What PC-COLLEGE does

PC-COLLEGE Training GmbH is a Berlin-headquartered, privately held IT training provider founded in 1985, operating across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). The company runs 31 physical training centers plus a live-online delivery channel and offers a catalogue of 861 IT courses spanning Microsoft Office, programming languages (Java, Python, C++, PHP), databases (Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server), Adobe creative tools, server and network administration, and SAP/ERP systems. Its distribution model rests on three training formats: open public seminars at fixed dates, customized in-house corporate training (Firmenseminare), and one-on-one individual coaching; an authorized testing-center business for VUE, Certiport, and Kryterion certification exams adds a complementary revenue stream, as does third-party seminar room rental. The company also operates a sub-brand, PC-COLLEGE Professionals, for premium training offerings.

The commercial model is primarily transactional and professional-services based: per-seat pricing on open seminars, negotiated contracts for corporate in-house training, and individualized fees for coaching and room rental. Pricing on sampled courses ranges from roughly €531 (macOS basics) to €2,690 (5-day C# MOC), with most multi-day IT courses clustering in the €1,000–€1,800 net band; all listed prices are net of 19% German VAT. Customers are split between long-tail individual professionals (10,000+ trained annually) and large enterprise accounts such as Airbus, Allianz, BASF, BioNTech, Bosch, Deutsche Telekom, Siemens, and Vattenfall. Authorized partnerships with Microsoft, Google, Autodesk, Cisco, SAP, Adobe, Corel, and others underpin the curriculum, while brand reputation is supported by the Deutscher Bildungs-Award 2025/2026 (1st place in IT & PC Weiterbildung), FOCUS-Business Top-Anbieter 2026, the ITCR 5-star rating (2025 and 2026), and an eKomi Gold Seal at 4.8/5 across 10,603 reviews. Since 1985, the company has trained 233,762+ participants and delivered 97,655 seminars; it is led by Managing Directors Robert Ferstl and Alain B. Barthel and operates as an independent, founder/management-owned business.

Name

PC-COLLEGE

Legal name

PC-COLLEGE Training GmbH

Website

https://pc-college.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PC-COLLEGE Training GmbH is a Berlin-based, privately held IT training provider founded in 1985, delivering 861 courses across 31 DACH locations and via live-online formats to individual professionals and enterprise clients such as Airbus, BASF, and Siemens.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Training Services

NAICS

Computer Training (61142), Computer Training (611420), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications (EDAAANAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Systems Administration & Infrastructure (Windows/Linux) (EDAOAIAE)

Keywords

• IT training services
• Professional development courses
• Corporate training programs
• Certification testing centers
• Live online training

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices32 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Open Seminar Training: Public IT training courses offered at fixed dates across 31 locations or as live-online training. Customers book individual seats or full courses, with pricing per participant. Most courses run from 1-5 days with per-person pricing.
2. Firmenseminare (Corporate/In-house Training): Customized corporate training delivered at customer premises, PC-COLLEGE training centers, or as live-online sessions. Content, dates, and focus areas are tailored to specific company requirements. Pricing negotiated per engagement.
3. Einzelcoaching (Individual Coaching): One-on-one personalized training sessions focused on individual requirements and questions. Content, pace, and focus areas are adapted to personal goals. Can be conducted on-site or online.
4. Room Rental: Modern seminar room rental with technical equipment and IT administrator support for third-party training events.
5. Certification Testing: Authorized testing center for certification exams (VUE, Certiport, Kryterion) where participants can take certification tests after completing training courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

PC-COLLEGE is a private IT training services provider that delivers 861 course topics covering Microsoft Office, programming languages, databases, server administration, networking, cybersecurity, Adobe creative tools, and SAP/ERP systems. Training is delivered through three formats: open public seminars (at 31 physical centers or live-online), customized corporate in-house training, and one-on-one individual coaching, with authorized certification exam testing via VUE, Certiport, and Kryterion.

