At most schools, the course to become a production specialist with a federal certificate forms the first year of the diploma course to become a production technician (HF).

Graduates of the vocational examination for production specialists not only have a federal certificate, but have also completed the first year of the three-year HF course.

Now you can become a "Graduate technician HF mechanical engineering, production technology" further education.

The preparatory courses for the vocational examination for production specialists are modular in structure, very practice-oriented and designed to be taken alongside work. This means that professional activity is not only possible, but also highly desirable or indirectly required.

For example, two years of professional experience for a four-year basic training course or three years of professional experience for a three-year basic training course in the mechanical-technical sector is one of the admission criteria for the federal examination for production specialists, in addition to the Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ - also in the mechanical-technical sector).

It also gives you the opportunity to put what you have learned into practice and apply it - this is also crucial for the project work you have to write. Here you have to work on a topic from your own working environment and write or document it.

In order to be admitted to the federal vocational examination (BP) for production specialists with a federal certificate, a federal certificate of competence (EFZ) as a polymechanic, design engineer, mechanic, production mechanic or an equivalent certificate must be presented.

In addition, you must have two years of relevant professional experience for a four-year basic training course or three years of professional experience for a three-year basic training course in the mechanical-technical sector.

Finally, you must have the required module qualifications.

With a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training as a polymechanic, the following further training opportunities are open to you:

• Federal Diploma of Higher Education (FPE): e.g. Production Specialist, Aircraft Technician - Mechanics / Avionics, Automation Specialist, Technical Business Administrator
• Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) for Industrial Master Craftsperson
• College of Higher Education e.g. qualified technician CHE mechanical engineering, qualified technician CHE systems engineering, qualified technician CHE microtechnology
• University of Applied Sciences (with Federal Vocational Baccalaureate): With the appropriate previous school education, e.g. Bachelor of Science (UAS) in mechanical engineering, in mechatronics, in systems engineering or in automotive and vehicle technology

It is not mandatory to pass the professional examination (BP) to become a production specialist with a federal certificate in order to transfer to the Production Engineering HF degree program.

However, the course for production specialists is the first year of the HF course. You would therefore have already completed 2 of the 6 semesters of the HF course to become a production technician - and at the same time have a federal certificate in your pocket, which is in high demand on the job market.