What you need
A suitable training pathway, school qualifications, language skills and funding.
LEARN A PROFESSION · SHAPE YOUR FUTURE
Learn through practice.
Build your prospects.
Vocational training connects learning with a specific career goal. Find the main training routes, examples of occupational fields and the steps towards your application.
Explore the overview ↓EXODEU · PATHWAY 02Vocational training in Germany
PracticeLearn in the workplace
TheoryDeepen your knowledge
QualificationBuild a foundation
Your overview
Your next steps
Compare employers or schools and note application deadlines.
Avoid common mistakes
Company-based and school-based training have different requirements.
What is vocational training, and why does it exist?
Vocational training develops the knowledge and practical skills needed for a specific occupation. It connects learning with professional responsibility: employers gain skilled workers, while trainees build a solid foundation for working life. It is an educational pathway in its own right alongside university study.
The system has roots in crafts and workplace training. The Vocational Training Act of 1969 established a common legal framework for company-based vocational education. Training regulations continue to evolve so occupations can keep pace with technological and social change.
Make it in Germany · Training routes ↗BIBB · History of vocational education ↗
How is learning structured?
In dual vocational training, you learn at a company and a vocational school. A contract governs the training relationship, and the company pays a training allowance. Depending on the occupation, training usually lasts two to three and a half years and ends with a final examination.
School-based training combines classroom learning with practical placements. Duration, payments and the examining body depend on the occupation and applicable rules. Vocational training is neither a short language course nor a university degree; the specific occupational profile is what matters.
BIBB · The dual system ↗Make it in Germany · Training routes ↗
How widely is the qualification recognised?
State-recognised dual training occupations have binding training and examination standards. The competent chamber, such as a chamber of commerce and industry or a chamber of skilled crafts, conducts the final examination. This helps employers understand the professional skills acquired.
Vocational training and a bachelor’s degree are different qualifications. A subsequent Meister, Fachwirt or Techniker qualification may be at German Qualifications Framework (DQR) level 6, the same level as a bachelor’s degree. The same level does not mean the same qualification or automatically confer identical study or professional rights. Recognition abroad follows the rules of the country concerned.
How can vocational training support your success?
You gain practical experience, learn how teams work and make professional contacts. A suitable occupation, good language skills and consistent learning help you move into skilled employment. Staying on with your training employer is a possibility, rather than a guarantee.
After qualifying, you can build experience, specialise or pursue an advanced vocational qualification. University study may also be an option if you meet the requirements. Choose based on the work itself, training quality and long-term prospects, rather than only the initial monthly payment.
Which training route suits you?
Dual vocational training
You learn in a training company and at vocational school. Training usually lasts two to three and a half years. You generally receive a monthly training allowance; its amount and progression depend on the occupation, employer and any applicable collective agreement.
School-based vocational training
Classes at a vocational school are supplemented by practical placements. This training often lasts one to three years. Fees may apply depending on the occupation and school, and not every programme pays an allowance. Healthcare occupations may follow different rules.
For comparison: a dual study programme
This combines university study with workplace experience. Depending on the model, it may also lead to a vocational qualification. It is a separate educational pathway with university entry requirements and is not equivalent to conventional vocational training.
Explore occupational fields
A selection for guidance, rather than a complete list of training occupations. Check the precise training route, entry requirements and duties for each occupation.
Nursing & healthcare
Examples include nursing and medical assisting. Working with people, a sense of responsibility and good communication are important. Training differs between healthcare occupations.
Technology & industry
Mechatronics technicians, industrial mechanics and electronics technicians work with machinery, installations, maintenance and technical processes. Mathematical understanding and careful work are helpful.
Skilled trades & construction
Examples include plumbing, heating and air-conditioning technicians and construction trades. The work is practical, often involves teams and may take place at changing locations.
IT & digital occupations
IT specialist training offers different specialisms, such as application development or systems integration. Depending on the specialism, work focuses on software, networks and technical solutions.
Retail & office work
Retail management assistants and office management assistants perform duties ranging from customer advice and stock management to organising business processes.
Logistics, hotels & catering
Warehouse logistics specialists, hotel professionals and cooks are examples. Check working hours, physical demands and the degree of customer contact involved.
Requirements you should know
School qualifications
No specific school-leaving qualification is legally required for dual vocational training; the employer sets its expectations. School-based training requires a particular qualification, and recognition of foreign school certificates may be necessary.
German at work and in class
You need German to understand lessons, examinations and work instructions. A vocational training visa generally requires B1, unless the necessary skills have been assessed in another way or a preparatory language course is planned. Some occupations or schools require a higher level.
Funding & residence
A training allowance does not automatically cover all expenses. Budget for rent, insurance, living costs and travel. Non-EU nationals may need a training place, secure funding for living expenses and an appropriate residence permit. The exact evidence depends on the individual case.
Your step-by-step approach
Get to know the occupation
Compare duties and learning formats. A placement or conversations with employers can help you match expectations with your own interests.
Start searching early
Many programmes begin in August or September. If possible, start searching twelve to eighteen months beforehand; other start dates and later applications may be possible depending on the employer.
Submit your application
Prepare your CV, school certificates, evidence of language skills and any placement certificates. Follow the employer’s or school’s requirements for translations, cover letters and the application process.
Acceptance & preparation
Review the training contract and arrange any necessary recognition, visa, housing and funding. Start only once the necessary requirements have been met.
What happens after qualification?
A recognised vocational qualification can open the way to skilled employment. Further options include professional specialisation, advanced qualifications such as Meister or Techniker and, under certain conditions, university study. Staying with the training employer is possible but not guaranteed. International graduates’ subsequent residence depends on the applicable requirements.
- Choose a training route and a specific occupation
- Check school certificates and German language skills
- Note application deadlines and the start date
- Compare the allowance with monthly expenses
- Prepare your contract, residence pathway and arrival
Frequently asked questions
Does every vocational training programme pay an allowance?
No. Dual vocational training generally pays an allowance. Payments and possible fees vary considerably in school-based programmes. Ask the specific provider.
Do I need to have learned a profession already?
Vocational training is designed to teach you an occupation. The requirements of the employer or school determine eligibility. Previous education and experience may help, but entry requirements still need to be checked.
Official information for further reading
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