Security Guard Competence Exam Section 34a (Germany)Sachkunde §34a

Overview

The Sachkundeprüfung under Section 34a of the Gewerbeordnung (Trade Regulation Act) is the competence exam for private security work in Germany. It is taken before a Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Industrie- und Handelskammer, IHK). It is not a degree. It proves that you know the legal rules and practical duties of security work.

Who needs it

The exam is required for the person who wants to run a security business, or who manages the business or a branch. For a company, it applies to the legal representatives who are directly involved in security work.

Employees need it only for certain tasks: patrols in public traffic areas or in places with real public traffic, protection against shoplifters, door security at nightclubs, and leading roles at asylum reception facilities and large access-controlled events. Other security staff need an IHK certificate that they have been instructed in the legal and technical basics (Unterrichtung), not the exam.

Separately, everyone must be reliable. The authorities check this through records, police statements and other checks. Passing the exam does not replace this check.

You do not have to take the exam if you hold one of the qualifications listed in the regulation, such as a completed examination as a certified security and safety specialist, a police, prison, armed customs or military police career examination for at least the middle service, or a law degree combined with IHK instruction on certain subjects. A previously passed IHK exam certificate also counts.

Exam pattern

The exam is part written and part oral. It is meant to cover each of the subject areas in the regulation. The rules lay out these areas for the related instruction:

• public safety and order law, including trade law;

• data protection law;

• the Civil Code (BGB);

• criminal law and criminal procedure, and handling weapons;

• accident prevention rules for guard and security services;

• dealing with people, including behaviour in dangerous situations, de-escalation and intercultural skills;

• basics of security technology.

The oral part can examine up to five candidates at once and should take about 15 minutes per candidate, with the emphasis on public safety and order law and on dealing with people. The written part can be run using different media. The IHK sets further procedural detail in its own bylaws.

Marking and results

The committee marks the exam as passed or not passed. You pass if both the written and the oral part are rated at least ausreichend (sufficient). You may retake the exam. After a pass, the IHK issues a certificate.

How to apply

You can take the exam at any IHK that offers it. Dates, fees and registration rules are set by each IHK, so check the one you plan to use.

FAQs