Product overview

PC-COLLEGE is an IT training services company offering a portfolio of 861 courses across 31 locations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The core offering consists of three main training formats: Open Seminars (public courses with scheduled dates), Corporate Training (customized in-company programs), and Individual Coaching (one-on-one sessions). The company operates authorized testing centers for certification exams (VUE, Certiport, Kryterion, Microsoft). Training is available in-person at training centers or via Live-Online-Training virtual sessions. Course categories span Microsoft Office applications, programming languages (Java, Python, C++), databases (Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server), creative software (Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator), server and network administration (Windows Server, Linux, VMware), and enterprise systems (SAP). PC-COLLEGE also offers room rental services for external events and maintains a content platform via their blog.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open Seminars (Offene Seminare)

Quantifiable outcome

• 233,762+ participants trained
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationPC-COLLEGE is an authorized training partner and testing center for Microsoft technologies, offering certification preparation courses for Microsoft IT Professionals including Windows Server, SQL Server, Office 365, and other Microsoft products.
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Google training partner providing courses related to Google technologies and tools.
• AutodeskcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Autodesk training partner offering AutoCAD, Inventor, and other Autodesk software courses.
• CiscocoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Cisco training partner providing networking and infrastructure certification preparation courses.
• SAPcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized SAP training partner offering SAP S/4HANA and other SAP ERP courses.
• Linux (Various Vendors)coreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Linux training partner providing Linux administration and usage courses.
• cobracoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized cobra CRM training partner offering Cobra Adress PLUS and CRM courses.
• CorelcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Corel training partner offering CorelDraw and other Corel software courses.
• AdobecoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Adobe training partner offering courses for Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, and other Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
• VUEcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized VUE testing center where participants can take certification exams for various technology certifications.
• CertiportcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Certiport testing center for certification exams including Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and other certifications.
• KryterioncoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Kryterion testing center for online certification proctoring services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GFN AG: One of the largest IT training providers in Germany, offering open seminars, corporate training, and certifications across Microsoft, Cisco, SAP, and programming tracks. Closest direct competitor in DACH footprint, vendor-authorized training model, and price point.
• Integrata (Cegos Group): German IT and management training provider, now part of the Cegos Group, with a similar open-seminar plus corporate-training model and a comparable vendor-authorized curriculum across Microsoft, SAP, and project management.
• alfatraining: German vocational IT training provider, particularly strong in government-funded (Bildungsgutschein/AVGS) programs, with a similar mix of open seminars, corporate training, and certification preparation across Microsoft, web development, and CAD topics.
• SoftEd Systems: German IT training and consulting firm focused on software development, Microsoft, and agile methodologies. Competes directly with PC-COLLEGE in the DACH open-seminar and corporate-training segment, particularly for programming and agile courses.
• New Horizons Germany: Global IT training franchise with a German operation; offers Microsoft, Cisco, and Adobe authorized training plus corporate upskilling — directly overlapping PC-COLLEGE's open-seminar catalog and vendor-authorized positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Cegos: International corporate training group with a German arm, offering a broader portfolio that combines IT/tech training with management and soft-skills development. Larger and more diversified than PC-COLLEGE, competing primarily for enterprise training budgets.
• Global Knowledge (Infosys): One of the world's largest IT training companies, now part of Infosys, with deep vendor-authorized training partnerships (AWS, Cisco, Microsoft, Google). Competes with PC-COLLEGE for multinational enterprise training contracts and offers a comparable premium technical certification catalog.

Regional players

• QA (formerly QA Consulting / QA Training): Major UK-based IT training and certification provider with growing European presence. Comparable in vendor-authorized training model, technical certification focus, and B2B corporate training motion, though primarily serving the UK market.
• TAE (Technische Akademie Esslingen): German continuing education provider with strong technical and IT training offerings, primarily serving the southern German market. Comparable open-seminar plus corporate training motion with an industrial and technical focus.

Emerging players

• StackFuel: German online data science and AI training provider serving corporate upskilling. Represents the emerging self-paced, cohort-based online training model that could pressure PC-COLLEGE's live-online pricing for next-generation technical skills.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pccollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/pccollegeseminare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pc-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/pccollege_training
• Facebookfacebook.com/pc.college.berlin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PC-COLLEGE