You don't have a job right now, or you still have one, and you've heard about free coaching with an AVGS voucher. The first question most people ask is: do I have to be unemployed to get it? And do I have to be registered somewhere?
Short answer: you don't have to be unemployed, but you do have to be registered. The AVGS is issued by the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter, so they need to know you. Many people who still have a job can register and get a voucher, and the coaching then runs alongside their job (berufsbegleitend).
Do I have to be unemployed to get an AVGS?
No. The AVGS (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein) is based on § 45 SGB III. The law names three groups who can be supported:
people looking for an apprenticeship
people threatened by unemployment who are looking for work (von Arbeitslosigkeit bedrohte Arbeitsuchende)
the unemployed
The middle group is the important one: you can still be employed and get a voucher, as long as your job is at risk or ending. The same paragraph also lists "Stabilisierung einer Beschäftigungsaufnahme" as a goal: coaching to help you keep a job you have just started.
Do I have to be registered?
Yes. Without any registration at the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter, there is no AVGS, because there is no one to issue it. But "registered" doesn't have to mean "unemployed". There are three ways to be in the system:
Registered as job-seeking (arbeitsuchend gemeldet) at the Agentur für Arbeit. You can do this while you still work, for example after a termination notice or when your fixed-term contract ends.
Registered as unemployed (arbeitslos gemeldet) at the Agentur für Arbeit, usually with Arbeitslosengeld I.
A client of the Jobcenter, for example because you receive Bürgergeld / Grundsicherungsgeld, including as a top-up to a low salary.
Registering as job-seeking alone is not always enough. The Agentur also checks whether you are at risk of becoming unemployed. And the AVGS is a discretionary benefit: the law says the Agentur or Jobcenter can fund it. Your caseworker decides, so it helps to explain your situation clearly.
Quick check: you probably qualify if…
you received a termination notice, or your fixed-term contract won't be renewed
you're on Arbeitslosengeld I or Bürgergeld / Grundsicherungsgeld
you started a new job after a period of unemployment and want to pass your probation period
you work and receive a Bürgergeld top-up from the Jobcenter
you work a few hours (for example a Minijob up to €603 a month in 2026) while registered as unemployed
You probably don't qualify if your job is stable and not at risk, or you're self-employed and not registered anywhere. In that case, look at other options: many employers have a learning and development budget for coaching (see our guide to using your L&D budget), and if you run a business, the BAFA subsidy can cover part of your consulting costs (see our business funding service).
Not registered yet? How to register as job-seeking
Register online at the Agentur für Arbeit (arbeitsagentur.de) or in person. You need your ID or residence permit and, if you have them, your employment contract and termination letter.
Do it on time. If your job is ending, register at least three months before your last working day, or within three days of finding out if you learn about it later. Registering late can cost you part of your Arbeitslosengeld.
Wait for your first appointment with a caseworker. That's where you ask for the AVGS.
If you receive Bürgergeld / Grundsicherungsgeld, you are already a Jobcenter client. Ask your caseworker directly.
Coaching alongside your job (berufsbegleitend)
If you still work, the coaching is built around the job you have now, not just around applications. Typical topics:
Passing your probation period (Probezeit): what your manager expects, how feedback works in German companies, and how to make your results visible.
Workplace communication: talking with your manager, colleagues and clients, especially if German is not your first language.
German workplace culture: direct feedback, meetings, hierarchy, works councils (Betriebsrat) and unwritten rules.
Stress and workload: time management, setting boundaries and avoiding burnout in a new role.
If your job is at risk: reading your contract and notice period, planning the next step and running a job search in parallel.
Growing in your role: preparing for a performance review, a salary talk or an internal move.
Sessions take place online and are scheduled around your working hours, so you don't need to take time off.
How to ask for the voucher, step by step
Register (see above) or talk to your Jobcenter caseworker.
Choose a coach who is AZAV-certified. Ask for a short description of the programme you can show your caseworker.
Ask for the AVGS in your appointment or by message. You can use this sentence: "Ich möchte ein Coaching nach § 45 SGB III mit einem Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein machen, um meine berufliche Situation zu stabilisieren."
Get the voucher before you start. Coaching that starts before the voucher is issued is not covered.
Send the voucher to your coach, who books your sessions and handles the billing with the Agentur or Jobcenter.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an AVGS without registering at the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter?
No. The voucher is issued by one of them, so you need to be registered as job-seeking, as unemployed, or be a Jobcenter client.
Can I get an AVGS while I still have a job?
Yes, if your job is ending or at risk, if you just started a job after unemployment, or if you receive a Bürgergeld top-up. Register as job-seeking first.
Does my employer find out?
No. The voucher is between you, the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter, and your coach. Your employer is not involved.
How many hours of coaching do I get, and can sessions be in the evening?
The number of hours is written on your voucher and agreed with your caseworker. With us, sessions are online and planned around your working hours, so evenings are possible.
Can I do the coaching in English?
Yes. At Rizing we coach in English, German and Mandarin.
I'm in my probation period and worried. Is that enough?
Worry alone is not a legal criterion. What counts is your status: recently out of unemployment, job ending, or receiving Bürgergeld / Grundsicherungsgeld. If one of these applies, ask. If not, ask your employer to fund coaching.
I'm self-employed or want to start a business. Can I get an AVGS?
Only if you are registered at the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter, for example while on Arbeitslosengeld I before you start. Then AVGS founder coaching can be free for you. See our AVGS founder coaching.
What if my caseworker says no?
Ask for the reason in writing and which conditions you would need to meet. You can also bring a programme description from your coach to the next appointment. We help our clients prepare for this conversation.
Free office hour: from AVGS coaching to funding your business
Thinking about starting your own business? Join our free office hour in English. We explain AVGS founder coaching, the Gründungszuschuss, bank loans and other funding, and then answer your questions. See the dates and save your free spot
Talk to us
Not sure whether you qualify? Book a free call. We'll look at your situation, tell you honestly if a voucher is realistic, and help you ask for it.
Learn more about our AVGS job coaching · Read: What is an AVGS voucher?
This article gives general information, not legal advice. Your Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter decides on each voucher.