Akademie für Gesundheits- und Sozialberufe (AGS)

What Akademie für Gesundheits- und Sozialberufe (AGS) does

Akademie für Gesundheits- und Sozialberufe (AGS) is a state-recognized vocational training provider for healthcare and social professions, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the non-profit Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Holstein GmbH. Founded in 1987 and headquartered within a parent group established in 1967, AGS delivers full-time vocational training programs (typically three years) in nursing (Pflegefachleute), occupational therapy (Ergotherapie), podiatry (Podologie), and one-year programs in elderly care assistance, alongside shorter continuing-education qualifications for care workers, school assistants, and healthcare managers. The organization also runs publicly-funded retraining and reintegration programs (aufBAU, Job-Ahoi, MöWe) for unemployed adults aged 25+, financed through the European Social Fund, the Schleswig-Holstein Landesprogramm Arbeit, and local job centers.

AGS operates three campuses in Schleswig-Holstein — Itzehoe (nursing and elderly care), Bad Segeberg (ergotherapy), and Lübeck (ergotherapy and podology) — plus a historical training presence in Kiel. The business model is dominated by public funding: most core training is tuition-free for eligible students under Landesförderung Schleswig-Holstein (state tuition exemption) and ESF/job-center subsidies, with only continuing-education courses and IHK-certified qualifications (Fachwirt im Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen, Kaufleute im Gesundheitswesen) representing direct paid revenue. AGS holds AZAV accreditation for employment promotion programs and ISO 27001 certification, and is party to international mobility programs under Erasmus+ as well as a dual-study partnership with Fachhochschule Kiel.

AGS reaches prospective students through free in-person information events (Infoveranstaltungen) at each campus, supplemented by an institutional website, Facebook and Instagram channels, regular press releases, and a centralized career portal. Its core technology is a Moodle-based learning management system (moodle.wak-sh.de); no proprietary software, mobile apps, or AI capabilities are evidenced. AGS functions less as a scaling commercial enterprise and more as a publicly-supported regional education utility addressing the healthcare workforce shortage in Schleswig-Holstein.

Name

Akademie für Gesundheits- und Sozialberufe (AGS)

Legal name

Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Holstein GmbH

Website

https://ags-sh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AGS is a state-recognized vocational school in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, training nursing, ergotherapy, podology, and care professionals across campuses in Itzehoe, Bad Segeberg, and Lübeck, serving career changers, unemployed adults, and healthcare workers seeking state-recognized qualifications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Healthcare Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Wellness & Resilience Education (Non-clinical) (EDAAAHAK)

Keywords

• Healthcare vocational training
• Nursing education programs
• Occupational therapy training
• Podiatry vocational school
• Healthcare continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State-Funded Training Programs: AGS offers numerous training programs that are fully funded or subsidized by the German state (Landesförderung Schleswig-Holstein), including school fee exemptions for eligible students in health professions training. The school-geld Befreiung (tuition exemption) program covers full-time training for nursing and therapeutic professions.
2. ESF-Funded Programs: Several retraining and reintegration programs (such as 'aufBAU' and 'Neustart') are funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), the Landesprogramm Arbeit, and local job centers, enabling free participation for unemployed adults aged 25+.
3. Fee-Based Continuing Education: Professional development courses such as Betreuungskraft qualification, Fachwirt im Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen (IHK), and business startup training are offered, with costs potentially covered by Bildungsgutschein (education vouchers) or employer sponsorship.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AGS provides state-recognised vocational training and continuing education for health and social professions at three campus locations in Schleswig-Holstein. Core programs are three-year trainings for nursing care professionals (Pflegefachleute) and ergotherapists, a 2.5-year podology (podiatry) program, and shorter qualifications for care workers, school assistants, and nursing assistants, supplemented by IHK-certified further education and ESF-funded reintegration projects for unemployed adults.

