Application Process

There are over 300 recognised apprenticeship occupations in Germany, but how do you find the right training programme? 

1. Know your own interests and strengths: The first step is to assess yourself honestly. The following questions can help

   • What activities do I enjoy?
   • Do I like practical or theoretical work?
   • Do I want to work with people, with technology or on a computer?
   • Do I prefer to work in a team or independently?

   Online tests can help you find your way, e.g. the career choice test from the Federal Employment Agency.

2. Explore career fields: If you are interested in a particular career field, you can search for apprenticeships on information portals. BERUFENET provides detailed job descriptions with requirements and tasks. 
3. Gain practical experience: A (school) internship, a so-called ‘voluntary social year’, or a holiday job can help you find out whether a profession is really right for you. Many training companies offer internships for career orientation, including for those with an international interest.
4. Use counselling services: The career counselling service of the Federal Employment Agency offers personalised support to those interested in choosing the right training programme.

Certain requirements apply to vocational training in Germany, which may vary depending on the occupation and type of training:

• School leaving certificate: As a rule, a secondary school leaving certificate is required. In the case of in-company training, the company decides on the requirements.
• Internships or minimum age: Some school-based training programmes (e.g. in nursing) require applicants to have already completed internships or to be of a certain minimum age.
• Recognition of foreign school qualifications: Anyone who has obtained a school leaving certificate abroad should have it recognised by the relevant certificate recognition office in the federal state. The relevant authority can be found via ananbin. General information on the recognition of qualifications can be found here. 
• Visa: If you already have a training place, you will need a visa to complete vocational training. If you have not yet found a training place, you can apply for a visa to search for a training place under certain conditions. Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland do not need a visa. 
• Language skills: A language level of B1 is usually required for a visa. B2 is recommended for successful participation in the training programme.

Once you have found the right training programme, you can start searching for training positions and apprenticeships. You can find vacancies on the following portals:

• Job exchange of the Federal Employment Agency
• IHK apprenticeship exchange – training opportunities in industry, trade and services
• Apprenticeship radar of the Chamber of Crafts – specifically for skilled trades, from baking to electrical engineering
• Company career pages

The next step is to apply for a training position. Your application should be carefully prepared and tailored to the specific position. A complete application includes:

• Cover letter: Why are you interested in this profession? Why are you a good fit for the company?
• Curriculum vitae
• Certificates (school leaving certificates, internships, language courses)

Selection process and Contract:

If your application is successful, the following usually follows:

• Interview
• In some cases, an aptitude test or a short internship

Applicants will then receive a training contract. This is particularly important if you need a visa.