Germany is one of the most popular destinations for studying abroad. Hundreds of thousands of students are coming to Germany each year for higher study. In recent years, study intention increased in Ausbildung in Germany. There are some changes to a German law that made it easy to come to Germany to pursue an Ausbildung. In this post I will let you know, the details of Ausbildung in Germany, the Cost of Ausbildung, the Requirements of Ausbildung, Which Ausbildung pays more salary etc.
Ausbildung in Germany: What do You Need to Know?
Germany is known for its excellent education system, and that’s certainly true when it comes to vocational training (popularly known as Ausbildung or duale Ausbildung). But what do you need to know before you start an Ausbildung? In this section, we will let you know some points you should know about Ausbildung.
- The curriculum of Ausbildung is highly respected and ranked according to international standards
- There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities as a student during the Ausbildung
- Germany has a very low unemployment rate, making it a good option if you’re looking for a job after completing your Ausbildung
- Normally there are no tuition fees for Ausbildung
- During your Ausbildung you can earn around 650€ to 1300€
- As a foreigner, you need German proficiency to get an Ausbildung
- To start an Ausbildung you generally need 10th-12th class
What is Ausbildung?
Ausbildung is a German word, that means vocational training or apprenticeship. It is a profession-based education system that will lead you towards a certain job in a related field. In maximum cases, Ausbildung is a dual vocational training in Germany.
Since we are talking about duale Ausbildung— you already understand that it is a combined training of theory and practical. That means an Auszubildende or Azubi (apprentice employees) has to learn in a professional school (Berufschule) about 30-40%. It is normally 1-2 days a week (full time at Beruschule). Berufschule is normally 7.45 AM to 2:30 PM with three times of breaks. Each break is around 15 minutes.
Sometimes school part could be kind of ‘Blockunterricht‘. It means 6 weeks of school and 6 weeks of office work. Whatever you have learned at the Berufschule (professional school or in English popularly known as Training College ), you have to apply that knowledge in your company.
So around 70% of the time you are working at your office which means in a company. Actually, you will also learn more from your company, practically! From your colleagues and boss
So, now, you have a better idea of what the Ausbildung is. Again, in a short: Ausbildung is kind of a combination of theory and practical knowledge, together. So simple is that!
Costs of Ausbildung in Germany
Like other education sectors, Ausbildung is also absolutely free in Germany. That means you don’t have to pay any tuition fees for that. Not only that, the employer will give you a monthly salary! Very cool! Right? Besides that, you can expect some other extra benefits such travel ticket, food at the office, accommodation etc.
But those extra facilities depend on your employer. Except for salary, other facilities depend on your company’s rules and regulations. Normally as Azubi (apprentice), you can have a reduced monthly travel ticket in your area and even sometimes in the whole state with a small upgrade.
So, now you may ask how much your salary could be. Don’t worry 😉 I know, this is a vital question for all. We have explained about the salary during Ausbildung in Germany. Please have a look here. We have a dedicated section that explained it.
Requirments of Ausbildung in Germany
There are no specific requirements for Ausbildung in Germany. But if you are a foreigner and wanna do Ausbildung in Germany then you must have a very good knowledge of the German language. In many cases, a German Language certificate at least B1 is wanted. But in some cases, the A2 level also can be accepted. If you wanna know more about the requirements of Ausbildung in Germany then please check our blog.
Duration of Ausbildung
Like other education systems in Germany, Ausbildung is also a bit complicated. There are some categories that last 2 years, and there are some categories that last 2.5 years but most of the categories or profession’s training is for 3 years in Germany when it comes duale Ausbildung.
But sometimes you can also make it shorter if you already have a degree and very good grades in the first year of Ausbildung. To make it shorter you have to talk to your employer, Berufschule and local IHK.
You can reduce your Ausbildungszeit by six months and even up to 12 months if you have already a degree or an outstanding result.
Some Auzbildung that are finished by two years…
- Bauten- und Objektbeschichter/-in
- Lagerlogistik
- Fachkraft für Kurier Express und Postdienstleistungen
- Gastgewerbe
- Fachkraft für Metalltechnik
- Hochbaufacharbeiter/-in
- Verkäufer/-in
- Maschinen und Anlagenführer/-in
If you would like to know more about Ausbildungszeit verkürzen (reducing the training time) then please have a look here, you will have more info on how to reduce your Ausbildung time and what needs to be done for that.
When can I apply for Ausbildung?
