Questions and essentials
Answers before you need to ask.
The most common questions about the Sachkunde exam, about funding and about your earning potential — answered openly, including where the answer is uncomfortable.
§ 34a exam
The 10 most common mistakes.
The largest part of the exam is law: BGB, StGB, guarding law, data protection, weapons law. Anyone who only learns the practical topics fails here. Plan most of your study time for law.
A classic. Notwehr (self-defence) protects your own legal interests, Nothilfe those of another person. In the oral exam this is a favourite point to probe — including the question of necessity and proportionality.
As a security officer you act with the rights of any citizen (Jedermannsrechte), not with police powers. Anyone who describes arrest, search or identity checks like an enforcement officer loses points.
The exam tests application, not definitions. Practise with case examples: what do you do if a shoplifter flees? If a guest turns violent? If a colleague is injured?
Video surveillance, data storage, rights to information: data protection is exam-relevant and is regularly underestimated. Also because it is needed constantly in daily work later on.
The oral exam is a conversation, not a quiz. Anyone who has never practised out loud loses the thread under pressure. With us we simulate the oral exam with an IHK examiner until the procedure sits.
The exam is held in German, in official language. Anyone who does not understand the question fails because of the language, not the knowledge. That is why we run an internal language test in advance — in the interest of your success.
Self-study with a PDF from the internet rarely works. What is missing is prioritisation: what really comes up, what is a side topic? That is exactly what a structured course delivers.
Anyone who wants to “just quickly” study alongside a full-time job underestimates the scope. Realistically it takes several weeks of concentrated preparation — or a full-time course.
Minimum age 18, a police clearance certificate without relevant entries, sufficient German. Clarify this beforehand — otherwise you pay an exam fee for a date you cannot attend.
Salary prospects
What can you earn with it?
An honest assessment: the Sachkunde § 34a is the entry point — pay rises above all with qualification, responsibility and willingness to work shifts and nights.
With the § 34a Sachkunde
Entry in site protection, access control or as a store detective. Pay follows the generally binding collective agreement for the guarding and security industry in NRW — supplements for nights, Sundays and public holidays come on top.
With TQ1plus or additional qualifications
Intervention officer under VdS, BUP for the rail sector, weapons expertise: every additional qualification opens up better paid fields of work — especially in critical infrastructure and in ÖPNV (public transport).
With GSSK (IHK)
Control room, shift leadership, site management: anyone who takes on responsibility for staff and technology leaves entry-level pay well behind. The IHK qualification is a public-law qualification under BBiG and therefore comparable nationwide.
As a trainer or instructor
The AEVO adds a second source of income — in your own company or freelance in adult education. For many it is the step out of shift work.
Concrete figures depend on collective agreement coverage, region, field of work and employer. In the consultation we tell you what is currently realistic in the Ruhrgebiet — without sugar-coating.
Around the course
Practical matters.
For many courses, yes. The Sachkunde § 34a and the GSSK can be taken live online on request, the TQ1plus as well if needed. Practical parts — scenario training, driving practice, teaching samples — take place on site in Essen.
For the Sachkunde § 34a and the TQ1plus, entry is possible on a rolling basis. For the other courses we go by the next course start — call us and we will name the specific date.
Not for the Sachkunde § 34a and the TQ1plus. For the GSSK you do: at least the § 34a Sachkunde, one year of professional experience in the guarding industry and a minimum age of 24. With professional experience from the Bundeswehr or the police we review a lateral entry individually.
Then we do not leave you standing. We look together at what went wrong and prepare you for the retake. Our rate of over 90 % on the first attempt comes exactly from that: we keep working with you until it sits.
The part-time variants are scheduled so that they are manageable alongside a job. Talk to us about your situation — we will tell you honestly whether it is realistic.
With the Sachkunde § 34a and the TQ1plus, a company placement of 160 hours is part of it. It is not a formality but often the direct route into a position — many companies take people on afterwards.
Simply ask
Your question was not there?
Call us or write to us. You will get an honest answer — even if it speaks against a course with us.