose this route too. “I set up my own business towards the end of my master’s degree. So there’s a good chance that I’ll be training apprentices in my marketing agency at some point in the future,” he explains. The cost savings were another incentive: at THWS, the certificate costs just 159 euros instead of the usual 750 to 1,000 euros. “I enrolled with a friend and we were able to support each other with our studies,” explains Michael Vogel. “The time factor shouldn’t be underestimated either: As a student, you often have more time – especially during the semester breaks – than you would alongside a full-time job,” explains Laura Wolf. And the Ausbilderschein isn’t just useful for the self-employed: “The first thing recruiters look at in a job application is your CV,” she explains. “This additional qualification naturally offers a competitive edge and can significantly improve your job prospects and open doors to new career paths.”
Theory and practice in one package
The course is divided into two core topics designed to prepare participants for their day-to-day work as trainers: Elmar Kemmer teaches the module on vocational pedagogy, whilst Cornelia Gidengil covers the topic of vocational training law. Here, participants learn the formal basics of vocational training: Which regulations must be complied with? How many breaks are trainees entitled to? What are the differences between employees who are under and over the age of majority? The pedagogical part, on the other hand, focuses on the interpersonal aspect: How do you organise group work effectively? How do you offer constructive criticism without causing offence? How do you take individual learning processes into account? This division reflects the dual challenge of a trainer’s day-to-day work: on the one hand, knowing the legal framework; on the other, acting with pedagogical competence. But the benefits extend far beyond simply gaining the right to provide training: “You also learn a great deal about self-organisation, communication, and learning skills – I was able to apply this to my own studies and beyond,” sums up Michael Vogel. “And the final exam was also really manageable thanks to the lectures and the lecture notes.”
The exam at the end of the course combines theoretical and practical knowledge: in the practical part, participants develop a workplace training scenario, which they present in a PowerPoint presentation. In addition, they produce a handout documenting the didactic planning and methodological implementation of the chosen scenario. The theoretical part of the exam takes the form of a multiple-choice test. Participants receive their results approximately four weeks after the written exam. Upon successful completion, THWS issues a certificate of attendance, which can be converted into a formal certificate by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) for an administration fee; this certificate grants the student the right to provide vocational training.
A career boost for all disciplines
The trainer’s certificate is therefore also relevant for students whose fields of study, at first glance, appear to have little to do with traditional training programmes: “In the social sector in particular, you often work with young people starting out on their careers, and in the business sector too, graduates with the Ausbilderschein are ideally equipped for roles in further training and human resources development,” explains Elmar Kemmer, lecturer in vocational education. “Educational institutions recognise the certificate as fundamental pedagogical training, which can open doors to a career as a lecturer , for example at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or the Vocational Training Centres of the Bavarian Economy (bfz).”
The motivation for offering the Ausbilderschein at THWS was clearly set out from the outset: “The programme was intended to strengthen the standard of training within companies and thereby improve the qualifications of staff in those organisations,” said Elmar Kemmer. This can only be achieved by providing companies with qualified trainers who not only impart specialist knowledge, but who also possess the didactic, methodological, and legal foundations of vocational training.
A qualification with a future
The social significance of this role has grown even further in recent years. “Issues relating to migration and digitalisation are now also coming to the fore. That is why we adapt the course content and the examination annually to reflect current topics,” reports Laura Wolf. “That is why it is simply vital that companies are able to attract a steady stream of new, qualified and motivated trainers.” The additional qualification therefore proves to be a sustainable investment in both one’s own professional future and that of the next generation.