This is a very common question, when can I apply for Ausbildung? Actually, you can apply anytime for Ausbildung. But in general, Ausbildung officially starts on 1st August every year. The school part normally starts on the 15th of August and the office part starts on the 1st of August. So it is better to apply the end of the previous year. Say, for example, if you wanna start your Ausblidung in 2023 then you should start applying from September-October-November 2022 onwards…
Types of Ausbildung
There are two types of Ausbildung in Germany. One is called schulische Ausbildung and another is duale Ausbildung. In the German language, Schule means school. This type of Ausbildung you learn only in school. There is not any part of learning at the office when it comes to schulische Ausbildung.
But when there duale Ausblidung then actually there are two types of learning. One is at the school and another part at the office. For the office part, you are going to get a monthly remuneration (Vergütung).
In the next section, I will let you know the Ausbildung salary in Germany or how much you can earn during your Ausbildung, or which Ausbildung has more salary etc.
Earning During Ausbildung in Germany
This is really a very common question, ‘How much can I earn during Ausbildung?’ Ausbildung’s salary depends on their profession actually. Not only that, but state to state (Bundesländer) it also depends. And again, not only states, that the salary of Ausbildung even depends on the Industry too. For example, as an apprentice software developer if you work (as Auszubildende) in a big industry you can have more monthly salary.
But if you have a job in any small company (Klein Unternehmer) then your salary could be less. In Germany, there is a word called, Tariflohn or Tarifvertrag. So if you have that contract with your Ausbildung-company then you get a bit more money. Normally, a small company can decide on up to 100-150€ less payment per month for the Ausbildung’s salary for their Auszubildende (apprentice employee).
Income Taxes from Ausbildung salary
As I mentioned earlier, the salary of Ausbildung depends on the profession and the industry or size of the company, even! But as far as we have researched, we see Ausbildung’s salary starts at around 650€ and you can expect up to 1300€. Those amounts before tax though. For tax and other (health) insurances, you can think that you have to pay per month around 140€ to 300€ (depending on your salary).
So you know the salary of Ausbildung. But how long do you need to do your Ausbildung? Duale Ausbildung in Germany is normally for three years. In the first year, you will get a bit less and then in the second year a bit more and then last year you will higher amount of money. We will explain more about this later. Don’t worry!
There are many professions that you can do your Ausbildung in Germany. Please have a look at the list and get an idea about the amount you can get as an apprentice.
Ausbildung in Germany for foreigners
If you are looking for an Ausbildung offer in Germany, then there are many options available. Germany is a great place to start your career as a foreigner. The country has a strong economy and a wide range of job opportunities. Plus, the education system in Germany is highly qualified and quality-checked. So you can be sure that your training (Ausbildung) will be top-notch.
Here are some steps to help you get started with the Ausbildung in Germany:
- Start by researching the various options available in Germany. There are many private and public organizations that offer Ausbildung in a variety of fields, such as engineering, business, law, healthcare, IT, social welfare etc.
- Try to find a company that best fits your interest and preferences: This is really important to get success in Germany. Do your research and find out which companies have good reputations and are well-funded. You can find the details on the company’s website or on their social media pages.
- German people and authorities are generally very organized and regulated. So make sure that you have well-organized documentation. Your academic record from your home country’s recognization is also very important. Your company can help you with this where you should send your documentation. In German, it’s called ‘Schulabschluss anerkennung‘ (graduation recognition). In Germany, there are 16 federal states and every state has its own authority to evaluate your school certificates to be recognized. For more info please check this Schulabschluss anerkennung info-portal.
- Lack of qualified manpower, German employers are nowadays very keen to meet foreign students who are interested in obtaining vocational training (Ausbildungplatz) or studying in a specific subject area (duale Studium). That’s why try to contact the companies directly to arrange interviews (Vorstellunggeschprach).
How to find Ausbildung in Germany?
Finding an Ausbildung in Germany is not an easy task, especially when you don’t speak the language. But thankfully there’s the Internet! So you have to use the power of it! There are many places on the Internet where you can find the Ausbildung offer. We personally recommend you use Bundesagentur für Arbeit’s Ausbildung portal. Besides that, you can also search on different job search engines.
If you wanna get a job or an Ausblidung in Germany then you have to be very good at Google searches. After making a decision on your desired field of Ausbildung you have to search with that keyword. If you know some companies in Germany in your desired field then check their website regularly.
Such as if you are already in Germany and looking for Ausbildung werbeagentur then most probably you will find us on Google. And yes, we have an Ausbildung offer for you as Fachinformatiker für Anwendungsentwicklung. Sometimes check our job offer page too for other open job offers.
Where, how and how much?
