Guarding trade; registration for the expert examination
You must pass the security guarding skills test in order to perform particularly conflict-prone and sensitive guarding activities or to be allowed to operate a security guarding business.
Description
For the following activities in the guard and security trade (guarding trade) you must prove that you have passed the examination:
- Patrols in public traffic areas or in areas with actual public traffic (city patrols, patrols of public parks, shopping centers or in the suburban/subway area)
- Protection against shoplifters (department store detective)
- Guarding in the entrance area of hospitality discotheques (bouncer)
- Leading function in the guarding of refugee accommodations (reception facilities or communal accommodations according to the Asylum Act or other official accommodation of asylum seekers or refugees)
- Leading function in the guarding of access-protected large-scale events
- Tradesmen (guarding entrepreneurs, GmbH managing directors, operations managers)
For this purpose, you will have to take the expert examination before a Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). You must first pass a written part (120 minutes, multiple choice), then an oral part.
After passing the examination, 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 yourself well in terms of content. For this purpose, 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.
Procedure
To pass the exam, you should first prepare well in terms of content. The next steps are:
- The registration at an IHK
- The confirmation of the registration/invitation to the examination date by the IHK
- Passing the written part of the exam
(120 minutes, multiple choice) - Passing the oral part of the exam
- Certificate from the IHK confirming the successful completion of the expert examination
- Provision of the certification data for retrieval by the guard register
Special notes
There is also the certificate of instruction for guarding personnel. After the instruction you are allowed to perform only simple guarding tasks. For the more difficult tasks mentioned above, you must pass the expert examination. The instruction is also not sufficient preparation for the expert examination. However, passing the examination replaces the instruction for the guarding trade.
The examination is often the entry qualification for a job in the security industry. For this reason, many regions offer preparatory courses that can be subsidized in accordance with the German Social Code (SGB). Information on this can be obtained from the employment agencies and job centers.
Deadlines
- Please note the possible registration deadline of the examining IHK.
- The certificate of competence is valid for an unlimited period and nationwide.
Processing time
Certificate is usually available immediately or a few days after passing the oral part of the exam.
Links to more information
Status:20.02.2023
Responsible for editing:Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag e.V.
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