Sachkundeprüfung under § 34a GewO

The Sachkundeprüfung under § 34a Gewerbeordnung (GewO) is the proof of qualification that is mandatory for certain security activities in Germany. It is taken before an Industrie- und Handelskammer (IHK), a chamber of industry and commerce, and comprises a written and an oral part.

It must be distinguished from the basic Unterrichtung (40 hours): For basic activities such as site guarding, the Unterrichtung is sufficient. For activities involving direct contact with the public, the Sachkundeprüfung is mandatory, particularly:

• Patrols in public areas (city patrol),
• Protection against shoplifters (store detective),
• Admission controls in hospitality businesses (door supervision).

The employer must verify the qualification and record it in the Bewacherregister. If a guard without the required Sachkunde is scheduled, serious consequences may follow.

In practice, this means: Qualifications and expiry dates must be recorded completely, and an assignment should not be possible if the required qualification is missing.