Which professions can you learn in Germany during an apprenticeship starting in 2023? Here comes the current up-to-date full list of apprenticeships in Germany in English for you: Do you find a Ausbildung for yourself?
About this list of apprenticeships in Germany
In Germany, career starters need to go through an apprenticeship in order to work in most of the blue collar professions later on. These apprenticeships are called “Ausbildung” in Germany. To be pricise: “Duale Berufsausbildung“.
For many it is interesting to learn that participants of apprenticeships get a monthly salary, do not have any schooling fees, and get in most cases a legal access to the German labor market enabling even non-EU nationals to live here permanently even including their families.
Below you can out which professions might suit to you to start your career in Germany now.
Note our special pages on Ausbildung
This is important for you to know
- In Germany all apprenticeships are open as well as to men and women and diverse. For reasons of readability you will find in our list terms like ‘salesman’, which includes as well salesmen as saleswomen.
- You may use the table of contents above in order to find your profession by category
- You find the list in German language here
- You may check here if you are entitled to start an apprenticeship in Germany
Economy and administration apprenticeships in Germany
Sales management and customer consulting apprenticeships in Germany
- Automotive salesman
- Banker
- Bookseller
- Druggist
- Real estate agent
- Investment fund clerk
- Dialogue marketing clerk
- E-commerce clerk
- Retail salesman
- Management assistant in health care
- Wholesale and foreign trade clerk
- Management assistant for tourism and leisure
- Insurance and finance clerk (formerly: insurance clerk)
- Music dealer
- Pharmaceutical commercial employee
- Sports and fitness merchant
- Gas station attendant
- Salesman
Media clerks
As a media clerk apprentice, you will have the opportunity to work alongside industry experts and gain hands-on experience in creating and editing media content. Whether it’s digital or print media, you will be responsible for working with various forms of media, including text, images, videos, graphics, and audio. Available apprenticeship programs:
- Audiovisual media clerk
- Marketing communications clerk
- Digital and print media clerk
- Event management assistant
Commercial administration
- Office management clerk (replaced since August 1, 2014: office clerk, office communication clerk and office communication specialist)
- Industrial clerk
- Health care management assistant
- Office communication specialist
Law and Public Administration apprenticeships in Germany
- Specialized employee for labor market services
- Specialized employee for media and information services
- Judicial clerk
- Notary clerk
- Patent paralegal
- Lawyer’s and notary’s clerk
- Paralegal
- Social insurance clerk
- Tax clerk
- Administrative assistant
Commercial transport occupations
- Specialist for courier, express and postal services
- Specialist for furniture, kitchen and removal services
- Courier, express and postal services clerk
- Freight forwarding and logistics services clerk (formerly: forwarding clerk)
- Transport service clerk
- Railroad and road transport clerk
- Air transport clerk
- Travel agent
- Shipping merchant
- Air transport service clerk
Commercial transport occupations
- Specialist for courier, express and postal services
- Specialist for furniture, kitchen and removal services
- Courier, express and postal services clerk
- Freight forwarding and logistics services clerk (formerly: forwarding clerk)
- Transport service clerk
- Railroad and road transport clerk
- Air transport clerk
- Travel agent
- Shipping merchant
- Air transport service clerk
Miners
- Processing mechanic
- Miner and machinist
- Mining technologist
Metal professions
- Production technologist
Production engineering
- Tank and apparatus engineer
- Boring mill lathe operator
- Gunsmith
- Surgical mechanic
- Wire goods maker
- Wire drawing machinist
- Spring maker
- Fine polisher
- Precision mechanic
- Production mechanic
- Electroplater
- Equipment assembler
- Foundry mechanic
- Engraver
- Industrial mechanic
- Cable young worker
- Machine assembler
- Machine and plant operator
- Metal and bell founders
- Metal grinder
