A professional life is long and very few would like to do the same thing over and over again. Fortunately, there is a large number of advanced training courses for chemists as well as for chemists, laboratory technicians and CTAs. Without claiming to be exhaustive, you will find an overview of the offers and financing options here.
Since the expenditure of time and money for further training is often considerable, every person interested in further training should consider beforehand what exactly he wants to achieve with the further training and whether he can and wants to spend the time for it in addition to his job.
Master of Business Administration
The MBA is a postgraduate degree designed to impart business knowledge and prepare you for Management tasks. A prerequisite for an MBA degree is usually a completed degree. An MBA degree can be completed both part-time and full-time. Interested parties should inform themselves very well in advance about the many different programs and consider whether the MBA really helps the planned Career .
patent system
Scientific and legal knowledge are required in equal measure in the patent system. The multi-year training to become a patent attorney is regulated by law and includes, among other things, working in a patent law firm, studying at the Fernuniversität Hagen and training at the Patent Office and the Federal Patent Court. It ends with an exam.
www.vpp-patent.de
www.vpp-patent.de/bildung/downloads-service/
www.gdch.de/berufsbilder, p. 56
quality control / Quality Management
Ensuring the quality of products and processes is a core task of a chemical company. The German Society for Quality (DGQ), the Saarland University of Applied Sciences and Economics and other providers offer a large number of modular training courses, courses or certificate and extra-occupational courses in the areas of quality management and assurance. The GDCh also offers additional training in the field of quality control with the specialist program "Certified Quality Expert GxP".
www.gdch.de/fachprogramme
www.dgq.de/weiterbildung-themen
www.htwsaar.de
Clinical Chemistry
Clinical chemistry deals with the analysis of physiological processes in the body. For chemists, vocational training as a clinical chemist is possible through the German United Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine eV (DGKI). The training lasts five years. At least four years of this must be completed in a clinical-chemical laboratory serving patient care.
toxicology
Natural scientists who have completed their training can acquire qualifications in the field of toxicology in various ways. The Society for toxicology (GT), the University of Leipzig and SafeSciMET offer various certificates or courses for vocational training as a toxicologist. For bachelor graduates, a master’s degree in toxicology , which is offered at various German universities, is also an option.
www.toxicologie.de/weiterbildung.html
www.safescimet.eu
ecotoxicology
Ecotoxicology deals with the effects of substances on the environment. The GDCh Division of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology and the SETAC-GLB jointly offer the postgraduate course in specialist ecotoxicology with the degree of "specialist ecotoxicologist (GDCh/SETAC-GLB)".
business chemistry
Understanding business relationships is particularly beneficial for chemists in industry. In addition to various advanced training courses, some universities offer a university courses in business chemistry. The GDCh also offers vocational training to become a business chemist.
You can find further information on the listed further training courses in the GDCh brochure on career entry in chemistry
Chemical engineer (state-certified technician; specialization in chemical engineering)
This vocational training is offered at technical colleges and lasts two years, or four years for part-time training. In addition to chemical engineering, other specializations are also available, such as production engineering. Prerequisite for these advanced training programs is usually a completed apprenticeship as a laboratory technician, chemical technician, or CTA. The training concludes with a state examination.
www.vdc-cta.de/chemietechniker.html
www.techniker-forum.de/technikerschulen
Laboratory technician (IHK)
vocational training to become a laboratory technician is offered in several regions of Germany and is usually conducted by the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with a local company. This vocational training is primarily of interest to employees of the cooperating companies because the vocational training qualifies them for tasks specifically within these companies.
Industrial Master in Chemistry
Chemical industrial foremen work in all manufacturing sectors, including the chemical industry. They work in production and are involved in training young colleagues. The vocational training is offered by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) as well as training providers, and sometimes by the companies themselves. The examination is always taken before the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The vocational training can be completed full-time or part-time.
www.berufenet.arbeitsagentur.de (job title "Industrial Master in Chemistry")
Search engine for educational providers: www.meisterschulen-info.de
Information about the job profile: http://www.industriemeister.info/chemie
University of Applied Sciences entrance qualification or general higher education entrance qualification
At some chemistry schools, students also acquire a university of applied sciences entrance qualification or general higher education entrance qualification concurrently with their CTA training. Sometimes, it is also offered as a one-year additional course.
For those who have not taken advantage of this opportunity, there is also the possibility of obtaining a university of applied sciences entrance qualification after completing their training, in parallel with their further education.
With a university of applied sciences entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife) or general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur), you can study at a university of applied sciences (UAS) or university of applied sciences (UAW). Information about studying at universities of applied sciences (HAW) can be found on the "Studying Chemistry" website.
