The preparatory course for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education (FPE) Process Specialist prepares prospective specialists for work in companies involved in parts and product process development, manufacturing, procurement and maintenance. There they are responsible for the partial optimization and adjustment of control loops and processes, collaboration in project and work teams and the presentation of results and solution approaches; the systematic solution of problems in day-to-day business; the analysis of processes and control loops as well as their solution development, evaluation, implementation and application. Process specialists with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education apply tools and methods appropriately in every situation, instruct employees and acquire independent knowledge as required.

To be admitted to the final examination for Process Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education, you must have completed the following modules during your training: Mathematics and technical statistics; work methodology and systematics; contract and general law; marketing, sales and customer service; operating resources and maintenance; business management and personnel management; product development and maintenance; quality and environmental management; time management and product cost accounting; materials management and production logistics; work design and production planning; production planning and control.

The following process specialist subjects are covered in a training course in preparation for the specialist certificate:

• Planning new processes
• Introducing new processes
• Steering processes
• Optimizing existing processes
• Communicating with internal function holders

At least five years of professional experience are required for continuing education, further training as a process specialist, two years of which must be in the process specialist's field of work for persons with a Matura or equivalent qualification. Persons with a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (VET) require at least six years of professional experience, whereby the duration of the vocational education and training is counted towards the practical activity. A vocational certificate or other prior vocational training requires at least 8 years of professional experience, including 2 years in industrial production.

The process specialist training for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education usually takes three to four semesters while working. The training institutes will provide information on the exact duration. Those who pass the Federal Professional Examination are awarded the federal certificate and protected designations.

The process specialist training concludes with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education and is therefore federally recognized. The training is part of higher vocational training and is not part of higher education (UAS, UTE, university). Afterwards, there is the option of completing an Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) as a logistics manager or maintenance manager or studying process technology or mechanical engineering at a College of Higher Education.

Training as a process specialist earns prospective process specialists an internal school certificate and, if they pass the federal professional examination (BP), the title "Process specialist with federal certificate".

After the professional examination, the following process specialist training courses are recommended:

• Courses at vocational and technical schools and professional associations
• Higher professional examination (HFP) as certified logistics manager, certified maintenance manager
• Higher technical college as certified technician HF business processes or certified technician HF mechanical engineering
• Degree courses in related subjects at universities of applied sciences such as systems engineering, mechanical engineering or business administration