- Metal technician (Austria)
- Metal shaper
- Turret lathe operator
- Grinder
- Cutting tool mechanic
- Parts finisher
- Process mechanic for plastics and rubber technology
- Process mechanic in the metallurgical and semi-finished products industry
- Pre-polisher jewelry and small appliance manufacturing (industry)
- Cutting tool mechanic
Installation and metal construction technology
- Plant mechanic
- Plant mechanic for sanitary, heating and air-conditioning technology (formerly: central heating and ventilation fitter)
- Refrigeration plant fitter
- Plumber
- Construction mechanic
- Metal worker
Automotive/Seafaring
- Bicycle fitter
- Vehicle interior decorator
- Vehicle painter
- Aircraft mechanic
- Bodywork and vehicle construction mechanic
- Motor vehicle mechatronics technician
- Agricultural machinery mechanic
- Mechanic for bodywork maintenance technology
- Mechanic for agricultural and construction machinery
- Marine mechanic
- Bycicle mechanic
Metal design
- Gemstone setter
- Goldsmith
- Farrier
- Metal sculptor
- Silversmith
- Watchmaker
- Work assistant jewelry industry, pocket and wrist watches
Gemstone professions
- Diamond cutter
- Gemstone engraver
- Gemstone cutter
Electrical professions in Germany
- Electrical installation technician
- Electrician
- Electronics technician for automation technology
- Electronics technician for operating technology
- Electronics technician for building and infrastructure systems
- Electronics technician for devices and systems
- Electronics technician for machines and drive technology
- Electronics technician for aeronautical systems
- Electronics technician
- Energy electronics technician
- Industrial electrician
- Information electronics technician
- Mechatronics technician
- Microtechnologist
- System electronics technician
IT professions in Germany
- IT specialist (specializing in application development, system integration, data and process analysis and digital networking)
- Industrial technologist
- Digitalization management clerk
- IT systems electronics technician
- Management assistant for IT systems management
- Mathematical-technical software developer
- System computer scientist
- Technical assistant for computer science
Construction professions
- Construction equipment operator
Stone Worker
- Natural stone mechanic
- Stone sculptor
- Stonemason
Building materials manufacturer
- Precast concrete builder
- Precast stone manufacturer
- Process mechanic in the stone and earth industry
Civil engineering
- Asphalt builder
- Well builder
- track builders
- Sewer constructors
- Pipeline builder
- Special civil engineering
- Road builder
- Road maintenance workers
- Civil engineering workers
- Water engineer
Structural engineering
- Baking oven builder
- Concrete and reinforced concrete builder
- Facade fitter
- Furnace and chimney builder
- Scaffolding erector
- Building construction worker
- Bricklayer
Finishing
- Finishing Worker
- Building sealant
- roofer
- Screed layer
- Tile, slab and mosaic layers
- Industrial insulator
- Insulation fitter
- Furnace and air heating installers
- Ship carpenter
- Plasterer
- Drywall fitter
- Heat, cold and sound insulators
- Carpenter
Painter
- Building and object coaters
- Stage painters and sculptors
- Painters and varnishers
- Display designer
- Sign and light sign maker
- Process mechanic for coating technology
- Gilders
Interior decorator
- Floor layer
- Parquet layer
- Upholstery and decoration seamstresses
- Upholsterer
- Interior decorator
Wood professions
- Biology model maker
- Boat builder
- Brush and paintbrush maker
- Wood turner (ivory carver)
- Specialist for wood and building protection work
- Wickerworker (formerly: basket maker)
- Glazier
- Woodworking mechanic
- Wood sculptor
- Wood mechanic
- Wood toy maker
- Wood and building protector
- Cooper
- Light aircraft builder
- Shutter and sunshade mechatronics technician (formerly: shutter and blind maker)
- Umbrella maker
- Toy maker
- Technical model maker
- Carpenter
Musical instrument professions
- Bow maker (Agittarius)
- Violin maker
- Hand drawn instrument maker
- Woodwind instrument maker
- Piano and harpsichord maker
- Metal wind instrument maker
- Organ and harmonium makers
- Plucked instrument maker
Textile and clothing professions
Textile professions
- Upholstery and decoration seamstress
- Visual marketing designer
- Upholsterer
- Textile product designer
