In the private security sector, shift work, night work and work on holidays are common working conditions. Security guards often perform challenging work to ensure the safety of facilities, events and people. Unfortunately the Wages in this sector often in the low-wage sector for example, in the separate security service. If hours are unexpectedly lost, e.g. because the employer loses an important contract, and the monthly target working time is not reached because of this (or for other reasons), it can become financially dicey as a 34a security guard. This article looks at the reasons that lead to the cancellation of working days and shows the possibilities that one then has as a security employee.
What are possible reasons why my employer schedules me on fewer assignment days?
First of all, the security company’s point of view should also be briefly examined at this point. The fact that you are on the duty roster less often has in most cases (hopefully) nothing to do with you personally, but has operational reasons. If these are explained transparently by the employer and you can understand them, this offers a better starting point for a solution to the problem that can be supported by both sides. It is possible, however, that this will lead to a change of employment or to you starting to look for a new job. Or maybe the “lean period” is only short and you can compensate for the hours by working extra hours in the following month or the employer accommodates you in some other way.
Here are ten possible reasons why your employer might want to reduce your working hours:
Lower customer demand: There could be less demand for security services, leading to a reduction in the number of man-hours needed.
Economic slowdown: It is possible that the economic situation has deteriorated, leading to resource constraints and cost savings.
Changes in the business strategy: Your employer may have changed its business strategy, leading to an adjustment of human resources.
Staff rotation: Possibly rotate staff to give all staff the opportunity to work and to distribute working hours more equitably.
Seasonal fluctuations: Working hours could be subject to seasonal fluctuations, for example if less security staff is needed in certain months.
Changes in contracts with clients: It is possible that contracts with clients have changed and this leads to a reduction in the volume of work.
Legal restrictions: There could be (new) legal restrictions, such as maximum limits for working hours or rest periods between shifts. Or the existing requirements (e.g. from the Working Hours Act) are now better followed up.
Company holidays or seasonal company breaksYour employer may have decided to reduce working hours during certain periods, such as company holidays or seasonal breaks (from customers). Also, for example, the Covid pandemic had caused temporary dislocation within the industry.
Internal company restructuring: Your employer may carry out internal restructuring leading to a reassessment of working hours and resource allocation.
What options do I have if my employer assigns me to less work?
Of course, it is not worth arguing about one or two hours. However, a loss of 20, 30, 40 per cent or even more hours is a big deal, because you also have to make a living. If your boss removes you from the duty roster, assigns you to significantly fewer shifts than usual and you don’t work your hours — then you have the following options:
Check employment contract! That is the most important point. As a rule, what is decisive is what has been agreed in your employment contract. For example, if it says “full-time”, the employer is obliged to employ you accordingly. What is meant by full-time is usually regulated in the respective collective agreement. Often a specific number of hours is also agreed. If, for example, 170 hours per month are contractually stipulated in your employment contract, this number of hours must be adhered to (apart from minor fluctuations, e.g. due to sick cover).
Consult the duty roster! Duty scheduling in security services, e.g. in factory security, is often done on the basis of a fixed shift rhythm. In this way, it is possible to plan roughly in advance — of course with a certain degree of uncertainty (e.g. due to eternal outstanding holiday planning). However, the actual duty roster for the following month is decisive: If it states 20 shifts, for example, then you are entitled to work this number of shifts. Once a duty roster has been published, it may only be changed again after consultation with the employees.
Seek dialogue and actively offer work performance! Many things can be clarified through communication. Seek to talk to your supervisor and reach a consensus. Important: Communicate that you do not agree with the changes and explicitly offer your work performance! Your employer is obliged to give you the work according to the existing employment contract, you provide your work performance according to the contract.
Your employer does not react? Send a written reminder! Inform your employer in writing about the aspects mentioned above. The written form is important so that you have proof. Set a deadline for your boss, but continue to be polite and cooperative. After all, you usually want to continue working for your employer.
If nothing helps: complain! If all else fails, the employer does not react and talks (possibly also with the works council) have not led to success, the only option is to take legal action before the labour court.
You don’t feel like taking the exam and preparing for it, you’ve already failed the Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s expert knowledge exam several times or you just want to save time and money — all of these can be reasons why people keep looking for “buy a 34a licence”. This article explains why this is not a particularly good idea.
Can you actually buy the “34a note”?
