Exams
"You pay the exam fee."
The company wants you to repay the cost of the intermediate or final exam.
§ 14 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 BBiG / § 12 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 BBiG
The boss may NOT do that
No — the training company bears the cost of exams.
The chamber's exam fees for intermediate and final exams are borne by the training company; they are part of the cost of training. Everything you need for the exam (exam materials, workpieces, tools) must also be provided free of charge (§ 14 (1) no. 3 BBiG). An agreement under which you pay for your training is void (§ 12 (2) no. 1 BBiG). This also applies to a retake as long as you are still in training. After the training relationship ends — e.g. if you retake an exam later without a contract — it may be different.
What the law says
§ 14 (1) no. 3 BBiG – Training materials
Trainers must provide free of charge the materials required for taking intermediate and final exams.
§ 12 (2) no. 1 BBiG – Void
An agreement obliging trainees to pay compensation for their vocational training is void.
What you can do
- The chamber's invoice usually goes straight to the company.
- If something was deducted: check the payslip and reclaim it in writing.
- Exam materials and workpieces are also provided by the company.
- If unsure, the chamber will answer the question definitively.
Email template for your trainer
Subject: Exam fee [intermediate/final exam]
Dear [name of trainer],
with my payslip for [month], an amount of [€X] was withheld for the exam fee. The cost of the exam is borne by the trainer; an agreement under which trainees pay for their training is void under § 12 (2) no. 1 BBiG.
Please refund it with the next payslip.
Kind regards
[Your name]