An Ausbildung is vocational training in Germany. You learn a profession at a company and at a vocational school, and you get paid every month. It usually takes two to three years and ends with an exam and a recognised qualification.

How an Ausbildung works

Most Ausbildung programmes are "dual": you learn in two places.

  • At the company, usually three to four days a week. You work with a team and learn the practical side.
  • At the vocational school (Berufsschule), up to two days a week. You learn the theory for your profession and some general subjects.

Depending on the profession, the training takes two to three years, in some cases three and a half (KMK). There are also school-based training programmes, for example in some health and social professions. In those you mainly learn at a school.

What you earn

In a company-based Ausbildung you get monthly training pay. The legal minimum for training that starts in 2026 is €724 gross per month in the first year, and it rises each year. Many companies pay more. Details in our guide Ausbildung salary in Germany 2026 and 2027.

What you need as an international applicant

  • German: usually level B1 for the visa. Many companies ask for B1 or B2. See German certificates from A1 to C2.
  • A school leaving certificate. Which certificate is enough depends on the profession and the company. The listing usually says it.
  • A training contract with a company in Germany.
  • A visa, if you are not from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. You apply for it after you sign the contract. See our Ausbildung visa guide.

How to find a position

  1. Compare careers in the Ausbildung Explorer: pay, length, German level and open positions.
  2. Search more than 10,000 open Ausbildung positions by career, city and start year.
  3. Create a German CV with our free CV maker and write a cover letter for each company.
  4. Apply by email or on the company's website. Our step-by-step guide How to apply for an Ausbildung from abroad explains each step.

On DeinAzubi, most open positions right now are in retail, warehouse logistics and IT.

After the Ausbildung

After you pass the final exam, you have a recognised qualification. Many companies want to keep the trainees they trained. If you came with a visa, you can get a residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job in Germany (§ 20 AufenthG).