A short Google search it shows: Yes, you can buy a piece of paper that looks like it is an official document of a chamber of commerce and industry. But be careful! If you use such fake examination certificates, you are liable to prosecution. What you are allowed to do is hang such a piece of fantasy paper in your own hallway for amusement or use it as a lighter for the next barbecue party. However, if you use such a piece of paper in legal transactions, i.e. in the context of a job application or to register your security company, you commit forgery according to Section 267 of the Criminal Code:
(1) Any person who, for the purpose of deceiving in legal transactions, produces a false document, falsifies a genuine document or uses a false or falsified document shall be liable to a custodial sentence not exceeding five years or to a monetary penalty. (2) The attempt is punishable. (3) In particularly serious cases, the penalty shall be imprisonment for a term of six months to ten years. […]
The providers of such dubious services also know that offering IHK examination certificates, school-leaving certificates and other certificates, including doctorates, is legally questionable. They are mainly interested in making money quickly. The providers are usually based abroad or are not available and thus avoid legal disputes. This is because sellers may also be liable to prosecution because they use trademarks and thus legally protected identifying features (e.g. the logo) of the issuing organisations. In addition, some sellers even deliberately create the impression that it is a legally issued document and at the same time advertise that one may use these fake documents in legal transactions. Thus, the sellers often also pretend false facts and thus partly also call, at least indirectly, to use the sold fake like a real document. As a buyer, you can always be prosecuted and make yourself liable to prosecution if you actually use such a fantasy document professionally.
Where can I buy the certificate of competence?
The only legal way to obtain the “certificate of successful completion of a specialist knowledge examination” (this is the correct term) is to successfully complete the IHK specialist knowledge examination. You can find many free Tips for exam preparation, Test questions and a Help forum on this website. By the way, taking the real exam can even be cheaper than some of the illegal fake certificate offers. Honesty is the best policy! Don’t get involved in fake offers with fake proofs! It’s not worth it, because you will be exposed. And for the price you then pay, you could have prepared properly for the exam and passed it quite regularly.
What does a forged certificate of competence cost?
Prices start at just under 10 euros for a personalised fake certificate for direct PDF download.
Fake 34a certificate as PDF download
This “low-cost provider” of fake proofs emphasises that you are not allowed to use the purchased documents, but for his own security he has nevertheless indicated a company headquarters in the USA. He knows why.
Possibly the tip of the iceberg is a provider offering all kinds of examination certificates and degrees — including various professional qualifications, school-leaving certificates, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from colleges, university diplomas and even doctorates. Such printed papers are available for a “ridiculous price” of several hundred euros — apparently a worthwhile business. He also promotes the offer commercially through an advertisement on Google, which appears at the top of the results page for the relevant search terms — see illustration below. This fraudulent trader even advertises that it is a legal offer and “100% genuine and registered documents, which can be checked by the university/training company, or even by your employer”. complete bullshit!
Google advertising for an “original proofLet’s talk turkey: If you buy a fake or make one yourself and print it out, you’ll be caught anyway — and then it will be really unpleasant and really expensive. You will learn why this is inevitable in the next section.
Why it’s really stupid to present a forged 34a certificate.…
Just a few years ago, one would have considered a factualunThe only way that a knowledgeable security employee could have been lucky is if the forged certificate had not been noticed during the application process, during a customs or police check or in the course of an enquiry with the examining Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). But since 1 June 2019, there is the central guard register, where all data converge. Your employer must report you there before you start employment and wait for clearance. Only then will you receive a guard ID as a security guard and be allowed to start. In the course of this check and data comparison, it quickly becomes apparent if you have submitted a false document. You bear the full consequences under criminal and civil law!
You don’t speak German, but another language?
Qualified workers are currently urgently needed in many areas in Germany. One of these areas is the private security industry. To be allowed to work for a security service in Germany, you need the following for many guarding activities Examination of expert knowledge according to § 34a of the Trade Regulation Act. You are then a qualified applicant with a 34a certificate of competence and have excellent Job prospects with corresponding pay!
Information on the German 34a-Sachkundeprüfung (Security) in your language
You will find a lot of free information on the German qualification examination for security staff here in the qualification info portal. Navigate via the main menu at the very top through our Information pages, browse the current blog posts or make targeted use of the Search. If you have an individual request, you can also contact us at any time. Post your question in the help forum.
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Free tests and exam questions to prepare for the expert knowledge examination (§ 34a GewO) are very useful for practising. However, tactical tips are almost as important. Because even if you don’t immediately know the answer to an exam question in the 34a test, you can pass the 34a exam with the help of a few tips & tricks.
No idea, no answer? Please don’t!
