Costing publicly funded training courses in Germany
This page is a simplified introduction. It is not an official legal translation and not legal, tax or funding advice. The calculator and the linked sources are available in German only, and the German originals prevail.
What the AZAV is
The AZAV sets out the conditions under which training providers and their courses can be approved for funding by the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, BA). Providers and courses are approved by an accredited certification body, the fachkundige Stelle (FKS). FKS usually specify their own costing templates, and their templates and review are decisive.
How the cost rate is calculated
Cost rate = total costs ÷ calculated participants ÷ synchronous teaching units
Total costs consist of the direct costs of the course, a surcharge for overheads and a surcharge for profit and risk. A teaching unit (Unterrichtseinheit, UE) is 45 minutes of synchronous teaching.
The federal average cost rates (B-DKS) and the 25 % threshold
The BA publishes average cost rates every two years, separated by subject area. The current rates apply from 1 July 2026. A course's cost rate is compared with the rate for its subject area:
- Up to the B-DKS, the rate is not exceeded.
- Up to 25 % above it, the excess requires evidence of particular expenses. The 25 % is not an available surcharge.
- More than 25 % above it, the course can only be approved with the consent of the BA (§ 179 SGB III).
The comparison is only one part of the assessment, which rests with the FKS.
German terms and their meaning
| German | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Akkreditierungs- und Zulassungsverordnung Arbeitsförderung (AZAV) | Accreditation and approval regulation for employment promotion |
| Bildungsträger | Training provider |
| Fachkundige Stelle (FKS) | Accredited certification body that approves providers and courses |
| Trägerzulassung | Provider approval |
| Maßnahmezulassung | Course approval |
| Bildungsgutschein | Education voucher (§ 81 SGB III) |
| Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein (AVGS) | Activation and placement voucher (§ 45 SGB III) |
| Bundesdurchschnittskostensatz (B-DKS) | Federal average cost rate published by the Federal Employment Agency |
| Kostensatz | Cost rate per participant and teaching unit |
| Unterrichtseinheit (UE) | Teaching unit (45 minutes of synchronous teaching) |
| Kostenzustimmung | Cost approval by the Federal Employment Agency |
The English wording is descriptive and not an official translation.
The calculator
The AZAV-Kalkulator is a free example and planning calculation in German. Inputs stay in the open browser window and are neither stored nor transmitted. The printed concept is also in German, as it is intended for use with a German FKS.
Created by Frank Sommer (Dipl.-Ing.), dipl-ing-sommer.de. Version 1.1 (11/2026).