Financial support for career advancement training under the Career Advancement Training Support Act (AFBG)
As of: June 2025
The “Aufstiegs-BAföG” (often referred to as “Meister-BAföG”) provides financial support to participants in advanced vocational training courses designed for career advancement.
This funding for career advancement, provided under the *Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz* (AFBG – Act on the Promotion of Advanced Vocational Training), is a statutory financial benefit for continuing education aimed at achieving a higher-level qualification (e.g., Master Craftsman/Meister). There is no age limit for this funding. The support is provided partly as a grant and partly through a low-interest loan from the KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau). Anyone participating in a program that meets the statutory requirements is eligible for funding.
All current information, legal texts, and application forms regarding the “Aufstiegs-BAföG” can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research at www.aufstiegs-bafoeg.de.
General funding for Master Craftsman courses
Course and examination fees are subsidized up to a maximum of 15,000 €. Participants receive 50% of this amount as a grant, independent of their income or assets. This grant does not need to be repaid, provided that proof of regular class attendance is submitted.
The funding approval notice issued by the responsible authority serves as the basis for a loan offer from the KfW bank covering the remaining 50% of the course costs.
The repayment phase—lasting a maximum of ten years—begins no earlier than after a two-year grace period. The minimum monthly installment is generally 128 €. Upon passing the Master Craftsman examination, 50% of the outstanding loan balance (i.e., the portion not yet due for repayment) can be waived upon application. A full waiver is possible when starting a business.
Material costs for a master craftsman examination project are also subsidized at a rate of 50% and supported by a loan covering another 50%, up to a maximum total amount of 2,000 €.
Funding for full-time master craftsman courses
For full-time training programs as defined by law, a contribution is provided to cover living expenses. This subsidy component is means-tested (based on income and assets) and can amount to up to 1,019 € per month for single individuals. It comprises a basic allowance, a housing allowance, an additional increment, and potential supplements for health and long-term care insurance. For married individuals, registered partners, and applicants with children, the subsidy amount may increase accordingly. The funding is provided entirely as a grant and does not need to be repaid.
Funding Requirements
To qualify for funding, the program must not exceed a maximum total duration and must include a minimum number of instructional hours. Funding is available for part-time programs lasting up to 48 months and full-time programs lasting up to 24 months. The program as a whole must comprise at least 400 instructional hours.
Application Process
After registering for a course, you must submit an application to the competent authority in the federal state where you currently reside. This should be done well before the program begins—and no later than the final day of instruction for the program or the specific program module. At a minimum, the following forms must be submitted:
- A (Details regarding income and assets)
- B (Certificate from the training institution)
- Z (Confirmation of admission requirements)
Form A requests personal information regarding income and assets. Additionally, Form B must be obtained from the training institution (Academy for Hearing Aid Acoustics); this form certifies your registration for or attendance at the training course. You must also apply for admission to the Master Craftsman examination with the competent examining body—which, for the hearing aid acoustics trade, is the Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer). This body confirms that admission requirements have been met by completing Form Z.
Regular Attendance
During the program module or course, or no later than upon its completion, the participant is required to submit Form F—in which the training institution confirms regular attendance—to the competent authority.
General Rule:
Eligibility for funding is contingent upon compliance with the regulations of the Act on the Promotion of Vocational Advancement (AFBG).
Quick Overview: “Aufstiegs-BAföG” – Full Funding for Master Craftsmen
- Contribution towards course costs:
Course fees and examination fees up to a maximum of 15,000 €;
50% of this amount is covered by a grant - Living allowance:
Up to 1,019 € per month for single persons,
plus 235 € for a registered partner and 235 € per child;
100% grant; applicable only to full-time courses - Offsetting of income and assets
- Exemption limit:
45,000 € in personal assets for single persons; relevant only for the subsistence allowance - Loan component:
Interest- and repayment-free for up to 6 years,
repayment period of up to 10 years,
up to 100% waiver upon starting a business
“Master Craftsman Bonus” and other state-level funding programs for master craftspeople
Each year, a significant number of hearing care professionals from across Germany qualify as master craftsmen at the Academy for Hearing Acoustics. Upon successfully completing the program in Lübeck, these newly qualified master hearing care professionals can benefit from master craftsman grants provided by the federal states where they maintain their primary residence or place of employment. Only Schleswig-Holstein and Brandenburg do not pay a standard master craftsman bonus; instead, they offer bonuses for master craftsmen starting their own businesses.
These master craftsman bonuses are not offset against other forms of financial support, such as the “Aufstiegs-BAföG” (federal funding for advanced vocational training).