Every professional company in Germany has a website and also a page or category called Karriere. Like other professional companies in Germany, we have a very nice website and we are regularly offering Ausbildung and jobs. Please check our job offer here. As a Shopware Expert and IT company, based in Ruhrpott we offer lots of services for our valuable customers. So, if you are keen to join our team please apply now for an Ausbildung or a full-time job in Germany (NRW).
To find Ausbildung in Germany we have some tips for you:
- First and foremost, you’ll need to decide what specific field you’re interested in. There are plenty of options available. So you have to find the right one that suits best you.
- Once you have a general idea of what you want, it’s time to start researching. Ausbildung can be found online or sometimes in local print media, so don’t limit yourself to just one option. Be sure to check out all that is stated by the employers.
- Learn German as much as possible if your first language isn’t German. This will help you to succeed in your career. In Germany, knowing the German language is one of the success-key!
- Make sure that your chosen Ausbildung is accredited by the relevant organization. This will reassure potential employers that your skills are up to the mark and also you’re knowledgeable about the field you intend to enter.
- If possible attend the job fairs and recruiters’ events (if you’re already in Germany). Jobs fairs and recruiters’ events are perfect opportunities to meet representatives from different companies and learn more about available positions. But be sure to dress professionally and make a strong impression! Keep in mind, that the first impression is the best impression.
- Try to make a network with friends, family, and other migrants living in Germany. Many people who are looking for a job or apprenticeship have already found success through networking with friends, family, and other migrants. Ask them if they know of any openings that match your qualifications and interests. There are many groups also on different social media.
Ausbildung related FAQs
Which Ausbildung pays well in Germany?
There are lots of professions that pay well in Germany. But sometimes it depends on other factors. Sometimes it can vary a bit. Doing Ausbildung as Nurse, Air traffic controller, Aircraft mechanic, Ship mechanic, IT specialist, Dental hygienist, Media technologist, Laboratory technician, Mechatronic, Electronics Technician, Policeman, etc pays well.
Is Ausbildung a degree?
No, it is not like a Bachelor’s or Masters’s Degree at all. After finishing Ausbildung you will get a certificate (Ausbildungszeugnis) from IHK. In Germany, it is known as Ausbildung and it has been called Apprenticeship in English. But actually, it’s the same thing.
What is the maximum age for Ausbildung?
Officially, there is no maximum age limit to do an Ausbildung in Germany. But, in maximum cases, German students do their duale Ausbildung from ages 16-25. However, some professions might have an age barrier, such as nursing. So you have to talk with your employer (Arbeitgeber) about your age. And they will let you know the details.
Can a foreigner apply for Ausbildung in Germany?
Yes, of course! Foreigners from all over the world can apply for an Ausbildung in Germany. To be eligible for an Ausbildung, having a German language Certificate B1 is important. But some employers can accept German Level A2. In some cases, it could be even a minimum B2 level.
What is the requirements for Ausbildung in Germany?
There are two main requirements for Ausbildung in Germany. 1.) Sufficient knowledge of the German language (A2-B1 Level) 2.) A school-leaving certificate that is equivalent to a German at least 9-10th class.
Can I apply for Ausbildung in Germany?
Yes of course! It doesn’t matter where are you from! Read our post carefully and do some research and then keep applying. We hope you will find your dream Ausbildung soon, in Germany!
Can I do Ausbildung in Germany in English?
Normally no! You can’t do your Ausbildung in English. Though you can do your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in English in Germany. There are no Ausbildung programs or apprenticeships in Germany that are taught in the English language. The school part is conducted in German, though there’s an English subject in some Ausbildung. And again, the official language of work is German as well. That means you need to know German very well.
How much does Ausbildung pay in Germany?
During vocational training (Ausbildung) in Germany, trainees (Azubi) receive a monthly salary from the employer— the so-called training allowance (Vergütung). It’s about 650 to 1,300 euros per month. Some companies also offer extra benefits as well.
Final thoughts about Ausbildung
After reading quite a big post about Ausbildung in Germany, I believe you have already gained a lot of info. If you’re looking for information on Ausblidung then you were in the right place! This comprehensive blog contains detailed guidelines on everything from A to Z in regard to Ausbildung in Germany. From the types of Ausbildung available, and how much you can earn during the Ausbildung, we covered those all!
If you find this post useful then please share it with your friends and family. Also if you have any questions about Ausbildung then don’t hesitate to comment below. We will try to answer your queries as soon as possible. Even you are welcome to contact us if you have any queries about Ausbildung in Germany or in our company itself.