You can’t know everything. Even if you have prepared well for the 34a test with test questions, mock exams and other study material, you may simply not know what to do with some questions. Yes, you do: Even if you don’t know the answer to an exam question, you can still clear the hurdle of the expert knowledge exam!
10 simple tips on how to pass the examination of professional competence
If you take the following tips for the written IHK examination for expertise § 34a GewO into account, you can also score points for gaps in your knowledge:
It can a solution be correct, or it can two solutions be correct. Therefore, never give three or more solutions as correct!
Singular or plural? Pay attention to whether in the Questioning after one or more correct answers is asked! Example: In the case of a question that begins with “What prerequisiteen, a security guard must fulfil,…” begins, there is more than one correct solution.
Note the Context of the question (subject area)! If, for example, a question is asked about a fact in criminal law (StGB), an answer referring to civil law (BGB) cannot be correct.
Pay attention to Negative formulationsIf there is a negative in the question, so maybe the question is asking you to tick what exactly you want to tick. not applies? Then you need to rethink and choose exactly the opposite answer options!
Key terms like “never” or “never or “always” or “always should be warning signs! It is rather rare that e.g. prohibitions or permissions always or never apply, i.e. are absolute. For many things there are exceptions or certain framework conditions and no strict black and white. Such key terms in an answer indicate that it is rather wrong.
Other terms that should set alarm bells ringing are those such as “exclusively” or “without exception”. The same applies here as in the previous tip. It is not often that something applies without any exception.
In the written examination you have enough time. Take your time and read the questions in detail and, if necessary, several times. If you cannot think of the answer, put the question back. Mark the question so that you do not forget to look at it again later.
You are unsure of the correct answer to a question. Work according to the Exclusion principle and sort out the possibilities that definitely cannot be true. This often helps.
If you don’t have a clue about a question, don’t leave it unanswered. Guess if you have to! Not answering a question definitely gets you 0 points. Even if your gut tells you one or two solutions, luck may be on your side.
Finally, the most important thing: Even if this article is about “tactics tips” in the narrower sense — it’s not about tactics. prepare yourself! Timely and purposeful learning is the essential factor for passing the examination.
Insider tips
You can get many more tips on how to successfully master the 34a professional qualification examination if you read our free newsletter subscribe. Directly afterwards we will send you our 34a PDF with a total of 25 tips for the expert examination to.
Talking around it is useless. One thing is clear: The traditional security industry is a low-wage sector!
Nevertheless: the security industry offers variety, responsible, exciting and also quiet jobs. And if you’re smart, you can make ends meet. But — what do you earn as a security guard with a certificate of competence?
What matters when it comes to earnings in the security industry…
If you decide to work in the private security sector or are looking for a new employer, the financial aspects certainly play a major role. There are several factors that contribute to a good hourly wage. The most important aspects for a more attractive salary are listed below.
Level of education and training
Obviously, the better trained you are, the higher your earning potential. As an unskilled security guard only with training according to § 34a GewO, you will very often not be paid much more than the minimum wage. With the expert knowledge examination, you can achieve a good bit more basic hourly wage with manageable effort.. You can go even further with further training to become a certified protection and security worker or with training to become a specialist for protection and security. Incidentally, the minimum wage nationwide has been 12.43 euros per hour since 1 January 2023. The increase to 13 euros per hour from 1 April 2023 has already been decided.
Additional qualifications
Additional qualifications, for example in first aid or fire protection (e.g. as a fire protection assistant), are very helpful and increase the market value of security staff. These do not always have a direct effect on the hourly wage, but they are always a plus point in job applications. Additional qualifications include the following:
Fire safety helper
Evacuation helper
Lift rescue (rescue of persons from lifts)
Intervention force
NSL specialist
Safety Officer (Occupational Safety)
Hygiene/Health Officer
Basic knowledge course in radiation protection and decontamination
Weapons expertise examination
Intercultural skills and knowledge of foreign languages, especially at least basic English, should also not be underestimated.
Activity
The security industry has many facets and therefore the activities that security workers perform are also very diverse. Accordingly, there are sometimes serious wage differences. Security activities such as separate guards and simple guarding activities are often rather poorly paid. Jobs that require special skills often pay well. For example in the Aviation security, in the range Cash and valuables transport, during the activity in nuclear facilities, in which Underground and suburban railway guarding or as an NSL specialist in Emergency call and service control centres the earnings are often significantly higher than the industry average. The exact amount of the wage for the job can be found in the Collective agreements take from them. If they have been declared generally binding, which is usually the case, they apply to all employees. (It is best to add the federal state to the Google search to narrow down the results).
