Most vocational training programmes do not require a specific school qualification. The Abitur is a school qualification that will generally open up very good opportunities at companies that provide training. A vocational training programme lasts between two and three and a half years, but usually three years. There are two types of vocational training in Germany:
Dual training
In a dual training programme, you gain practical experience at a company. As a plant mechanic, for example, you work with new technologies and you will be able to build, maintain or repair a solar plant independently after your training. In a training programme to become a wholesale and export sales specialist, for example, you learn how goods are produced, purchased, transported or sold around the world. Language skills that you bring with you from your native language are an advantage here. You are taught the theory relating to your occupation at a vocational college – for example mathematics, English, economics or law.
In some training programmes, you work at the company for three days a week and go to the vocational college on the other two days. In other training programmes, you alternate between several weeks at the company and several weeks at the vocational college. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, you may be working partly or entirely from home and taking part in classes at the vocational college virtually. This particularly applies to training programmes that involve you working at a computer. This is not possible in training for skilled trades, for example, where a heating system has to be repaired at a customer’s house. Of course, the applicable hygiene measures and safety precautions must always be observed everywhere.
In Germany, there are around 330 dual training occupations. Because you are working in a company, you receive training pay that increases with every year of your training. In 2020, trainees in Germany earned an average of 963 euros per month.
Tip
You can catch up on your Abitur during your training, for example in a dual training programme in a skilled trade. This is known as a “BerufsAbitur”. Further information is available here: zdh.de/fachbereiche/bildung/berufsabitur
College-based training
College-based training programmes primarily take place at vocational colleges. Here too, classes are predominantly being held virtually due to coronavirus. Typical occupations with college-based training include a registered nurse, an occupational therapist, a nursery school teacher, a medical technical assistant or a foreign language correspondent. You get work experience mainly through internships. You do not generally receive any money for your training. At private vocational colleges, you will even be charged a fee. You can work part-time to fund your training or your family can support you. Or you can check whether you can get funding from the German state, for example via the BAföG (education grant) for schoolchildren.
Training programmes generally start on 1st August or 1st September, sometimes also on 1st February or 1st April. You should apply early, usually one to one and a half years in advance. For example, if you want a training place as a bank clerk in September 2022, you should send your application to banks in April 2021. At other companies, you can still get a place if you apply a few months or weeks in advance. You should also apply atleast a year before the start of a training programme at a vocational college.
Tip
To prepare for a training programme, you can take part in a career orientation and preparation course (BOF course). These last between 13 and 26 weeks. On so-called workshop days, you can get practical experience of various occupations, enabling you to ultimately choose an occupation. Due to coronavirus, the BOF courses are partly taking place online.
Info
You can find further information on the various types of training in Germany in this article: Ausbildungswege für Abiturienten (Training pathways for high school graduates).
