In-School Vocational Training

Some Basics

Usually, after having succeeded in getting a training position in a company or institution you will be trained there while once a week or in some kind of block-release you will be taught in a vocational school. This kind of vocational training is called ‘Dual System of Professional Training’.

On the other hand, vocational training is also available at full-time vocational schools (Berufsfachschulen) and technical colleges (Fachschulen) for branches such as medical assistance, health care, foreign languages, social services, commerce.

Depending on the particular profession different kinds of qualification are asked for, ranging from (lower) secondary education over entry certificate for a university of applied sciences to completed professional training or even perennial professional experience.

You will have to visit a technical college some 2 or 3 years, depending on the vocation in question. In some cases graduating from technical college also means acquiring a higher educational qualification. Theoretical as well as practical learning will be part of the training in most of these schools.

In Schleswig-Holstein an application usually has to be submitted in February.

Sometimes having completed an internship is a prerequisite for being admitted to a full-time vocational school (Berufsfachschule). If the number of applicants surmounts the number of places available the crucial factor as to whom to admit will be the GPA.

Attending full-time vocational school is for free. Some private schools demand a school fee, though, but under certain circumstances students may be granted financial support.

For further questions please contact us or your local full-time vocational school. Or have a look at the map displayed www.infobub.arbeitsagentur.de/kurs which will help you to find vocational schools of all kinds in your county. 

Without Lower Secondary Education Certificate (ohne Hauptschulabschluss)

There are precious few kinds of in-school vocational training where the minimum requirement is not at least a lower secondary education certificate (Hauptschulabschluss). Even with the list below such a certificate or some earlier professional experience would be welcome:

  • Skilled foodservice industry worker (Fachkraft im Gastgewerbe) / Warehouse clerk (Lagerist/in): min. age 22 years, min. 6 months of professional experience
  • Cosmetologist (Kosmetiker/in): lower secondary education certificate recommended, but not required
  • Paramedic (Rettungsassistent/in): without a lower secondary education certificate a completed professional training is required

Lower Secondary Education Certificate (Hauptschulabschluss)

Full-time vocational school for the following trades calls for a mandatory lower secondary education certificate:

Secondary Education Certificate (Realschulabschluss)

A secondary education certificate is prerequisite for full-time vocational school for the following trades:

Entry qualification for a university (Hochschulreife/Abitur) or a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschulreife)

With an entry qualification for a university or a university of applied sciences you may apply to any full-time vocational school or technical college in Schleswig-Holstein as your qualification is above what is usually required there, i.e. lower secondary education (Hauptschule) or secondary education (Realschule). Apart from that, eligibility prerequisites are the same for all applicants.

More useful information

www.arbeitsagentur.de: The Federal Employment Agency’s Web portal

http://infobub.arbeitsagentur.de/kurs/index.html If you are looking for training and education offers

www.berufswahl.lernnetz.de: Exhaustive information about career choices and secondary schools

www.aish.de: Addresses of state-run and private vocational schools in Schleswig-Holstein. To start a search, use the button Ausbildung on their homepage and then go for either Schulen in S.-H.

www.das-neue-bafoeg.de: Under certain circumstances you may be eligible for financial support on strength of the Federal Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz, BAFÖG).

Letzte Aktualisierung der Texte dieser Seite: 17.10.2011