Working hours
Anyone who is already active in the industry and works in shifts knows it: Often, biorhythms and private life suffer from the changing working hours. However, working night shifts, Sundays and public holidays often offers decisive financial advantages. Depending on the federal state/collective agreement, the following benefits can be earned Night, Sunday and public holiday surcharges that are well worth seeing. What’s more, these tax-free! On public holidays in many places 100% Surcharge possiblei.e. in addition to the actual daily wage, you receive the same amount again — but tax-free! Viewed over the month, depending of course on the amount of night, Sunday and public holiday hours, the following can be achieved Several hundred euros on top earn. Especially around the turn of the year or at Easter, this can be a lucrative affair.
Overtime/overtime
Overtime is, of course, a partial aspect of working hours. Nevertheless, I would like to devote a separate point to this aspect here. Why? Because experience shows that a lot of overtime is worked in the security sector, often much more than is legally permissible and with too few breaks between assignments. Think carefully about whether you want to go along with this and should actually work 200, 220, 240 or even more hours per month. My tip at this point would be to invest in further education and not to trade so much time for money: Memento Mori — your lifetime is also limited. Set priorities and make a good decision for you, also for your future.
State
As in other industries, there is a West-East divide in the private security sector. In the past, these wage differences were really glaring. Security workers in Berlin earned in some areas not even half of those who worked in Bavaria. As a rule, the best-paid federal states include Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia. Among the lowest paid are still the new federal states, for example Brandenburg or Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Just a few years ago, one could barely keep one’s head above water with a job as a security guard in the East German states. However, the minimum wage and the gradual convergence of collective agreements are increasingly putting the differences into perspective. In addition, one should not forget that where people earn more, they usually earn less. Cost of living (especially rents) are higher. So think carefully — if you are toying with the idea — whether a move is really worth it for you.
Industry
Many people think of security service jobs in the classic way, as the security company that as a service provider external customers. Whereas in the past, veteran employees in factories came to the plant security service towards the end of their working lives to spend the last years of their careers doing less strenuous work, the situation has changed considerably nowadays. Professional, external security service providers look after a large number of companies from business and industry or the public sector as clients. But they still exist, despite the decades-long trend towards outsourcing. The Internal plant security. Especially in industry, property and plant protection activities are when you are directly employed by the manufacturing company, very well paid. The reason for this is that you are paid according to the industry pay scale to which the bulk of the workforce belongs. Take a look at the Rate tables for the metal and electrical industry! These monthly salaries are in a different league.
Allowances
Allowances regulated by collective agreement are usually paid for guard/shift leaders, for dog handlers or in certain facilities such as military properties. Likewise, there are often allowances for on-call duties, e.g. for (additional) work in the plant fire brigade. These range from a few cents per hour up to over 10% more pay. In Bavaria, there is also slightly more money if you work in the greater Munich area.
Security companies or their clients also sometimes pay Voluntary (revocable) allowances. Sometimes there are also one-off bonuses for particularly successful assignments or for outstanding work performance. Unfortunately, these kinds of bonuses tend to be the exception. Increasingly common, however, is a Switch premium or, if you like, a kind of “welcome money”. However, this alone should not necessarily be the sole reason for changing employers.
Concrete numbers
You would like to know concrete figures?
If you have read the article up to this point, you will realise that this is difficult, as it can depend on a number of factors such as the federal state, the job, the working hours and their (additional) qualifications. Nevertheless, a concrete example:
Monthly salary in the separate guard service with IHK specialist knowledge examination in 2023 in Bavaria:
14,00 Euro per hour
180 hours per month
thereof
12h holiday
16h Sunday
60h night
This results in approx. 2520 euros of taxable income (gross) and just under 420 euros of tax-free supplements.With income tax class 1 and no children, a single person thus receives approx. 2170 Euro net transferred. However, this calculation is for illustrative purposes only. Your actual salary paid out may depend on numerous factors!
Hint: This article was last updated in February 2023. As there are regular adjustments to both the minimum wage and collective agreement regulations, the framework conditions may have changed in the meantime! (All information without guarantee.)
The topics of the expert knowledge examination in the guarding trade (§ 34a GewO) are
Law of public safety and order including trade law,
Data protection law,
Civil Code,
Criminal law and criminal procedure, handling weapons,
Accident prevention regulation for guard and security services,
Dealing with people, especially behaviour in dangerous situations, de-escalation techniques in conflict situations as well as intercultural competence with special attention to diversity and social diversity and
Basic principles of safety engineering.
