Most vocational training courses do not require a specific school-leaving certificate. With the Abitur, however, you have a school-leaving certificate which generally gives you very good chances in companies that offer apprenticeships.
An apprenticeship takes between two and three and a half years, but usually three years. There are two types of apprenticeship in Germany:
Dual apprenticeship
In a dual apprenticeship, you gain practical experience of working at a company. As a systems mechanic, for example, you work with new technology and are able to make, maintain or repair a solar thermal system unsupervised after your apprenticeship. In an apprenticeship as a merchant for wholesale and export management, for example, you learn how goods are made, bought, transported and sold all over the world. In this context, your native language skills are also a plus. You study for the theory side of your occupation at vocational college – for example, maths, English, economics and law.
In some apprenticeships, you spend three days a week working at your training company and go to vocational college on the other two days. In other apprenticeships, you alternate between spending several weeks at your training company and several weeks at vocational college. Approximately 330 professions are offered in Germany for dual apprenticeship. For your work at your training company, you are paid a training allowance which increases each year of your apprenticeship. In 2022, apprentices in Germany were paid an average gross amount of 1,028 euros per month.
Tip
During your apprenticeship, it is also possible to study for your Abitur – on a dual apprenticeship for a craftsmanship trade, for example. This is known as the “BerufsAbitur”. Further information is available (in German) at these links:
www.abi.de/ausbildung/ausbildungswege/ausbildung-und-berufsabitur-faq
www.zdh.de/fachbereiche/bildung/berufsabitur
College-based apprenticeship
College-based apprenticeships are generally offered at vocational colleges. Typical occupations that it is possible to learn in a college-based apprenticeship include carer, occupational therapist, kindergarten teacher, medical technician and foreign language correspondent. During a college-based apprenticeship, you gain work experience by completing an internship.
In some college-based apprenticeships, such as the caring occupations, you are paid a monthly wage, in most cases you aren’t though. If you study at a private vocational college, you will be required to pay fees. To fund your college-based apprenticeship, you can find a part-time job or receive support from your family. Or you can check whether you are eligible for a government grant, through the BAföG scheme for students, for example.
Starting your apprenticeship: Apply in good time!
Dual and college-based apprenticeships usually start on 1st August or 1st September, but sometimes on 1st February or 1st April. You should apply early, generally one to one and a half years in advance. For example, if you would like to start an apprenticeship as a bank clerk in September 2024, you should send your application to the banks that offer apprenticeships in April 2023. You should also apply for apprenticeship at a vocational training college at least one year before you are due to start.
Sometimes companies also offer apprenticeships at short notice, i.e. a few months or weeks before the start date. If you haven’t yet found an apprenticeship, it is therefore worth asking the training companies again before the apprenticeships are due to start.
Tip
To prepare for an apprenticeship, you can take a career orientation and preparation (BOF) course. These last for 13 to 26 weeks. At “workshop days” you get to know different occupations at the practical level, which allows you to ultimately decide on an apprenticeship occupation.
Info
For further information (in German) on the various types of apprenticeship available in Germany, see this article: Ausbildungswege für Abiturientinnen und Abiturienten (Apprenticeships for those with the “Abitur” certificate)
