However, this is not sufficient for appointment as an occupational safety specialist, because the basic qualification as a master craftsman, technician or engineer with at least two years of professional experience is a further prerequisite under the ASiG and DGUV Regulation 2 for working as an occupational safety specialist.  Only graduates of specialised degree courses in safety engineering who are entitled to use the title "safety engineer" can be appointed as occupational safety specialists without any additional qualifications, provided they have gained one year of professional experience.

The Sifa training concept

In addition to the practice-oriented teaching of up-to-date occupational safety content, the Sifa courses are characterised above all by their modular structure and by the fact that the 'Sifa Learning World’' ('Sifa-Lernwelt') learning platform is accessed both in attendance phases and in times of self-organised learning (SOL phases). This learning platform can vary to a certain extent depending on the provider, for example with regard to the specific ‘action situations’, which differ depending on the sector. You can find a public version of the Sifa learning world under "Links".

Under the path 'General information for Sifa training providers > General information on the Sifa training course 3.0' ('Übergreifende Informationen für Sifa-Bildungsträger > Allgemeines zum Sifa-Lehrgang 3.0') you will also find the training model from 2011. This model is to be understood as a training course concept and is also included in the DGUV information 251-001 'The occupational safety specialist - contemporary occupational health and safety' ('Die Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit - Zeitgemäßer Arbeitsschutz. Präventionsverständnis, Anforderungsprofil, Ausbildung'). In order to meet this training model even better, the further developed Sifa qualification 3.0 has been successively introduced at all accident insurance institutions, universities and independent training providers since 2019.

Information on the framework conditions, content and structure of Sifa training 3.0 is compiled on the DGUV homepage and can be found at "Links" (in German).

Among other things, documents on the following topics are available there:

• the competence profile of the occupational safety specialist
• the action situations and outcomes of the learning fields
• the schedule
• the sample examination regulations
• an overview of the learning success controls

Since 1 July 2023, only Sifa 3.0 courses may be started.

The introduction of the enhanced Sifa 3.0 course was also prompted by the fact that the previous distance learning course of the accident insurance institutions (public sector) was to be merged with the face-to-face course of the commercial employers' liability insurance associations to form a joint Sifa course with face-to-face and distance learning components. At the same time, the Sifa course was digitised as part of the changeover from version 2.0 to version 3.0 and is now run as a blended learning course using the above-mentioned interactive learning platform 'Sifa-Lernwelt'. General information on the - now completed - further development of the Sifa qualification can be found under ‘Links’.

Sifa course providers exempt from and subject to state or DGUV recognition

Since the Sifa training courses offered by the UVT are training courses offered by public law bodies, they do not require separate state recognition. The situation is different for independent training providers who also offer Sifa courses. As a rule, either the supreme occupational safety authorities of the federal states or the central recognition body of the DGUV are responsible for their recognition. You will find the contact details under "Links".

Universities and colleges occupy a special position: if Sifa courses are offered integrated in safety engineering degree programs, they do not require recognition. However, if they constitute a series of modules in an engineering course of study in other disciplines, they should be recognized by an authorized body, i.e. by the state in which the university is located or by the central recognition body of the DGUV. Since the future employers of university graduates also only act in accordance with the ASiG and DGUV Regulation 2, if they appoint a person as a specialist for occupational safety who has acquired the safety-related expertise in a recognized Sifa course, all universities that have their Sifa courses recognized act in the interest of their graduates. A list of recognized Sifa courses in Germany can be found under "Further information".

Additional requirements for appointment following the successful completion of a Sifa course

Every training provider will be able to supply information about the scheduling, costs, course plan, and content of its Sifa training. Candidates who do not hold one of the basic qualifications required by the second sentence of Section 7(1) ASiG in conjunction with Section 4(2) DGUV Regulation 2 (engineer, master craftsperson, or technician) at the time they intend to take up work as an occupational safety specialist in a company must be informed by the training provider of restrictions on their future work in this professional role. These restrictions may mean their remit is limited - to a single department within their company, for example - or it is only possible for them to be appointed on a fixed-term contract.

An employer is merely permitted to disregard the basic qualifications discussed above that are fundamental requirements for appointment as an occupational safety specialist if they have obtained a certificate of exemption from the competent occupational safety and health authority. Furthermore, exemptions under Section 7(2) ASiG can be granted solely for the appointment of individuals who hold higher education degrees. Applications for certificates of exemption are to be submitted by the employer on a case-by-case basis.

For further information please refer to our German Website.