Partial Qualifications Made Simple

The fact that partial qualifications (TQs) can serve as a useful tool to address the shortage of skilled workers is spreading – demand is increasing. Since the beginning of November 2024, a new platform has been providing companies, education providers and other interested parties with a comprehensive overview of the concept as well as quick and easy access to the content of individual partial qualifications.

EQs provide young people with limited opportunities for placement – due to poor school qualifications, psychological illnesses or language barriers, for example – with true prospects. At the same time, they give companies the chance to discover and nurture hidden talents early on.

This article first appeared in the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry vocational education magazine POSITION I/2025.

What exactly is it about? The partial qualifications approach enables people over the age of 25 who do not have a formal professional qualification or whose qualification is outdated to gradually requalify through so-called partial qualifications (TQs). For this purpose, the content of the training framework plans (which are used as a guide for in-company trainers) and curriculum frameworks (which organize vocational school instruction) for a specific profession are divided into meaningful learning units. These partial qualifications can be completed individually.

The knowledge, skills and abilities acquired in this way are certified after successful competency assessment – for example by an IHK. Anyone who successfully completes all TQs for a profession has a good chance of being admitted as an external participant to the final examination and of obtaining a formal professional qualification. A win-win situation: participants benefit in the job market from having their competencies formally documented, while companies’ pool of potential workers is expanded. Companies can also use TQs to carry out targeted requalifications within their existing workforce.

Four TQ projects, closely coordinated

From florist and salesperson to machinist: In around 45 professions, it is currently possible to work gradually towards a qualification. Focus areas include logistics, protection and security, electronics and metalwork, but commercial professions are also becoming increasingly popular and the range is constantly being expanded. The offerings are developed by groups of experts: trainers and examiners derive TQs from the framework plans and curriculum frameworks, alongside practitioners from companies and the project groups. These efforts converge in four TQ projects funded by the Federal Ministry of Education: "Chancen Nutzen!" (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammer – DIHK), "BiBB TQ" (Federal Vocational Training Institute), "ETAPP" (Economic Education Works), and "TQHW" (Central Office for Further Education in Skilled Trades).

In the past, each project developed TQs individually; now highly cooperative work ensures that the developed TQs aren’t just "professionally adaptable" but systematically prepare participants for professional qualifications. For quality assurance, increasing standardization of terminology, and flexibility for participants, these projects share both glossaries and methods.

"Some Participants Completely Reinvent Themselves"

Why it can be worthwhile to "try in small bites": Antje Baier, project manager of "Take the chance! Towards a professional qualification with partial qualifications," explains in the interview how "PQs" contribute to securing skilled labour.

A platform for everyone: www.chance-tq.de

A comprehensive overview has been available since the beginning of November on the new platform www.chance-tq.de, developed by the "Chancen nutzen!" project on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education: Here, companies, education providers and interested parties can find everything they need to know about the TQ approach – including downloadable content for partial qualifications. The benefits for all parties and funding possibilities as well as the road towards partial qualifications from the perspectives of companies, interested parties and education providers are also presented in this portal.

The heart of the website is the download area where all TQs – sorted alphabetically and by occupational group – are available. These documents give companies and potential participants an impression of the offerings. Education providers can use them to create concepts for their TQ measures. Any remaining questions are answered at www.chance-tq.de via an intelligent FAQ tool.