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Scheme active from September 1953

Indiviual AND Company

Primary Contact for the Scheme

Reinhard Fink

Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Civil servant (division “crafts, chambers of industry and commerce”)

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Germany – Exercise of a skilled craft subject to a licence pursuant to the Crafts Code.


In Germany, most of the activities associated with the installation of small scale renewable energy are categorised as skilled crafts. The information provided on this platform is focused on the skilled craft of renewable energy installer, exercise of which is subject to license. Reference is only made to other skilled crafts where necessary. The independent exercise of a skilled craft subject to license usually requires a master examination. The route to becoming certified consists of the journeyman’s examination which consists of a theoretical and a practical part. The training includes the construction of technical supply systems and the understanding of sustainable energy and water use systems. This is followed by the master... Read more
Links to more information about the scheme

bmwi.de/DE/Themen/Mittelstand/Mittelstandspolitik/handwerk.html

 

Certification Bodies

Chambers of skilled crafts (Meister examinations) and guilds of skilled crafts (journeyman’s examinations), acting as state authorities.

The transfer of knowledge plays an important role in the German skilled craft sector. Each year, more than 40,000 skilled craft workers participate voluntarily in further training courses (e.g. further training as an energy consultant in the skilled craft sector).

Example Certificates

Supported Technology,
Size and Possibility of Financial Support
Are any other qualifications required to practice?
Technology Size Min and Max sizes Necessity of Cert./ Qual. Is the scheme mandatory or voluntary for the technology listed? Supporting financial schemes? Are there any supporting financial schemes? Necessity for financial support Is it mandatory to be certified to qualify for the financial incentive? EQF What level of education according to European Qualifications Framework is the scheme equivalent to? [?] Plumber Is the supporting qualification as a plumber required? Electrician Is the supporting qualification as an electrician required? Parts Is a specializiation in the companents required as a supporting qualification? Other Other requirement details Financial Schemes
Air Heat Pump Mandatory EQF L6
Biomass Mandatory EQF L6
Ground Heat Pump Mandatory EQF L6
Hydro Mandatory EQF L6
Micro Combined Mandatory EQF L6
Shallow Geothermal Mandatory EQF L6
Solar Photovoltaic Mandatory EQF L6
Solar Thermal Mandatory EQF L6
Water Heat Pump Mandatory EQF L6
Wind Mandatory EQF L6
Legislation, subsidies and standards
Costs/Benefit analysis (eg. payback period)
Design (appropriate design of system dependent in relation to targeted heating system)
Installation (actual installation process)
Commissioning (ensure effective commissioning of system for optimal performance)
Monitoring (operational or performance monitoring)
Maintenance (understanding of maintenance and warranty based issues)
Average training cost €0 - €1,000
The cost is the fee for the Meister examination. Additional costs can arise in individual cases from – voluntary – participation in Meister training courses. Example: Fee for the Meister examination by Karlsruhe chamber of skilled crafts (http://www.hwk- karlsruhe.de/weiterbildung/meister_werden/kosten-gebuehren.html)
Ongoing Costs in order to be Certified/Qualified
What is the anticipated duration of training for full certification/ qualification? 3-5 years
Theory Mandatory
Practical Mandatory
Workplace Learning Mandatory
Examination Mandatory
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Optional
Ongoing Quality Control Optional
The Certification is valid for 16 years plus
Requalification is required
Inspections of the installers work are carried out
Evaluation of wider standards
A financial penalty could apply
Retraining may be required
Suspension from the scheme
Exclusion from the scheme
None
Damage to the renewable energy system
Damage to wider energy infrastructure within end-users’ home
Structural or building damage
Significant degradation in system performance
Poor consumer code of conduct
There is an established process for mutual recognition
Details

The recognition procedure is mainly based on professional experience and the applicant’s training and skills certificates. In line with Community law, the applicants can in certain cases be required to take an adaptation course or an aptitude test before the professional qualification is recognised.

The rules in German skilled crafts legislation on the recognition of professional qualifications obtained in third countries go beyond requirements under Community law (Sections 40a, 50b of the Crafts Code and ultimately also Section 8 subsection 2 of the Crafts Code; this makes it possible for applicants to use their professional qualifications in Germany even if they only cover a significant subdivision of a skilled craft occupation which is generally subject to a licence.

The chambers of crafts, as state authorities of the Länder, are responsible for recognising foreign professional qualifications in the field of skilled crafts subject to licence and listed in Annex A of the Crafts Code.

Documentation required when applying for mutual recognition
Evidence of certification
Evidence of formal training
Declaration
Evidence of quality
Additional tests or monitoring expected when applying for mutual recognition
An aptitude test
Undergo a period of monitoring
Demonstrate continuous professional development
Evidence of quality of installations
Other
Expected to demonstrate language ability
Expected to demonstrate insurance

The rules (training, Meister examination, further training) are constantly updated. The acquisition of the Meister certificate permits access to the occupation (independent exercise of a skilled craft subject to a licence) and protects the title (“Meister”, “Meisterin”) pursuant to Section 51 of the Crafts Code. Information is available from the 53 chambers of skilled crafts and guilds of skilled crafts.

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HwO - nichtamtliches Inhaltsverzeichnis

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InstallateurHeizungsbauerMstrV

In Germany, access to a skilled craft, exercise of which is subject to a licence, is governed by a professional qualification system (not a certification system). For this reason, the answers to this questionnaire refer exclusively to the qualification of Meister of skilled crafts. Access to the occupation does not depend exclusively on the acquisition of a Meister qualification. A number of exceptions under current occupational law also permit access to the occupation. These include:
  • special provision made for skilled crafts workers in a different skilled trade or craft requiring a licence (“simplified Meister examination” pursuant to Section 7a of the Crafts Code; example: electrical technician obtains right to work in the skilled craft of installer),
  • the “experienced journeyman rule” (recognition of “experienced journeymen” pursuant to Section 7b of the Crafts if they have six years’ professional experience, four of which have been spent in a senior position),
  • the exception for engineers, graduates of technical universities and state or state-recognised further education colleges of technology or design, and
  • the general exception if it is unreasonable for a person to take the Meister examination (Section 8 of the Crafts Code). The recognition of EU foreign nationals takes place pursuant to Section 9 of the Crafts Code in accordance with the EU Professional Qualifications Directive if these individuals wish to settle permanently or provide their services on a temporary basis in Germany.
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