The table below details the master craftsman bonuses paid in each federal state, the applicable eligibility criteria, and whether the bonuses are subject to taxation.
| State | Amount of Master Craftsman Premium / Bonus | Requirements for Master Craftsman Premium / Bonus | Taxable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg | 1,500 € | Main place of residence or place of employment at the time the examination result is determined must be in Baden-Württemberg | Yes |
| Bavaria | 3,000 € | Main place of residence or place of employment at the time of the examination must be in Bavaria; the examination must have been taken in Bavaria, unless the examination was not offered in Bavaria | Yes |
| Berlin | 5,000 € | Principal place of residence or place of employment must be in Berlin at the time the examination result is determined | Yes |
| Brandenburg | None | – | – |
| Bremen | 1,300 € | Principal place of residence or place of employment must have been in the federal state of Bremen for at least six months at the time the final certificate is issued | Yes |
| Hamburg | 1,300 € | Principal place of residence or place of employment must be in Hamburg at the time of the examination result | Yes |
| Hesse | 3,500 € | Principal place of residence and place of employment must be in Hesse at the time of the examination | No |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 2,000 € plus €3,000 for the top 50 graduates of the year |
Principal place of residence or place of employment must have been in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for at least three months at the time the examination result is determined | Yes |
| Lower Saxony | 4,000 € | Principal place of residence or place of employment must have been in Lower Saxony for at least six months at the time the Master Craftsman certificate is issued | No* |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | 2,500 € | Principal place of residence at the time of issuance of the …examination certificate must be located in NRW | No |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | 2,000 € | Main place of residence or place of employment must be in Rhineland-Palatinate on the date of the examination | No |
| Saarland | 2,000 € | Main place of residence or place of employment must be in Saarland at the time of exam registration or determination of results | No |
| Saxony | 2,000 € | Main place of residence or place of employment must be in Saxony at the time of exam registration or determination of results | No |
| Saxony-Anhalt | 1,000 € | Main place of residence or place of employment must be in Saxony-Anhalt at the time of determination of results | No |
| Schleswig-Holstein | None | – | – |
| Thuringia | 1,000 € plus an additional €1,000 for the top performers of the year |
Main place of residence or place of employment must be in Thuringia at the time of the examination | No |
Master Craftsman Start-up Grant as a Response to Future Challenges
As many owners of skilled craft businesses are set to retire in the coming years—and succession plans are often unclear—many federal states have introduced “Master Craftsman Start-up Grants” in recent years. These grants aim to reduce the financial burden of establishing or taking over a skilled craft business, thereby making self-employment in the skilled crafts sector more attractive.
Generally, the grant can be applied for within 24 months of passing the master craftsman examination, provided the applicant has started a new business or taken over an existing one in the skilled crafts sector. As the grant constitutes business income, it is subject to taxation in all federal states. Applications must be submitted in the federal state where the business was established or acquired.
The table below outlines the status of these start-up grants across the various federal states (as of June 2025). Since hearing aid acoustics is not classified as a skilled craft trade atypical for women, the fact that some states offer additional funding for hiring women in such professions has not been taken into account here.
| State | Amount of Master Craftsman Start-up Grant | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg | 10% of start-up costs, max. 10,000 € | Granted as a repayment subsidy within existing financial aid schemes; applies to the founding and takeover of a business |
| Bavaria | None | – |
| Berlin | Up to 25,000 € |
Two-stage start-up bonus for self-employment within four years of obtaining the Master Craftsman title: Stage 1: 10,000 € conditionally repayable grant (basic funding) Stage 2: one-off job creation grant (6,000 €) or apprenticeship grant (7,500 €) Repayment required only if funding conditions are not met |
| Brandenburg | Up to 19,000 € | 12,000 € basic funding plus 5,000 € job creation/apprenticeship funding (7,000 € if the position is filled by a woman); non-repayable |
| Bremen | None | – |
| Hamburg | None | – |
| Hesse | None | – |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 7,500 € | Non-repayable grant |
| Lower Saxony | 10,000 € | Non-repayable grant |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | Up to 16,000 € |
11,500 € for a start-up following at least 24 months of employment subject to social security contributions or 12 months of vocational training (excluding “mini-jobs”). Additional 2,000 € for business takeovers. Business plan, start-up consultation, and secured total financing required. Non-repayable grant |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | 2,500 € | Non-repayable grant |
| Saarland | None | – |
| Saxony | None | – |
| Saxony-Anhalt | 10,000 € | Non-repayable grant |
| Schleswig-Holstein | Up to 10,000 € |
7,500 € basic funding; an additional 2,500 € after 3 years upon creation of a job (at least 12 months |
| Thuringia | Up to 12,500 € |
10,000 € for founding/takeover; 2,500 € per job/apprenticeship position; Combination of a grant and a subsidized KfW loan |
Talent development
The continuing education scholarship supports young professionals who wish to achieve even more after completing their vocational training with outstanding results. The scholarship helps fund specialized and interdisciplinary continuing education courses of the recipient’s choice.
Eligible programs include demanding continuing education courses—typically taken alongside work—such as preparation for the Master Craftsman examination.
Further information: https://www.sbb-stipendien.de/weiterbildungsstipendium.html