Editing Beamter (section)

==Becoming a {{lang|de|Beamter}}==
A prospective {{lang|de|Beamter}} must be a national of the Federal Republic of Germany or of a member state of the European Union (although there are now multiple exceptions), and must generally achieve the status by the age of 35.  There are four professional career tracks for {{lang|de|Beamte}}, depending on their education:
* ''{{lang|de|Einfacher Dienst}}'' (simple or lower service), mainly for positions of menial work, which has mostly fallen out of use. Similar to [[enlisted ranks]] excluding non-commissioned officers.
* ''{{lang|de|Mittlerer Dienst}}'' (middle service), mainly for positions requiring roughly the equivalent of a completed apprenticeship. Similar to [[non-commissioned officer]]s.
* ''{{lang|de|Gehobener Dienst}}'' (upper service), mainly for positions requiring a [[bachelor's degree]] or its equivalent. This bachelor's degree is often obtained whilst studying at a public institute of higher education provided, and working as a trainee {{lang|de|Beamter}}. Similar to [[company grade]] or junior field grade officer (who however in many cases obtain a master's degree before taking up a troop post).
* ''{{lang|de|Höherer Dienst}}'' (senior service), restricted to graduates holding a [[master's degree]] or its equivalent. Similar to military officers of rank [[Major (rank)|major]] and above, and to all judges.

Transition from a lower to a more senior career track is possible (so-called ''Laufbahnaufstieg'', "career track enhancement").

Teachers of [[Education in Germany|primary and II and III class secondary schools]] have a position unofficially between upper and senior service (to which latter the [[Gymnasium (Germany)|I class secondary school]] teachers belong, as they begin their service in the highest pay grade of upper service and can by promotion reach senior service (yet in the case of primary teachers, promotion is practically restricted to the principal).

Conferral of the status of {{lang|de|Beamter}} does not involve any contract, but formal letters of appointment (''{{lang|de|Ernennungsurkunde}}''). The new {{lang|de|Beamter's}} first task is to swear his oath of office, including a pledge to uphold and protect the federal laws and the constitution (''{{lang|de|[[Grundgesetz]]}}''), and – where the employing entity is not the federal government – the constitution and laws of the respective state. Additionally, new Beamte have to table a medical supervision screening in order to prove their physical (and to some extent psychological) ability to serve in this type of fixed, decades-long career. Furthermore, they are subject to a prior screening by the police and judiciary - in order to exclude perpetrators, extremists, and false play.

There are typically three steps involved in becoming a {{lang|de|Beamter}} with full tenure for life:
# For all four career tracks (lower, middle, upper and senior civil service) there are specially-designed training schemes lasting one year (lower service), two years (middle service) or three years (senior and upper service), including oral and written exams as well as a dissertation. There are exceptions for highly technical tasks. Trainee {{lang|de|Beamte}} usually have the title ''{{lang|de|Anwärter}}'', preceded by the official term of the position, e.g. ''{{lang|de|Regierungssekretärsanwärter (RSA)}}'' (Trainee Government Secretary) or ''{{lang|de|Kriminalkommissaranwärter (KKA)}}'' (Trainee Detective Inspector). Trainee officials of the senior service are called ''{{lang|de|Referendare}}'', e.g. ''{{lang|de|Studienreferendar}}'' for a trainee teacher.  They receive a special salary and hold the legal status of {{lang|de|Beamter}}, albeit without tenure for life.
# The trainee period is followed by a probationary period. This period usually lasts three years, occasionally longer. The salary is based on the salary grade which the {{lang|de|Beamter}} will hold upon achieving tenure for life.  Usually, the designation of office precedes the abbreviation "z. A." (''{{lang|de|zur Anstellung}}''), which means "to be employed", e.g. ''{{lang|de|Regierungsinspektor z. A.}}'' Again, there is an exception with regard to the senior service, where probationary {{lang|de|Beamte}} may be called ''{{lang|de|Rat z. A.}}'' (e.g. ''[[Studienrat]] z. A., {{lang|de|Regierungsrat z. A.}}''), or, alternatively, ''{{lang|de|Assessor}}'', although this is now less common. 
# The official becomes a ''{{lang|de|Beamter auf Lebenszeit}}'', i.e. a {{lang|de|Beamter}} with full tenure for life. 
It should be borne in mind that, whether applicants undergo steps 1, 2, or 3, they are already hold the status of {{lang|de|Beamter}}, although initially in training or on probation. It is also important to know, that normally it is impossible to become a {{lang|de|Beamter}} after the age of 45.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.fachanwalt.de/ratgeber/vorsicht-bei-antraegen-auf-verbeamtung |access-date= 2018-09-29 |location=Hannover |title=Vorsicht bei Anträgen auf Verbeamtung }}</ref>