Company-Based Training

At company-based training, most of the time is spent learning on the job with one or two days per week at vocational college.

These dual trainee programs are popular for jobs in:

  • Administration
  • Sales
  • Industry
  • Technical fields
  • IT


Company-based trainees are paid a salary, with a slight increase each year.

The salary paid depends on the job and the sector. It is a great opportunity to earn money and gain work experience as well as a certified qualification.

School-Based Training

At school-based training, most of the time is spent at vocational college and practical experience is gained via internships ranging from six to twelve months.

This type of training is standard for jobs in:

  • Healthcare
  • Education

School-based trainees are not paid a salary, and courses are offered by both public and private colleges. Private colleges are normally fee-based.

Vocational training generally takes two to three years. At the end, trainees are qualified to work as a skilled worker in their chosen profession. As companies invest in several years of training, the trainee is generally taken on afterwards.

Requirements

In order to start vocational training in Germany, you need a junior or senior school-leaving certificate, which is recognized by the local Education Authority.

The exact requirements will depend on the specific job. In addition, a good knowledge of German is important – generally B1 to C1 – depending on the job.

Vocational training is open to people up to 30 years of age. Applications should be made by July and training tends to start in August or September.

Resources

Article contributed by the FrankfurtRheinMain International Office. They are the regional point of contact for people coming from abroad to the FrankfurtRheinMain (FRM) region. Their team supports newcomers before and after arriving, providing advice on working, studying and living in FRM, as well as guiding in the right direction for other services.