Training for ÖSD Examiners and Assessors

1. Requirements profile for the training of ÖSD examiners

To successfully register for the training, you must fulfil the requirements profile for ÖSD examiners, which includes excellent language skills, relevant professional education and extensive teaching experience among other requirements. Only with qualified and appropriately trained examiners, the ÖSD exams can be conducted correctly and fairly.

Below you will find detailed information on the requirements’ profile and the prerequisites for admission to the respective training modules.

1.) Language Skills

Excellent knowledge of German is a prerequisite for working as an ÖSD examiner. If German is not your first language, the language skills must be proven by means of a relevant proof of language skills:

• for training for the ÖSD exams at levels A1–B1: proof of language skills at level C1 with very good results in all skills (reading, listening, writing, speaking)
• for training for the ÖSD exams at levels B2–C2: proof of language skills at level C2 with very good results in all skills (reading, listening, writing, speaking)

Both ÖSD certificates and comparable internationally recognised certificates, such as those issued by the Goethe-Institut or telc, are accepted as proof of German language proficiency. However, all language certificates should be no more than three years old.

2.) Studies and training

To acquire an ÖSD examiner licence, you must have a relevant degree or other subject-specific training.

This can be a degree in German (or a degree in German as a Foreign and Second Language – DaF/DaZ), a degree in a modern foreign language, linguistics or translation studies or a comparable field of study with a focus on foreign language didactics.

Alternatively, completed training for teaching German as a foreign/second language is also recognised, e.g., corresponding offers at universities and teacher training colleges or comprehensive certificate courses from recognised educational institutions. (approx. 230 teaching units).

3.) Relevant teaching experience

In addition, you also must prove extensive teaching experience in the field of DaF/DaZ. If you have a relevant degree, you must provide proof of teaching experience of at least 450 teaching units of 45 minutes each. In the case of a shorter DaF/DaZ training course, teaching experience of at least 1500 teaching units of 45 minutes is required.

4.) Additional requirements

• Profound knowledge of the level descriptions of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR, 2001) and its companion volume (2021)
• Knowledge of Profile deutsch (2005)
• High social skills (friendly and appreciative interaction with exam participants, empathy, teamwork, resilience, etc.)

The ÖSD reserves the right to decide on the submitted requirements and admission to the training modules individually and at its own discretion.

2. Your path from application to examiner or assessor certificate

Application for admission for the ÖSD examiner training (Examiner and assessor training)

If you are interested in an ÖSD examiner training, please apply through the e-mail address zulassung.schulung@osd.at, as to receive admission for participating in the ÖSD examiner training.

Please note that the requirements profile for the training of ÖSD examiners must be fully met, in order to apply for admission for the ÖSD examiner training (see Requirements profile for the training of ÖSD examiners)

Application process:

The application for admission should be submitted via e-mail to zulassung.schulung@osd.at. The following documents need to be attached:

• all documents and certificates named in the requirements profile
• a curriculum vitae (in German language)
• a copy of the applicant’s passport or identity card

Furthermore, it must be indicated

• which exam parts the applicant wants to apply for (oral only or oral and written) for which language level (A1, A2, B1, etc.) the application is submitted.
• whether the application is submitted within the context of an examination centre, or as a private individual

The ÖSD headquarters decides whether the submitted qualifications meet the requirements. A refusal is possible.

After reviewing the documents, the ÖSD licensing department informs the applicants whether, and for which exam or exam component, they are granted admission to the examiner training. Once admission to the training has been granted, you will receive a notification informing you about all further steps regarding registration. The training dates can be found in the overview below.

ÖSD training phases for ÖSD examiners (examiner and assessor training)

For each ÖSD exam there is a training module for the execution and evaluation of
a) the written and b) the oral exam.
The training for ÖSD examiners consists of three “phases” per training module. The so-called pre-qualification refers to the applicant’s independent preparation, followed by the presence phase online. You then have two months to submit the initial qualification, in which two performance examples must be evaluated.