Technical business economist
Anyone who has already successfully completed vocational training as an industrial master craftsman and gained professional experience can further their education as a technical business economist and thus assume management responsibilities. The focus of the vocational training is on business administration. The training and examination are not uniformly regulated nationwide and are offered by technical colleges, chambers of commerce and industry, and educational institutions. The technical business economist is often also referred to as a "Master Professional (CCI)" (not to be confused with the master's degree from universities).
www.berufenet.arbeitsagentur.de (job title "technical business economist")
www.betriebswirt.info/ vocational training
Further information on further training in chemistry: www.berufskompass-chemie.de
dual study
Training-integrated dual university courses: In addition to the IHK training, a university degree is acquired at the same time.
Practice-integrated dual university courses: This program includes extended practical phases in a company without the acquisition of a vocational qualification. A university entrance qualification (Fachfachreife) or general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) is required.
A dual study program can also be started after completing an in-company or school-based apprenticeship. A distinction is made between a work-integrated and a part-time dual study program.
www.gdch.de/Studium
www.studieren-ohne-abitur.de
www.elementare-vielfalt.de/duales-studium.html
www.hochschulkompass.de/studium/suche/dual-studieren.html
www.hochschulkompass.de/studium/suche/berufsbegleitend-studieren.html
www.ausbildungplus.de
www.duales-studium.de
www.wegweiser-duales-studium.de
Further information on the continuing education courses presented here can also be found in the GDCh brochure Career Perspectives in Chemistry
Even if vocational training is worthwhile, it is expensive. However, grants can be obtained for many further training courses. Therefore, it makes sense to find out about funding opportunities in advance:
Advancement scholarship for experienced professionals
The advancement scholarship is a study grant from the federal government and is aimed at specialists with vocational training and at least two years of professional experience. You can apply before the start of your studies and up to the end of the second semester.
Chemical laboratory technicians, CTAs and chemical technicians who would like to continue their education can also use the ascent loan to help with financing. You receive the ascent Bafög for professional advancement training, for example to become a chemical technician.
With the education voucher, the Federal Employment Agency promotes the professional vocational training of the unemployed, employees and those returning to work. The voucher is issued if the responsible employment agency deems vocational training necessary.
The scholarship program is aimed at young employees, the self-employed and first-year students who have completed vocational training and who have worked at least 19 hours a week for at least two years since completing their vocational training. The scholarship is available for subject-related professional development. Interdisciplinary qualifications such as language or software courses are also funded. Part-time studies are also eligible.
In many federal states there are special funding programs for further training. If you want to be financially supported by the state, you have to live or work there.
| Brandenburg: | professional vocational training |
| Hamburg: | continuing education bonus |
| North Rhine-Westphalia: | education check |
| Rhineland-Palatinate: | QualiCheck |
| Saxony: | |
| Saxony-Anhalt | vocational training directly |
| Schleswig-Holstein: | continuing education bonus |
| Thuringia: | Continuing Education Check |
| Bremen: | Continuing Education Check |
Because not only employees, but often also employers, benefit from professional vocational training , many employers support such projects individually or by approving educational leave. Here it is worth asking the employer, for example, to take over the (partial) costs or to ask for financing. The employee who is willing to undergo further training can also be supported in other ways, for example through flexible working hours or time off from work during examination phases.
But be careful: the employer is not always enthusiastic about the planned vocational training , because it costs the employee time and energy that is missing in everyday work. Explain to your boss what motivates you to do this training and how his company can benefit from it.
In the majority of the federal states ( www.iwwb.de/links/bildungsurlaub ), employees are free to take up to 5 days of educational leave, for which the employer must give them paid leave. The cost of the course itself must be borne by the employee. The prerequisite for educational leave is that it is a matter of professional or political vocational training .
If you are afraid of the high costs because you are booking the vocational training at your own expense, you should definitely submit a tax return. If professional interests are in the foreground, taxes can be saved on many courses, including training courses or study and language trips. Travel expenses are also recognized here. Employees secure the tax advantage by entering the education costs in Appendix N of their tax return. For the self-employed, vocational training represents operating expenses, and different rules apply to this.
Further information on the financing options presented here is available in a special by Stiftung Warentest.
You can find the extensive range of advanced training courses offered by the GDCh here.
GDCh Career Service
Varrentrappstr. 40-42
60486 Frankfurt a. M.
Tel.: +49 69 7917-665 or -668
Email: karriere@gdch.de
This page has been machine translated. If you have any feedback or comments please feel free to contact us. 
last modified: 04.06.2025 17:29 H from N/A
