Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

1. Field of work and areas of responsibility 

Certified senior business specialists are qualified to fulfil functional, organizational and managerial tasks in enterprises and business organizations of different size and belonging to different branches as well as in different functional areas and operations of an enterprise. They are able to:

1. identify, analyse and find solutions for business management tasks and problems in the enterprise,
2. analyse, plan and organize business processes and projects independently and on their own responsibility, taking into consideration economic and legal aspects and using adequate methods,
3. design, organize and control business processes and projects in an internal and external context by means of targeted management, cooperation and communication.
   

2. Occupational skills 

 Certified senior business specialists command knowledge, skills and experience which they have as a rule gained in the course of the pertinent vocational training and several years of practical work. They are skilled to perform the above-mentioned tasks in the following fields:

Business-related skills

• Economics and business administration
• Accounting
• Law and taxes
• Entrepreneurship

Job-specific skills

• Corporate management

• Investment, finance, business accounting, and controlling

• Logistics

• Marketing

• Supervision and cooperation.

3. Skills accreditation 

According to the Federal Government regulations of 26 August 2008 (Federal Law Gazette BGBl. Part I p. 1752), certified senior business specialists must have demonstrated the skills listed in section 2 above in an examination administered under public law. A certificate is awarded on passing the examination.

4. Examination requirements 

 Before sitting the examination part for "Business-related skills", candidates must have

• passed the final examination of a training course of at least three years' duration for a recognized commercial or administrative occupation, or 
• the final examination of a training course of at least three years' duration for another recognized occupation followed by at least one year of practical work, or they must have
• passed the final examination for another recognized occupation followed by at least two years of practical work, or they must
• furnish proof of at least three years of practical work.

Before sitting the examination part for "Job-specific skills", candidates must have

• passed the examination part for "Business-related skills" within the preceding five years, and they must
• furnish proof of at least one year or of another year of practical work in addition to the above requirements for admission to the examination part for "Business-related skills". 

Courses are offered in preparation for the examination; their duration is geared to the different functional and managerial tasks.

Last modified on: October 22, 2008