Weighting
It is particularly important for preparation that some subject areas count twice. In particular the legal contents are with regard to the scoring stronger weightednamely concretely Law of public safety and order, Civil Code and Criminal law and criminal procedure.
The number of questions and the maximum points to be achieved in the overview:
Dealing with people: 16 questions / 16 points
Safety engineering: 8 questions / 8 points
Exam questions
When studying, it is best to concentrate on exam questions on legal topics. Basic knowledge is relevant here (Basic Law, e.g. state structure/principles) as well as the relevant paragraphs from the Criminal Code (StGB) and the Civil Code (BGB). Classics are questions on the basic structure, legal definitions, offences with their characteristics and offences. You should also place a strong focus on the so-called everyman’s rights (grounds for justification and excuse). In the area of the Code of Criminal Procedure (StPO), the provisional arrest found in section 127 is relevant.
Both the written and oral examinations cover the topics listed above.
The legal basis is the Surveillance Ordinancenamely § 9 in conjunction with § 7 BewachV. The list of examination topics or contents can be found in Annex 2 of the BewachV.
In this blog of the Sachkunde-Infoportal, questions are presented again and again that can occur in the exam in this or a similar way. For more insider tips and to stay up to date, you can subscribe to the newsletter for free: https://www.sachkunde-34a.de/insider-tipps-lernunterlagen-34a/
The expert knowledge examination according to § 34a of the Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act is an entry-level qualification for employees in the private security industry. It serves as proof of basic knowledge, especially with regard to fundamental legal aspects relevant to working in the guard and security service. In addition, the successfully passed expert knowledge examination with proof from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce is a prerequisite for carrying out special guarding tasks and being allowed to become self-employed as a security contractor.
A certificate of competence is required for the following activities
As a security guard (employee), you need proof that you have successfully passed an examination of competence at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) (according to § 34a GewO) if you provide security in the entrance area of discotheques in the hospitality industry (bouncers), patrols in public traffic areas (e.g. city patrols), patrols in areas with actual public traffic, activities to protect against shoplifters (department store or store detectives). (e.g. city patrols), patrols in areas of the premises with actual public traffic, activities to protect against shoplifters (shop detectives), guarding of asylum and refugee accommodation (only in a managerial capacity) as well as guarding of large events with protected access (only in a managerial capacity).
The purpose of the expert knowledge examination
Why there is the expert knowledge examination has several reasons. When private individuals — including employees of security companies — guard other people’s lives or property, this entails special duties and a great responsibility. As a security guard, you have to know your rights and the legal limits, i.e. what is allowed and what is forbidden. On the other hand, due to their position as guarantor, they are obliged to prevent damage to the client. In contrast to the police, you do not have any special powers and must therefore be able to weigh up exactly to what extent you are allowed to interfere with the rights of third parties in a particular situation. If you go too far, you run the risk of being charged with offences such as deprivation of liberty or bodily harm. If you sleep on duty and do not comply with your duty to protect, you can also end up in court for committing an offence by omission if you cause harm. For these reasons, among others — listed here as examples — it is important to acquire the specialised knowledge in order to later have the necessary confidence to act in the guarding business.
In April 2021, in the blog post “Are there currently any examinations at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce because of Corona?” about the current state of affairs at that time regarding the implementation of IHK professional examinations. For a while, exams were cancelled or postponed. A strict hygiene regime applied.
After the back and forth of politics regarding covid protection measures and different rules, some of which were difficult to comprehend factually, a large part of the previous requirements have now been repealed in most federal states.
In principle, masks are no longer compulsory. However, it is recommended to carry an FFP‑2 mask.
Wearing at least a medical face mask during the examination is recommended, but is usually no longer compulsory.
Proof of testing, vaccination or convalescence is generally no longer required. (= no 3G requirement)
If you have tested positive for SARS-CoV‑2 and your examination date is coming up, it is best to enquire at the responsible IHK about the currently possible course of action. It is conceivable to withdraw from the exam and take it again at a later date or — depending on the federal state — to take it under certain protective measures.
Note: All information is without guarantee (as of 20.11.2022). Please note the current requirements of the examining IHK or the federal state!
Both Jörg Zitzmann as well as Kai Deliomini are very well known in the private security industry.
Among other things, both are represented in IHK examination committees in the field of protection and security, are active as authors of books for the preparation of the expert knowledge examination and are represented with many helpful videos on YouTube and in podcasts.
With not infrequent failure rates between 30 and 50%, the question naturally arises: What’s the reason?
