In 2004, the support of continuing education was reformed with the aim of improving competition and transparency in the area of vocational continuing education as promoted by the Federal Employment Agency. Certification of the maintaining body of a continuing education measure or of the continuing education course by an expert body is a prerequisite before participants can obtain support in accordance with the Social Security Code III (Sozialgesetzbuch III – R163). Amongst other things, organisers of continuing education must prove that they apply a recognised quality assurance system.