Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The most frequently asked questions regarding the German VET System, the recognition of qualifications or on how to start a career in Germany will be answered here.
We would like to remind you that the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is a federal government institution for policy, research and practice in the field of vocational education and training.
BIBB does not provide any kind of training nor studies. Information about the tasks of BIBB can be found on our Website.
If you are interested in the German VET system you should know that the so-called “dual training” is mainly provided in the company - supported by teaching in a part-time vocational school (Berufsschule). Learning at both venues is governed by different but coordinated regulations.
More detailed information can be found here.
CEDEFOP: Vocational education and training in Germany - Short Description
The statutory basis of BIBB’s work is the Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz - BBiG). More detailed information about the statutory basis of BIBB's work can be found here.
Vocational Training Act (BBiG)
Training regulations define the training objectives and content of state-recognized training occupation requiring formal training. So those regulations apply in all parts of Germany. Training regulations control the company part of vocational training.
Further information can be found in the following BIBB brochure.
Training regulations and how they come about
"Make it in Germany" is the multilingual "Welcome to Germany" portal for international qualified professionals, students and people interested in vocational education and training. It is run by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. "Make it in Germany" informs qualified professionals who are interested in immigrating about their career prospects and shows them how to organise their move to Germany – and what makes it worthwhile to live and work here. The portal offers a "Quick Check" to rate your chances of immigrating to Germany, posts current vacancies in occupations where there is a labour shortage and provides information about the sectors in search of skilled workers.
My "Welcome to Germany" portal
Hotline "Working and Living in Germany": The hotline – operated by several Ministries and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) – offers personalized information and advice, in German or English, on the following topics: 1) Job search, work, career, 2) Recognition of foreign vocational qualifications, 3) Entry and residence, 4) Learning German. The hotline is available from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CET, Monday through Friday, under the telephone number +49 30 1815-1111
Telephone Hotline "Working and Living in Germany"
The following brochure contains information about career prospects in Germany. It shows step by step how a career can be achieved and how to profit from the targeted advice and support of the Employment Agency.
Arrive motivated. Get started successfully.
Language skills: You are not required to provide proof of your German language skills if you want to pursue vocational training in Germany. However, you should be aware that communication at your vocational school and the company where training takes place will be in German. Thus, your German language skills will need to be quite good or even advanced to be able to train in Germany. The website “Make it in Germany” offers an interactive map to locate a German language course in your country of origin. Further information on language courses in Germany can be found in their guide to “Living in Germany”
Interactive map to locate German language courses abroad
Integration Courses: germany-visa.org informs briefly about integration courses: different types of courses, where to find one, how to apply and how much to pay for it.
germany-visa.org
The app „ankommen“ is a guide for the first weeks in Germany and offers help to get to know the country and to learn what to pay attention to.
App: ankommen
If you are interested in studying in Germany the website "Study in Germany" will tell you all you need to know about higher education study in Germany. It also includes course search.
Study in Germany
The DAAD website contains detailed information on studying or doing a PhD in Germany and provides also information on financing your studies as well as offering a database where you can enter your country of origin, your subject area and status (e.g. undergraduate) and find out about research funding opportunities.
DAAD "Scholarship database"
Another website that provides a wealth of useful information on higher education study in Germany can be accessed here.
German education server
The following website provides lists of degree programmes, higher education institutions and doctoral studies in Germany.
Higher Education Compass
If you gained vocational qualifications in a foreign country and you want to have them recognized in Germany the web portal "Recognition in Germany" tells you how it guides you to the authority responsible in your particular case and provides important tips and documents for your recognition procedure.
web portal "Recognition in Germany"
If you gained other qualifications in a foreign country and you want to have them recognized in Germany such as school qualifications, higher education entrance qualifications, academic achievements and academic qualifications that lead to non-regulated professions the following shows what other procedures there are for recognizing these qualifications.
web portal "Recognition in Germany": My Options
A Certificate Supplement is a document describing the knowledge and skills acquired by holders of vocational training certificates. It provides additional information to that already included in the official certificate and/or transcript, making it more easily understood, especially by employers or institutions abroad.
Certificate Supplements