There is a rule that applies specifically to trainees: Under § 16 Berufsbildungsgesetz, employers must issue a written certificate at the end of the training — on their own initiative, not only upon request. The apprenticeship certificate is often the first employment reference ever and accompanies the start of professional life; accordingly it should be examined carefully.
Mandatory content under § 16 BBiG
The certificate must contain information about the nature, duration and objective of the vocational training, as well as about the professional skills, knowledge and abilities acquired. At the apprentice’s request, information about conduct and performance must also be included — this corresponds to the qualified certificate. The electronic form is not permitted; the training provider must sign.
The right benchmark.
An apprentice is evaluated, not a seasoned skilled worker: the standard is the level of training and the training goal. A good apprenticeship certificate describes the departments you have worked in and the learning content concretely, attests to the development over the years of the apprenticeship, and rates it with the same satisfaction scale as any employment reference — secret codes also apply here.
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Takeover, Termination, Exam not passed
If the training is terminated early or discontinued, the entitlement to a certificate for the time spent also exists. The failure to pass the final examination does not belong in the training company's certificate—the examination result is certified by the chamber, the company evaluates the on-the-job training. If there is subsequent employment, it is worthwhile to ensure that the duration of the training appears correctly in the later employment reference.