The Ausbildung is Germany's dual vocational training: two to three and a half years split between a vocational school and a company, with an employment contract and a salary from the first month. It is one of the most direct routes to stable employment in Germany, and one of the least known among Tunisian candidates.
How the dual system works
You are an employee of a company that trains you in the trade, while attending theory classes at the Berufsschule. The qualification you obtain is recognised across Germany and immediately readable by employers, since it matches a national standard.
The language level expected
Most companies require B1, some B2 for trades involving contact with the public or with patients. That level is not negotiable: it determines both the signing of the contract and your ability to follow the theory classes.
Sectors that are hiring
- Healthcare and personal care, with structurally strong demand.
- Technical trades: mechatronics, electrical engineering, industry.
- Construction and finishing trades.
- Hospitality, catering and logistics.
Pay and what comes next
An apprentice receives a salary that rises over the length of the contract, governed by the sector's collective agreements. At the end of the training, the host company frequently hires its apprentice, and the qualification then opens the way to higher credentials such as the Meister.
The timetable to respect
Most contracts start in August or September, and companies recruit six to twelve months in advance. In practice, you need to have reached the language level and prepared your file well before the summer preceding the intake you are aiming for.
