DUAL TRAINING IN GERMANY
WHAT IS DUAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING?
Dual training combines theory with practice: Dual training in Germany is a vocational education and training (VET) system that combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training to prepare students for skilled professions.
Structure:
Dual training typically lasts for three years and is available in a wide range of fields, such as manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, and more. It is open to students who have completed their mandatory schooling, usually around age 16.
Learning Process:
Classroom Instruction: Trainees attend vocational schools where they receive theoretical education related to their chosen profession. This can include subjects like math, science, and specialized knowledge.
On-the-Job Training: Simultaneously, trainees work in companies or businesses relevant to their field. They gain practical experience, applying what they learn in school to real-world situations.
Responsibilities:
Companies: Employers are responsible for providing training opportunities, mentoring, and a wage or stipend to trainees.
Vocational Schools: These institutions offer classroom instruction and assessment of trainees' progress.
Certification:
Upon successful completion of the program, trainees receive a recognized vocational qualification or certificate. This certification is highly regarded by employers and serves as a pathway to employment.
Benefits:
High-Quality Training: Dual training ensures that students acquire practical skills and knowledge needed in the workforce.
Smooth Transition to Employment: Graduates are well-prepared for their chosen careers and have a higher likelihood of finding jobs quickly.
One way of training for your future occupation in Germany is by pursuing a dual vocational training programme. Such programmes offer plenty of opportunities for on-the-job training and work experience. Programmes usually last between two and three and a half years and consist of theoretical as well as practical elements. You will spend one or two days a week, or several weeks at once, at vocational school (Berufsschule) where you will acquire the theoretical knowledge needed in your future occupation. The rest of the time will be spent at a company, where you get to apply your newly acquired knowledge in practice, for example by learning to operate machinery. You will get to know what your company does, learn how it operates, and find out if you can see yourself working there after completing your training.
The combination of theory and practice gives you a head start for your job: by the time you have completed your training, you will not only have the required technical knowledge, but you will also have hands-on experience in your job. There are around 325 officially recognised training programmes in Germany, so there is a good chance that one of them might suit your interests and talents.
Vocational training and pay
In Germany, students pursuing a vocational training program receive a monthly salary from the company they work for. On average a trainee has a gross income of around €987.00. Depending on the occupation and region, your salary may be higher or lower. The salary you receive as a trainee increases with each year of training you complete.
Source and more info: make-it-in-germany.com
GERMAN LANGUAGE
If you would like to apply for vocational training in Germany, your German language skills are very important.
Depending on the field or the institution you are applying to, level B1 or B2 may be required. Studying German from A1 to B1 takes about 6 months, plus 3 more months to reach B2.
DO I QUALIFY AND HOW TO APPLY?
These are some of the professions/fields for which applicants are highly sought:
Care (Nursing)
Baker
construction industry
butcher
heating technology
hotel and restaurant management
air conditioning technology
mechatronics
Sanitary Engineering
General requirements:
18-36 years old. There is no official age limit but it's recommended that applicants are not older than 36 years.
high school graduate (at least 12 years of school)
able to speak the German language at an intermediate level (B1 or B2)
Each company decides at its own discretion which qualifications its candidates need. It also depends on the field you are applying for. No worries, we have partners who can help you match with potential employers and assist you with the paperwork.