Exams
"Take the exam early? Not with us."
Your grades are good and you want to bring the final exam forward.
§ 45 Abs. 1 BBiG / § 8 Abs. 1 BBiG
It depends …
Yes you can — the chamber decides admission, not the company alone.
If your performance justifies it, you can be admitted to the final exam before the end of the training period (§ 45 (1) BBiG). The company and the vocational school are consulted, but the chamber decides. Good grades at school and good performance at work are typical; many chambers bring it forward by up to six months. This is different from shortening the training period at or shortly after signing the contract, which company and trainee apply for jointly (§ 8 (1) BBiG). Anyone who passes early ends the training when the result is announced.
What the law says
§ 45 (1) BBiG – Early admission
Trainees may be admitted to the final exam before the end of their training period after consulting the trainer and the vocational school, if their performance justifies it.
§ 8 (1) BBiG – Shortening
On joint application, the competent body must shorten the training period if the training goal is expected to be reached in the shorter time.
What you can do
- Ask your chamber about its criteria (often an average grade of 2.0 or better).
- Get a statement from the vocational school early.
- Watch the registration deadlines — often several months before the exam date.
- Plan your study time: early also means less preparation.