Sit an interim examination in occupations requiring formal training in the dual system of vocational education and training

Your interim examination is held approximately half way through the training period. The interim examination assesses your current knowledge level, and is intended to verify, both for you and the training employer, the level of knowledge transfer achieved so far.

The object of the interim examination is to assess the competencies, knowledge and skills stipulated in the training 

regulations as well as the topics in the vocational school curriculum. The interim examination is intended to give you and the company training you an idea of your level of proficiency. Sitting the interim examination is a requirement for admission to take the final examination. The results of the interim examination are an important indicator for you if you wish to be admitted to the final examination early.

Interim examinations consist of a written examination part and, if required, a further practical examination part. The two parts of the examination are usually taken on different days. The written part is usually taken on a specified day at the same time throughout Germany.

An interim examination is conducted regionally by the competent authorities (e.g. Chamber of Commerce and Industry) for all trainees and apprentices at the approximate mid-point of their period of training. The date is stipulated in the training regulations.

If you have a training agreement with a company, this arrangement will have been reported to the competent authority for the region (e.g. Chamber of Commerce and Industry) by the training employer. The competent authority therefore knows the time period within which you must take your interim examination. You will therefore receive notification regarding the examination from the competent authority, either by letter or via email.

The holding of the interim examination is organised by the competent authority for the region in consultation with the voluntary examination board. The examination board, consisting of employer representatives, employee representatives and instructor representatives, assesses your examination performance and awards your grade.
 
The examination result decided by the examination board is communicated to the competent authority. You will receive your results in the form of a certificate of examination attendance.

Interim examinations are only held in professions in which the Regulations do not provide for a two-part final examination.

Attendance of interim examinations is mandatory for all trainees and apprentices.

Nevertheless, you may not be required to sit an interim examination if your training arrangement with the training employer has allowed you to have at least two years accredited to you for other completed vocational training.

Upon request, you can also take an interim examination if you are on a retraining programme; however, in this case either you or the retraining provider must pay the costs of the examination.
 

• Official photo ID for verification of identity at the examination
• If appropriate, the “Request for special consideration due to disability” form

• Form: “Registration for interim examination” required,
• Online procedures possible: In some cases
• Written form requirement as per German Civil Code Art.126: Yes
• Appearance in person required: No, not to register

As a rule, the competent authority for the region will make all applications available on the website for you to download.

• You must have a registered training or retraining arrangement with a training provider.
• Your training regulations stipulate an interim examination

-none 

As a rule, the competent authority responsible for you will notify you of the upcoming interim examination.

• After registering for the interim examination, you will receive an invitation to all the examination parts.
• At the examination site, you must provide proof of your identity as an authorised examination candidate.
• You sit the written examination.
• You take the practical examination, insofar as this is stipulated.

Your interim examination result will be sent to you in the form of a certificate of examination attendance.

The registration deadline for the interim examination is approximately 3 months before the date of the written examination. You can find out the exact registration deadline from the competent authority for the region.

The entire interim examination procedure, including registration, invitation, carrying out of all examination parts, determination of results and sending of the certificate of examination attendance, lasts approximately 5 months.

The examination fee is governed by the fee regulations of the competent authority for the region. The training employer must bear the costs.

If you are retraining, you must pay the costs yourself and must clarify with the German Federal Employment Agency () or the training provider whether you are eligible for funding assistance.

With the regular modernisation of occupations that require formal vocational training and apprenticeships, there are a growing number of professions for which interim examinations are no longer held, with these instead being replaced by Part 1 of the final examination.

The procedure can only be carried out in German.