- Textile production mechanic
- Textile product tester
- Textile product finisher
- Interior decorator
- Sailmaker
- ropemaker
- Embroiderer
- Knitter
- Technical garment maker
- Textile laboratory assistant
- Textile cleaner
- Weaver
Clothing professions
- Alteration tailor
- Clothing technical assistant
- Tailor
- Fashion seamstress
- Fashion tailor
- Modist
- Designer
Fur and leather occupations
- Skilled worker for leather processing
- Tanner
- Glove maker
- Furrier
- Fur finisher
- Saddler
- Shoe producer
- Shoemaker
Chemistry, physics, biology
Physical/chemical production occupations
- Production specialist chemistry
- Chemical laboratory assistant
- Chemical laboratory technician
- Chemical technician
- Microtechnologist
- Pharmacist
- Wax puller
Paper manufacturer
- Papermaker
Laboratory occupations
- Building materials tester
- Biology laboratory assistant
- Biological technical assistant
- Chemical laboratory assistant
- Chemical-Technical Assistant
- Precious metal tester
- Paint laboratory assistant
- Agricultural technical laboratory assistant
- Agricultural laboratory technician
- Dairy laboratory technician
- Pharmaceutical technical assistant
- Physics laboratory assistant
- Substance tester (chemistry) Glass, ceramics and stone and earth industry
- Textile laboratory assistant
- Materials tester
Ceramic and glass professions
- Decorative pattern maker
- Fine optician
- Figure ceramist
- Flat glass mechanic
- Glass and porcelain painter
- Glass apparatus maker
- Glassblower
- Glassmaker
- Glass finisher
- Industrial ceramist plant engineering
- Industrial ceramist decoration technology
- Industrial ceramist model technology
- Industrial ceramist process engineering
- Ceramist
- Light tube glassblower
- Manufactory porcelain painter
- Thermometer maker
- Process mechanic for glass technology
- Process mechanic for spectacle optics
Media professions in Germany for apprenticeships
Paper converters, printing form manufacturers and printers
- Bookbinder
- Media technologist printing
- Flexographer
- Digital and print media designer
- Music engraver
- Paper technologist
- Typesetter
- Screen printer
- Lithographer
AV media occupations
- Specialist for media and information services
- Event technology specialist
- Film and video editor
- Media designer for image and sound
- Photographer
- Photo lab assistant
- Phototechnical assistant
- Film printmaker
- Photo media specialist
- Photo media lab technician
- Design technical assistant
- Design and media technical assistant
- Graphic designer
- Media designer digital and print
Health, personal care, social services
Health professions
- Geriatric nurse
- Geriatric nursing assistant
- Anaesthesia technical assistant
- Surgical technical assistant
- Dietician
- Occupational therapist
- Midwife
- Curative education nurse
- Health and pediatric nurse
- Health care and nursing assistant
- Health and nursing assistant
- Speech therapist
- Masseur and medical bath attendant
- Medical technical assistant
- Medical assistant (formerly: physician assistant)
- Orthoptist
- Physiotherapist
- Preparator
- Podiatrist
- Paramedic or emergency medical technician
- Veterinary assistant (formerly: veterinary nurse)
- Dental assistant (formerly: dental assistant)
- Surgical technical assistant
Social professions
- Assistance for handicapped
- Educator
- Curative education nurse
Health Care Craftsman
- Optometrist
- Hearing aid acoustician
- Orthopedic technician
- Orthopedic shoemaker
- Dental Technician
- Dental specialist
Personal Care Craftsman
- Hairdresser
- Beautician
- Masseur
- Funeral specialist
- Specialist for pool operations
- Make-up artist
- Service specialist for dialog marketing
- Construction site worker
- Protection and security specialist
- Building cleaner
- Chimney sweep
Food professions
- Brewers and maltsters
- Distiller
- Baker
- Distiller
- Specialist for fruit juice technology
- Specialist for food technology
- Specialist for confectionery technology
- Specialist seller in the food trade
- Butcher
- Confectioner
- Dairy specialist
- Miller (mill and grain technologist)
- Wine cooper
Hospitality and housekeeping
- Specialist in the hospitality industry
- Specialist for system gastronomy
- Housekeeper
- Hotel specialist
- Hotel clerk
- Cook
- Restaurant specialist
Agricultural professions
- Agricultural service specialist
- Fish farmer
