In this blog post we have summarized the different training options.
Education is a federal state matter, and this also has an impact on apprenticeships. In each federal state, the training to become a teacher is somewhat different, and the entry requirements can vary in some cases. Even the individual technical colleges or specialist academies for social education have their own admission criteria, which they use to decide whether a student can be accepted. It is therefore important to find out about the respective conditions and requirements for teacher training directly from the training centers that are of interest to you.
Educator
requirements
In any case, applicants should have a secondary school diploma and ideally have already completed training as a child care worker or social education assistant. Alternatively, high school graduates are admitted if they can prove a longer relevant internship in a social education institution. Applicants with non-relevant vocational training must also prove about a year of practical social education experience in order to be accepted into a technical college or technical academy. Each application for admission is examined individually and there is no obligation on the part of the school to accept an applicant. In addition, schools can set their own criteria for selecting their students. Applicants must usually submit a CV and complete a letter of motivation and a personal interview. Private or church-run schools can also make the acceptance or rejection of applicants dependent on their religious affiliation.
Important: The teacher training is recognized everywhere, regardless of which federal state it was completed in. This means that graduates with state recognition can work throughout Germany.
What different forms of teacher training are there?
We have summarized the training opportunities in the table.
| “classical teacher training” | Part-time teacher training | PiA training |
Length of time | Depending on previous education, three to five years | usually four years | three years |
requirements | middle School graduation + relevant initial training or High school diploma and relevant internship | middle School graduation + relevant initial training or High school diploma and relevant internship | middle School graduation + Initial training and practical experience |
Division of theory/practice | high proportion of theory (approx. 80 percent), theoretical technical college training and internships,
Classes take place in the morning | Theory and practical parts are approximately the same, but less interlinked than in PiA,
Classes take place in the evening or on weekends | Theory and practice share 50 percent each, very tight interlocking, Classes take place every afternoon or on fixed weekdays |
Earnings during training | Not in the first two years of training, but funding through student or advancement BAföG is possible,
Internships are remunerated at a uniform rate and in accordance with collective agreements | not regulated by collective agreement and uniformly | yes, tariff-based and uniformly determined |
Funding opportunity | Student or advancement BAföG | no, because compensation is possible | no, because remuneration is guaranteed |
Approximate workload in hours per week | 25 to 30 hours of lessons per week, approx. 5 hours of preparation and follow-up as well as exam preparation | 16 to 20 hours of teaching per week plus preparation and follow-up, approx. 20 hours of practical work per week | 20 hours of lessons, 20 hours of paid work in the practice facility, approx. 10 hours of preparation and follow-up as well as self-study phases |
Who is it particularly suitable for? | all interested parties | Career changers (with children) | All interested parties who value a close connection between theory and practice, are well organized and can work under pressure |
Is it possible to obtain a university of applied sciences entrance qualification during training? | Yes | partially | no |
School holidays = vacation? | Yes | no | no |
What salary do educators get and are there any grants?
During this time, students do not receive a salary. However, they also do not incur any costs, except for books, school trips, copies or special learning materials. Only very few technical schools charge tuition fees.
However, there are financial support options for prospective educators. The so-called Advancement BAföG is particularly interesting . Anyone who completes further training or further education, which usually requires at least two years of initial training, can apply for this. As in the case of the classic three-year educator training, the training must be carried out full-time or part-time by a recognized professional or further education provider. Anyone can receive funding regardless of age and marital status; only income and assets are taken into account when calculating the amount of Advancement BAföG. Those with children receive additional support, as do single parents. In total, the grant paid out monthly for two years is between
maximum 892 euros (for single people without children),
a maximum of 1597 euros (for married couples with two children for whom child benefit is received) and
maximum 1662 euros (for single parents with two children under 14 years of age).
The advancement BAföG is granted as a full grant for two years, so it does not have to be repaid. In the third year of training, the so-called professional internship, prospective educators receive remuneration from their employer. Depending on the provider and federal state, this amounts to around 1,620 euros gross per month for a working time of 39 hours per week (net in tax class I around 1,200 euros, plus any one-off or special payments such as Christmas bonuses in the public sector).
