Visa, school-leaving certificates or language skills – there are certain requirements you need to meet before being admitted to a vocational training course in Germany. More detailed information on the requirements can be found in the “Do I qualify for vocational training?” section.
Which profession suits me?
The choice is yours: at the moment, you can choose from around 328 occupations that require vocational training in Germany. Firstly, you should think about what you enjoy doing the most and what you are good at: What subjects did you like at school? Do you like working with people? Do you like working on a computer or would you rather operate larger machinery or work with tools? As soon as you are aware of your own preferences, you can look for a suitable vocational training programme. The websites Planet Beruf and Beroobi are designed to help you with your decision. However, these two sites are only available in German. You can find further information about four occupations in our "Vocational training profiles at a glance" section. Lastly, you might also be able to get some information and career advice in your country of origin.
Looking for a place as a trainee
You have worked out which occupation is best for you? Then the next step is looking for a place as a trainee and applying for it. Depending on which occupation you have chosen, you can find a place for your apprenticeship using one of the various online job markets for apprenticeships. Apprenticeships for a large range of occupations can be found in the Federal Employment Agency’s job listings. Select “Ausbildung” in the “Sie suchen” drop-down menu and start your search. A list of places for apprenticeships for different occupations in companies around Germany will be displayed. If you are looking for vocational training in crafts, we recommend that you use the “Lehrstellenradar” (online search tool for vocational training positions; only available in German) of the German Chamber of Crafts. Simply click on a flag on the map and then select “Lehrstellenangebote”. This will take you to the regional job listings where you can search for apprenticeships, e.g. in mechatronics or electronic engineering. If you are looking for vocational training in the trade or commercial sector, we recommend the job site of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK).
Another option for finding the right vocational training programme can be specific job and vocational training fairs. You can get in touch with educational experts to find out which vocational training programme is the most suitable for you. The Planet-Beruf.de website provides you with an overview on current and upcoming fairs.