Product overview

AGS operates as a network of state-recognized health professional schools offering vocational training and continuing education programs in healthcare and social professions. The core portfolio includes state-certified training programs in nursing care (Pflegefachleute, Altenpflegehelfer/in), therapeutic professions (Ergotherapie, Podologie), and care support roles (Betreuungskräfte, Schulbegleiter/in, Pflegeassistenz). These are supplemented by IHK-certified further education programs for healthcare managers and specialists (Fachwirte, Kaufleute). AGS also delivers publicly-funded reintegration projects (aufBAU, Job-Ahoi, MöWe) and entrepreneurship training camps. All programs are delivered at multiple regional locations (Itzehoe, Bad Segeberg, Lübeck) under the umbrella of the parent organization Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Holstein.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pflegefachleute (Nursing Care Professionals) State-recognised three-year full-time training program preparing students for the state examination as qualified nursing care professionals. Offered at the Itzehoe campus, combining theoretical instruction with practical training. Targets school-leavers and career changers seeking a formal nursing qualification.
• Altenpflegehelfer/in (Elderly Care Assistants) State-recognised one-year training program for elderly care assistants combining theoretical instruction with practical components in nursing facilities. Targets individuals seeking a shorter pathway into elderly care.
• Ergotherapie (Occupational Therapy) Three-year full-time state-recognised training program for occupational therapists, offered at locations in Lübeck and Bad Segeberg. Training includes theoretical instruction and practical experience in occupational therapy and medical practices. Targets students seeking qualification as Ergotherapeut/in.
• Podologie (Podiatry) Two-and-a-half-year full-time state-recognised training program for podologists, offered at the Lübeck campus. Includes 2,000 hours of theoretical instruction and 1,000 hours of practical training in podiatry and medical practices. Targets students seeking qualification as Podologe/Podologin.
• Betreuungskräfte (Care Workers) Qualification program for care workers under §87b SGB XI for stationary care or §45a for ambulatory care, including 160 instruction hours and an 80-hour internship. Targets individuals seeking entry into care work or upskilling existing care staff.
• Schulbegleiter/in (School Assistants) Part-time qualification program under §35a SGB VIII and §54 SGB XII for school assistants who support children and youth with physical, intellectual, or emotional impairments in school settings, including a 14-day internship. Targets individuals seeking entry into educational support work.
• Pflegeassistenz (Nursing Assistants) - PaBeK Qualification program for nursing assistants under §53b SGB XI preparing for supportive care and supply activities for care-dependent persons in ambulatory or stationary facilities. Targets individuals seeking an entry-level care role.
• Fachwirte im Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen (Healthcare and Social Services Specialists) IHK-certified further education program covering business administration topics including controlling, financing, quality management, legal frameworks, marketing, and personnel management. Targets healthcare and social-services professionals seeking management qualifications.
• Kaufleute im Gesundheitswesen (Healthcare Managers) IHK-certified retraining program combining commercial and health-specific qualifications, including topics like personnel management, accounting, marketing, quality management, and medical documentation. Targets individuals seeking a commercial career path inside the healthcare sector.
• Gründungscamp (Startup Camp) Three-week training program for entrepreneurship and self-employment, funded by ESF and Landesprogramm Arbeit, helping unemployed individuals start their own businesses. Targets aspiring entrepreneurs who are unemployed and eligible for public funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free school fee training available for eligible students through state subsidies (Schulgeldbefreiung des Landes Schleswig-Holstein)
• +1 more outcomes