For comparison: The starting salary after training starts at around 1800 euros net according to TvöD S8a (in tax class I and a working time of 39 hours per week).
In theory, prospective educators could also apply for student BAföG. However, unlike the advancement BAföG, this is not granted regardless of age. In addition, it is based on the parents' income and provides for lower allowances.
Anyone who opts for the so-called "practice-integrated training" (PIA) receives a salary from the start because the training is 50 percent academic and 50 percent practical. Prospective educators are permanently employed in a social-educational institution for 25 hours per week and receive remuneration. This amounts to:
in the first year of training approx. 1140 euros
in the second year of training approx. 1202 euros
in the third year of training approx. 1303 euros
Childcare worker / childcare assistant training educator
Training course
The full-time training lasts two years and requires approximately 39 hours per week.
At the Municipal Vocational School for Child Care, you will take part in project- and action-oriented classes. The compulsory subjects include pedagogy and psychology, practical and methodological studies, as well as German and communication. You can also take voluntary elective subjects.
In the social education practice, you will be practically prepared for your future professional field. You will work under supervision in one of the approximately 450 municipal daycare centers and will be trained in educational methods and fields of work. Internships and additional block weeks in practice currently take place once a week.
Entry requirements:
- Secondary school diploma or higher qualification
- medical confirmation of suitability for a social education profession
What different forms of child care training are there?
- Full-time (2 years) - Training is a combination of lessons at school and practice in a daycare center (Kita)
a. What qualifications will I receive?
You will receive the professional qualification as a “State-certified child care worker”.
You can also obtain the intermediate educational qualification (similar to the intermediate school leaving certificate). You will receive this if your final certificate has an average grade of 3.0 or better and at least a grade of 4.0 in English. Or you can prove to us that you have sufficient English skills after 5 years of English lessons.
b. When does the training start?
Full-time training at the vocational school begins in September of each school year.
c. How and when do I apply for training at the BFS?
Between January and March.
In addition, you will need proof of a successful secondary school diploma or higher qualifications such as a qualifying secondary school diploma, intermediate school diploma, technical college diploma or high school diploma.
You also need a medical certificate confirming your suitability for a social education profession.
- Part-time (3 years) - Specifically tailored to the needs of parents and for those who want more flexibility in their training
- 2 years (childcare course )
The Leki program is the successor to the assistant program. Also for career changers. Part-time paid work in a daycare center or nursery. Lessons at school in the afternoon. The training ends with an "external" exam.
Assistant program: At the vocational school for child care, you will complete the academic part of the course, which will provide you with basic knowledge and skills for pedagogical collaboration in various social-educational fields of work, in particular
the care, education and upbringing of children from infancy to early school age.
Salary: During this time, your salary will be based on the collective agreement S2 level 1.
Training content: In addition to theoretical instruction in 14 subjects, you will be supervised by social educators at your workplace for the practical training part and prepared for the final examination in SPP (Social Pedagogical Practice).
Your part-time training:
From Monday to Thursday in the morning and all day on Friday, you will complete the practical training in a crèche, kindergarten, home for children or in integration facilities with a working time of 19.5 hours per week.
Qualification: State-certified child care worker (with intermediate school leaving certificate if the result is appropriate)
Start of training: The part-time training at the vocational school begins in September of each school year. It lasts two years. Classes take place Monday to Thursday from 12:15 to 4:30 p.m. The class days are based on the state holiday regulations.
Childcare and Social-Pedagogical Seminar (SPS)
Training
The SPS is a professional preparatory course for the training of educators. The prerequisite is at least an intermediate school leaving certificate. The trainee educators work four days a week in social education institutions and attend one seminar day at the FakS.
Earnings
Interns in the SPS earn approximately € 450 to € 750 per month (depending on the employer).
Diploma
With the successful completion of the SPS, the professional qualification
“State-certified child care worker”
It corresponds to the professional activity as a second person in the group and is a prerequisite for attending the FakS for educator training .
What training have you completed?
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Vladislava Ivanova