Some factors for success or failure are obvious. Some problems can be solved quickly and easily, some simply require intensive learning, practice and perseverance. Before I go on to point out what I consider to be the main (mis)success factors, here is the very interesting conversation between Jörg Zitzmann and Kai Deliomini on YouTube:
My top 5 reasons why so many people fail the written and oral IHK specialist knowledge examination
From my experience, the following factors are the main reasons for failure with the “34a-licence”:
Lack of motivation / lack of interest
Many participants do not see any added value in the exam. They have no real interest in the content, so they don’t want to learn at all. This is particularly pronounced among people who are “sent” by their employer or the employment agency and are not actually interested in the private security sector at all. But even if the participation itself is of their own accord: The examination is often not seen as an opportunity but as a necessary evil. Lack of motivation and interest, however, are diametrically opposed to exam success.
No sufficient preparation of the content
Some people take the exam lightly. Multiple-choice questions with pre-set answers to tick off and only 50% necessary correct answers to pass — what could go wrong, you ask yourself. But far from it. The legal topics in particular are tough. In addition, there is excitement, especially in the oral exam, and questions where you may have to think a little outside the box. If you don’t have the necessary knowledge and thus the confidence to act, you will quickly be eliminated. Comprehensive preparation is the be-all and end-all for exam success!
Insufficient knowledge of German
A lot has already been asked and said about German language skills. One thing is certain: many people who work in the security sector are not native speakers of German. Multilingualism is often important for the job, but so is sufficient knowledge of German. This is because the examination is offered exclusively in German and you must also be able to communicate confidently in German in your everyday work as a security guard. Legal texts are written in difficult language, “officialese” is usually just as difficult to understand, and the exam questions sometimes depend on individual words that can change the meaning in one direction or another or provide hints for solutions.
Structure and manner of the examination are unclear
Many people are not completely clear about the framework conditions of the exam. But only if you know which topics are important and how, and how the exam is structured, can you prepare for it specifically and efficiently. For example, there are topics that you can quickly get over, which can usually be answered with common sense. Some topics, on the other hand, count twice and some require more intensive study. In addition, there are empirical values for the oral examination and tactical tips for working through test questions, which should be conveyed by a competent lecturer or author, for example.
Difficult individual conditions
Of course, people are different. Everyone has different personal prerequisites and the general conditions (e.g. family obligations, free time for learning, learning environment, etc.) also play a significant role in success and failure. You may also know people who can memorise things with a “quick glance” and recall this knowledge at the snap of a finger. Others, on the other hand, find this significantly more difficult. Some people also have no problem at all speaking in front of others in an exam situation, most are naturally tense, some participants suffer downright from exam anxiety.
Ask yourself to what extent the points above apply to you, how you can avoid mistakes in your preparation and compensate for any deficits. You can find more information on this right here in the subject knowledge information portal numerous tips and Links to other sites or media such as YouTube.
Whether pandemic-related 34a exams are currently being conducted is a hot question
As things stand, the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK’s) are trying to stick to the existing dates for examinations. Yes! The exams usually take place. However, there can be deviations, because in principle each chamber can decide for itself whether an examination is carried out, cancelled without replacement or postponed. In the case of the current corona crisis, this also depends on the regional incidence value, the current legal requirements and political decisions.
Pandemic plans/hygiene concepts and specifications of the IHK
Most chambers have hygiene concepts that specify the conditions under which examinations can be carried out.
For many chambers, the following rules apply (without guarantee):
A self-disclosure form must be filled out (no signs of illness, no previous stay in risk areas, no contact with infected persons, etc.).
Access and stay is only permitted with a mask (FFP 2 or comparable), so-called community masks (fabric masks) are usually not sufficient.
There are disinfectant dispensers at the entrances that are to be used for hand disinfection upon access
A minimum distance of 1.5 — 2 metres must still be maintained
Handshakes and other physical contact are not permitted.
Lifts are not to be used or are not to be shared
The examination rooms are ventilated continuously or at intervals (therefore remember to bring warm clothing if necessary!).
Only the participants’ own writing material may be used, working utensils may not be exchanged among the participants.
The gathering of people in the premises (corridors, etc.), e.g. during breaks or before and after the examination, will not be tolerated.
Up-to-date information!
Further applies: It is best to find out directly from the examining IHK what you have to observe — whether, for example, a medical certificate must be submitted or whether changes have occurred at short notice. The website of the respective IHK (keyword News / Corona) quickly provides substantial information here.
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