Security industry; registration for the expert examination

You must pass the security guarding proficiency test in order to carry out particularly conflict-prone and sensitive security activities or to be allowed to operate a security business.

You must pass the examination for the following activities in the security industry (guarding):

• patrols in public traffic areas or in areas with actual public traffic (city patrols, patrolling public parks, shopping centers or in the suburban/subway area)
• Protection against shoplifters (department store detective)
• Guarding the entrance area of nightclubs (bouncer)
• Leading function in the guarding of refugee accommodation (reception facilities or shared accommodation in accordance with the Asylum Act or other official accommodation for asylum seekers or refugees)
• Leading function in the guarding of large events with protected access
• Tradespeople (security contractors, GmbH managing directors, operations managers)

For this purpose, you must take the examination of expertise at a Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). You must first pass a written part (120 minutes, multiple choice) and then an oral part.

After passing the exam, you will be entered in the so-called guard register.

You do not have to meet any special requirements to register for the exam, but you should prepare well in terms of content. There are, for example, preparation courses and learning materials from private providers. You must also be able to speak German well in order to pass the exam.

Contradiction

To pass the exam, you should first prepare yourself well in terms of content. The next steps are

• Registration with an IHK
• Confirmation of registration/invitation to the examination date by the IHK
• Pass the written part of the exam
  (120 minutes, multiple choice)
• Passing the oral part of the exam
• Certificate of successful completion of the examination by the IHK
• Provision of the certificate data for retrieval by the security guard register

• Please note the registration deadline of the examining IHK.
• The certificate of competence is valid indefinitely and nationwide.

The certificate is normally available immediately or a few days after passing the oral part of the examination.

You can find out the fees from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) where you register for the examination. They can be found in the fee schedule of the respective IHK.

There is also a certificate of instruction for security personnel. After the training, you may only take on simple security tasks. For the more difficult tasks mentioned above, you will need to pass the examination. The training is also not sufficient preparation for the examination. However, passing the examination does replace the training for the security industry.

The examination is often the entry qualification for working in the security industry. For this reason, there are also preparatory courses in many regions that can be funded in accordance with the SGB. Information on this can be obtained from the employment agencies and job centers.