Vocational Education

The dual system of vocational education, with its two learning venues - company and vocational school - is a key pillar for meeting Germany’s demand for skilled workers. With around 1.3 million trainees, more than half of all young people choose this path as an entry into qualified employment. Germany’s comparatively low youth unemployment rate in Europe demonstrates the labor market relevance of this educational model, which combines theoretical instruction at vocational schools with practical training in companies.

You can find more information about the dual vocational training system here.

Vocational schools offer programs for basic vocational qualification and for practicing a profession. Qualifications for professional employment can be obtained in two to three years. These include professions in health and social care (such as nursing, speech therapy, occupational and physical therapy) as well as a wide range of other vocational qualifications.

The federal states regulate school-based vocational qualifications through the Framework Agreement on Vocational Schools and the Framework Agreement on Training and Examination for State-Certified Technical and Commercial Assistants.

An overview of the various school-based vocational qualifications in the federal states is provided in the Documentation on State-Regulated Vocational Qualifications at Vocational Schools.

Under certain conditions, vocational schools also allow students to acquire the advanced technical college entrance qualification and the KMK Foreign Language Certificate.

Technical schools are institutions for continuing vocational education that offer programs with specialized knowledge tailored to practical requirements.

Graduates take on leadership roles in companies, administrations, and other organizations or independently perform responsible tasks in middle management. A technical school qualification also enables professional self-employment.

Admission to technical schools generally requires completion of a relevant vocational training program, as stipulated in the Framework Agreement on Technical Schools.

Further detailed information can be found here.

Vocational schools, with their full-time programs, make an important contribution to permeability in the education system and equal opportunities. By enabling students to acquire higher education entrance qualifications, they create pathways to universities: 

- At a technical secondary school, students can obtain the advanced technical college entrance qualification.
- At a vocational secondary school, they can obtain the subject-specific or general higher education entrance qualification.
- At a vocational gymnasium, they can obtain the general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur).

Additionally, students can acquire the advanced technical college entrance qualification alongside their vocational training by attending supplementary classes.

Under certain conditions, professionally qualified individuals may also be admitted to university without a formal higher education entrance certificate (Abitur or advanced technical college entrance qualification).

Further information on university access for professionally qualified individuals can be found here.

Launched on May 16, 2024, the Pact for Vocational Schools aims to make vocational schools fit for future societal and economic challenges while strengthening their educational and integrative role in public perception.

The pact is jointly supported by the KMK and the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth. It also includes representatives of social partners, teacher associations, school authorities, academia, and the Federal Student Conference.

The pact creates a communication and exchange platform for cooperation among participating institutions and stakeholders. Based on jointly agreed priorities, the partners develop recommendations and measures to be implemented within their respective areas of responsibility.

You can find more detailed information about the Pact for Vocational Schools here.

Im Schuljahr 2023/2024 besuchten 2,3 Millionen Schülerinnen und Schüler bzw. Auszubildende die beruflichen Schulen in Deutschland. 

Mit ihren vielfältigen und passgenauen Angeboten sprechen die beruflichen Schulen breite Zielgruppen an. Sie leisten damit nicht nur einen Beitrag für die berufliche und soziale Integration von Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen, sondern stellen der Wirtschaft qualifizierte Fachkräfte zur Verfügung, die zur Sicherung der Wettbewerbs- und Innovationsfähigkeit dringend notwendig sind.