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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Holstein GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004AGS is a wholly-owned subsidiary (Tochterunternehmen) of the Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Holstein GmbH, a non-profit education provider established in 1967 as an association and converted to gGmbH form in 2004. The parent organization operates the corporate group (Unternehmensverbund) including Kleemannschulen, JobB GmbH, Service-Gesellschaft der Wirtschaftsakademie (SGW), DHSH, and IAF. AGS benefits from shared campus infrastructure, administrative services, and cross-brand program coordination.
• Klinikum ItzehoeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for practical training (praktische Ausbildung) of physiotherapy students. The clinic provides clinical placement opportunities and also hosted refugee medical documentation support by AGS physiotherapy students.
• Regional Healthcare Employers (Ausbildende Pflegebetriebe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGS coordinates with regional nursing homes, home care services, and healthcare facilities across Schleswig-Holstein to provide practical training placements for nursing, ergotherapy, and podology students as part of their state-recognized qualifications.
• Gerontopsychiatrische Senioreneinrichtung (GPS) ItzehoeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialized care facility at Langer Peter 29a in Itzehoe providing practical training placements for AGS nursing students, including specialized training in Chorea Huntington care. Hosts international exchange students from Denmark.
• European Commission / Erasmus+ ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGS participates in Erasmus+ funded mobility projects enabling international exchanges for nursing students and staff to Denmark, Poland, and Latvia, with study visits to institutions such as Social- og Sundhedsskolen in Fredericia, Denmark and medical schools in Gdańsk, Poland.
• DRK-Schwesternschaft Ostpreußen / ItzehoeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for joint projects such as the 'Jahreszeiten im Wandel' art project bringing together nursing students, children from kindergartens, and care recipients in intergenerational activities.
• Fachhochschule Kiel (University of Applied Sciences Kiel)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership enabling AGS physiotherapy students to combine their vocational training with a dual study program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree from the Fachhochschule Kiel.
• JobB GmbH - Junge Menschen in offener beruflicher BildungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company within the Wirtschaftsakademie group providing youth employment support and vocational preparation programs. JobB operates at locations including Oldenburg, Lensahn, Eutin, and Neustadt, offering placement opportunities and collaborative programs with AGS.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• maxQ. im bfw: Subsidiary of bfw (Unternehmensgruppe Bildung und Wirtschaft) operating vocational schools in healthcare and social professions nationwide. Comparable to AGS in program offering (Pflege, Therapie, Assistenz), funding model (ESF/Jobcenter/Bildungsgutschein), and target student segments.
• SRH Berufsfachschulen: Private education group (SRH Holding) operating state-recognized vocational schools in nursing, therapy, and social professions, often in cooperation with regional clinics. Comparable program mix and state-recognized credentials; considerably larger group structure.
• IBB Institut für Berufliche Bildung: Nationwide commercial vocational retraining provider with state-funded health and social programs, including Pflege and therapy tracks. Comparable in use of Bildungsgutschein and Jobcenter funding for retraining adult learners.
• WBS TRAINING AG: Private vocational school and retraining group with programs in healthcare and social professions alongside commercial training. Comparable to AGS in serving career-changers and unemployed adults via AZAV-certified retraining and IHK certifications.
• Caritas Bildungswerk: Welfare-association education arm of Caritas offering Pflege, Altenpflege, and therapy vocational training across Germany. Comparable in program portfolio and target learner segments; differs in welfare-association ownership rather than commercial/non-profit GmbH structure.
• DAA Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie: Large nationwide vocational education and retraining provider with extensive state-funded health/social programs, including Pflege and therapy retraining. Comparable in its use of public funding (AZAV, ESF, Jobcenter) and adult learner target segments.
• Ludwig Fresenius Schulen: One of Germany's largest private operators of state-recognized vocational schools in nursing, therapy, and social professions, with a national multi-campus footprint. Directly comparable to AGS in program mix (Pflege, Ergotherapie, Podologie) and target cohort, but at substantially greater scale.
• Diakonie Bildungswerk: Protestant welfare-affiliated education provider for healthcare, nursing, and social professions. Comparable in mission-aligned training delivery and reliance on regional clinical partners for practical training.
• DRK-Schwesternschaften (German Red Cross nursing schools): Network of Red Cross-affiliated state-recognized nursing schools (Pflegeschulen) operating across Germany. Directly comparable to AGS's Altenpflegeschule in Itzehoe in scope, target cohort, and state-recognized credentials.

Broad incumbents

• DEKRA Akademie: Large commercial vocational retraining and education incumbent with state-funded health/social programs alongside broader technical and commercial training. Comparable in public-funded retraining delivery but offers a much wider, multi-sector portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AGS_SH
• Facebookfacebook.com/AkademieGesundheit
• Instagraminstagram.com/ags_schleswigholstein
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akademie-f%C3%BCr-gesundheits--und-sozialberufe-ags-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Akademie für Gesundheits- und Sozialberufe (AGS)