- Florist
- Forester
- Gardener
- Farmer
- Horse farmer
- district hunter
- Animal keeper
- Animal farmer
- Winemaker
Environmental protection occupations
- Specialist for wastewater technology
- Specialist for recycling and waste management
- Specialist for pipe, sewer and industrial services
- Specialist for water supply technology
Technical professions
- Building material tester
- Draftsman
- Monument technical assistant
- Specialist for road and traffic engineering
- Water management specialist
- Geomatics technician
- Technical product designer
- Technical draftsman
- Surveyor
- Packaging mechanic
- Plant firefighter
- Materials tester
Apprenticeship in Germany FAQ
How does vocational training work in Germany?
A vocational training in Germany is a legal option for foreigners even from non-EU-countries to work in Germany. With a vocational training in Germany, foreign applicants receive an official German degree of a ‘skilled worker’ in more than 300 professions. With this qualification, foreigners from non-EU-countries can continue to work as experts in the company, obtain further qualifications (e.g. master craftsman, Bachelor professional or Master professional or even can start a study at a German university), become self-employed or return to their home country to work here with the foreign qualification. With this foreign qualification and existing support of the German government foreigners can set up companies in their home countries with massive advantages.
What is dual education Germany?
The German system of vocational training (in German: “Berufsausbildungen” or “Duale Berufsausbildungen”) is unique: Within a paid multi-year education program participants learn a profession during their apprenticeship according to German standards as well in vocational schools as in the companies which employ the trainees. Because of learning as well in companies as in schools it is called ‘dual education’ in Germany.
What is dual system of apprenticeships in Germany?
Students in the apprenticeship training in Germany are employees of a company where they work approximately 50% of their time in order to learn during practical work. During the other 50% the students receive a training in a vocational school. Focus lays here on theoretical learning and learning of industry standards. The company pays all schooling fees for the apprentices. Hence candidates must be employed by a company – only then they can start the apprenticeship training.
What is an apprenticeship in Germany good for?
Almost all skilled blue collar professions in Germany can only be practiced if the workers have previously successfully completed a vocational training: for example, bricklayers, bakers, merchants, nurses or electricians. In most countries of the world, there is no comparable qualification to the German vocational training system. In the end a vocational training in Germany is a legal option for foreigners even from non-EU-countries to work in Germany.
Which foreigners can start an apprenticeship in Germany?
Foreigners from all countries in the world can start a vocational training in Germany. According to current legislation it does not matter from which country an applicant comes. Applicants also do not need to have a visa to Germany in order to apply for the apprenticeship. Foreigners having finished an apprenticeship in Germany have outstanding career opportunities in Germany on the basis of current legislation: After vocational training, it is possible even for non-EU-citizens to stay in Germany in order to work in this profession (as long as there is an employment contract and other conditions may count).
How many years is an apprenticeship in Germany?
In Germany an apprenticeship is between 2 and 3 years. The concrete length depends from your chosen profession, your skills, your language skills, and the fact how quickly you can pass the exams. In case you have studied before in the area of your apprenticeship you might shorten the apprenticeship in order to get quicker in job in Germany.
What can I do after vocational training in Germany?
There is the possibility of permanent employment in Germany after successful training. German companies are interested in permanent employment for most applicants and will generally make you a very good job offer. And if that doesn’t work out, you can always take a look around here.