• 1.) Pre-Qualification (asynchronous self-learning phase)

You will receive an invitation to process the pre-qualification documents in good time before the training day. As part of this, you are expected to familiarize yourself with the relevant exams of the ÖSD and evaluate and assess them independently and individually. Extensive preparatory materials and learning videos are available to you on an online platform, which you can work on anytime and anywhere.

You should plan enough time for the pre-qualification (approx. 3–4 hours per examination module, i.e., approx. 6–8 hours if you register for training for the written and oral examination module).

The positive and timely completion of the pre-qualification is a prerequisite for participation in the training.

• 2.) Training (synchronous phase in the group)

The synchronous face-to-face phase of our training courses usually takes place online, but can also take place analogously, i.e., take place in direct presence. The individual training modules (written or oral) usually take about 3 hours, so the examiner training for the written and oral exam takes one day per exam format.

In this synchronous presence phase, the content conveyed in the learning videos and other materials provided will be briefly repeated, after which you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Subsequently, the assessments of the written and oral performances that were processed as part of the pre-qualification are discussed. All participants will receive a detailed training program by email approx. 2 days before the training date.

• 3.) Initial Qualification (submission of trial assessments)

After the training, you have two months to complete the initial qualification. To do this, you must evaluate two specified written or oral examinations for the respective module. If your test assessment corresponds to the ÖSD guidelines, an ÖSD examiner licence for this examination module will be granted. Finally, you will also receive a corresponding certificate that shows your individual examiner number as well as the module of exams that you can now give and evaluate. Please note that at least three weeks must be scheduled between the submission of the documents for the initial qualification and any assignment as an ÖSD examiner, if applicable.

ÖSD examiner licences are valid for three years from the date of issue. The period of validity is noted on the licence. After the period of validity has expired, the examiner licence can be prolonged for another three years. The precondition for this is the successful completion of the follow-up qualification (for more information please see 3. Renewal of the ÖSD Examiner Licence / Follow-up Qualification). If a certificate is not issued or prolonged, another training needs to be accomplished.

How long does the online training take?

To acquire examiner licences for the following examination modules, in addition to the pre-qualification and the initial qualification, a half day of training in the form of a synchronous online attendance phase is required:

How many participants are required per training module?

The training courses only take place if there are at least four participants.

What costs are incurred for the training to become an ÖSD examiner?

A fee of 50 euros is charged per module (Written exam module / Oral exam module). The additional training course ZB2 PMB costs 30 euros per module and can only be taken together with a ZB2 training course or a valid ZB2 examiner or assessor authorisation.

Upcoming training dates

All training sessions are held online.
The times shown refer to the Central European Time Zone (CET).

Further information:

• Registration for the training is subject to approval.
• Participation in a training course does not automatically result in the examiner certificate being awarded.
• The ÖSD examiner’s certificate will only be issued if all phases of training (pre-qualification, training and initial qualification) are successfully completed.
• A minimum period of 3–4 weeks must be allowed between the time of application and the respective training date.
• Please note that participation in our training courses is limited and that early registration does not guarantee a place in the chosen course.
• Registration for the training is only binding, once you have received confirmation by e-mail from the training department.

If you have any questions regarding the training, please contact schulung@osd.at. We will be pleased to provide you with additional assistance!
If you have any specific questions with regards to our digital ÖSD exams, you can find further information here.

3. Renewal of the ÖSD examiner licence (examiner and assessor training): Follow-up qualification

ÖSD examiner licences are valid for three years from the date of issue. The period of validity is noted on the licence. After the period of validity has expired, you have to prolong the examiner licence through the so-called follow-up qualification, to remain authorized to examine and evaluate the respective exam format in written or oral form.

Therefore, an authentic examination performance needs to be evaluated for each exam format and module. If your evaluation corresponds to the ÖSD-standards, the respective examiner’s licence will be prolonged for another three years. If the follow-up qualification has not been submitted or has not been completed successfully, the respective examiner’s licence expires. If a renewal of the licence is endeavoured (e.g. even after a long period without a valid examiner licence), the ÖSD decides individually whether only the follow-up qualification is required, or if the entire training process needs to be repeated.

If you have any questions regarding the training, please contact folgequalifizierung@osd.at. We will be pleased to provide you with additional assistance!