Provider approval (Trägerzulassung) (Approved provider under employment promotion law): Provider approval (Trägerzulassung) confirms that a training provider may carry out employment promotion measures. It is granted by a certification body (section 178 SGB III).
The five requirements
Under section 178 SGB III, a provider is approved if it
- has the necessary capacity and is reliable,
- can support participants' integration into work through its own efforts,
- has management, teaching staff and specialist staff with suitable training and professional experience,
- applies a quality assurance system and
- has appropriate contract terms, especially regarding withdrawal and cancellation.
Which information and evidence the certification body receives for this is governed by section 2 AZAV.
Provider approval and course approval
Provider approval alone does not make a course eligible for funding. Each course additionally needs its own course approval. Provider approval is valid for a maximum of five years (section 181 (5) in conjunction with section 177 (3) SGB III).
In practice: an example
A provider with provider approval can still have courses without approval in its range, for example new courses that are still being checked. For funding, it is therefore always the individual course that counts. For the courses in our course finder, both the provider and the course are approved.
How we help you
We clarify with you which funding route fits your situation and look for an approved course in our course finder. All funding routes at a glance are on our funding page, and you can request an appointment here.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between provider approval and course approval?
Provider approval checks the provider as a whole, course approval checks every single course. For funding with an education voucher, both are needed.
How long is provider approval valid?
For a maximum of five years (section 181 (5) in conjunction with section 177 (3) SGB III).
Related terms
Sources
Legal texts and official bodies this article relies on. Links last checked on .
- Section 178 SGB III: Provider approvalFederal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de
- Section 181 SGB III: Approval procedureFederal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de
- Section 177 SGB III: Certification bodyFederal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de
- Accreditation and Approval Ordinance for Employment Promotion (AZAV)Federal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de
Note: This information is for general guidance and is not legal advice. Whether you receive funding is decided in each individual case by the responsible office, for example the employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit), the job centre or the pension insurance. As of 08.11.2026.