Weiterbildungsscheck Ausstellung

The Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs NRW (MAGS) supports your participation in further vocational training with the education voucher. With the education voucher, the state of NRW covers half of the total expenditure for your further vocational training, up to a maximum of EUR 500.

As an individual, you can receive an education voucher on an individual basis if you can prove that you have an annual taxable income of up to EUR 40,000 (up to EUR 80,000 in the case of joint assessment) and are resident in NRW. It is aimed in particular at employees and people returning to work. An education voucher can also be issued for online-based further training (e.g. online seminars) and e-learning. Individuals can claim an education voucher annually.

The further training for which an education voucher is to be issued must be in an individual professional context. This is usually the case if the planned further training is in the context of current or future employment, i.e. it is professionally relevant.

The education voucher is only issued in conjunction with a mandatory and free consultation. This can be carried out individually on site at one of the advice centers or online via a video conferencing system.

Documents for the consultation on the issue of an education voucher in individual access:

• Identity card
• For individual access: Income tax assessment notice or declaration from a tax consultant or a specialist lawyer for tax law or the income tax assistance association on the taxable annual income or a certificate from an authority stating the taxable annual income
• If applying online, an ID card with eID function must be available

To issue an education voucher with individual access, an on-site consultation at a counseling center or via an online video consultation is required.

1. Place of residence:
   Your place of residence must be in NRW.
2. Number per year:
   You can claim one education voucher within a calendar year (the date on which the education voucher was issued is decisive here).
3. Income limits:
   Your taxable annual income (this must be distinguished from gross income) must not exceed 40,000 euros (single person/single spouse). In the case of joint assessment (married couple), the income limits do not exceed 80,000 euros.

Proof of taxable income must relate to a previous year and must be provided by you to the advice center via scan:

• the income tax assessment notice or
• a declaration from a tax consultant or a specialist lawyer for tax law or the income tax assistance association about the taxable annual income or
• a certificate from an authority stating the taxable annual income

At the time the education voucher is issued, the proof (date of the document) must not be older than three years.

The following conditions apply to the eligible training measure:

• The lump sum (total expenditure) according to the training provider's invoice is eligible. Expenses for travel and accommodation are not eligible expenses.
• The further education course may not begin before the day after the education voucher consultation (the date on which the education voucher is issued counts). However, prior registration is possible.

The education voucher is issued during an on-site consultation or digitally via a video conference with authorized advice centers. This must take place before the start of the training (however, prior registration with the training center is possible).

Online counseling:

• You book an appointment via the online appointment booking system
• You will receive an e-mail in which you confirm the appointment booking.
• Your appointment will then be confirmed by the advice center and you will receive your access data for the video conference and a link to upload your proof of income.
• Upload your scanned income tax assessment notice or a declaration from a tax advisor, a specialist tax lawyer or the income tax assistance association about your taxable annual income or a certificate from an authority stating your taxable annual income.
• Using the eID function of your ID card in combination with the AusweisApp2, you can clearly identify yourself to the advice center during the online consultation.
• During the consultation, you will receive advice on the opportunities for further vocational training. You can also name specific further training courses if you are already considering a specific offer.
• The advice center will create an advice record.
• If you agree, you will confirm the consultation protocol electronically during the consultation. You will then receive your education voucher, a subsidy-relevant declaration and the information sheet "Information for further education providers on the acceptance of education vouchers" via a download link and can print out the documents after downloading them.

If the result of the consultation is negative (negative statement), you have the option of submitting an application to the relevant district government (not yet possible online).

Advice at an advice center:

• You make an appointment with an advice center by telephone or in writing
• You visit the advice center for the consultation.
• The advice center will advise you on the possibilities for further vocational training. You can also name specific further training courses if you are already considering a specific offer.
• The counseling center will create a counseling protocol, which will be checked and signed by you. You will then receive your education cheque(s), a declaration relevant to the subsidy and the original information sheet "Information for further education providers on the acceptance of education cheques".

Submit the checks to the further education provider before the start of the further education measure.

It is possible to receive 1 education voucher for individual access within a calendar year. There is no legal entitlement to funding.

• Training voucher issue
• Education voucher for the promotion of further vocational training for employees from funds of the European Social Fund (ESF)
• Funding amount of 50% of the lump sum (usually the invoice amount) up to a maximum of EUR 500
• No application necessary, proof of place of residence and proof of income required for individual access,
• Issued only in conjunction with a consultation on site or online at an approved continuing education counseling center in NRW (appointment booking system)