Language
Can you do an Ausbildung in English?
The short answer is: almost never. Here is why, which exceptions exist, and what to do if you do not speak German yet.
We are asked this question more than any other, and we understand why. Learning a new language to a level where you can follow technical lessons takes a year or more. It would be easier if there were a shortcut. There is not, and anyone who tells you otherwise should make you careful.
The short version
- Vocational school and the final exams of an Ausbildung are in German. This applies to practically every recognised training occupation.
- The visa for vocational training normally requires German at level B1.
- Some companies speak English internally, but you still attend a German vocational school and take German exams.
- If you start from zero, plan for ten to twelve months of intensive German classes to reach B1.
Why the Ausbildung is in German
An Ausbildung has two parts, and both happen in German.
Vocational school (Berufsschule) is a public school run by the federal states. Classes are taught in German, alongside German classmates, and include subjects such as technical theory, maths, economics and German itself.
The exams are set by the chambers, such as the Chamber of Industry and Commerce or the Chamber of Crafts. The written and practical final exam is in German, and so is the intermediate exam.
There is also a practical reason. In a production hall, safety instructions, shift handovers and the conversation with your trainer are all in German, often with a regional accent. The law reflects this: the visa for vocational training normally requires German at level B1, according to Make it in Germany.
What about companies that work in English?
Some international companies, IT firms and hotels use English every day, and a few of them accept apprentices with limited German. That can make your first weeks at work easier. It does not change the rest: you still attend a German vocational school and take German exams. Even in these companies, apprentices who do not keep improving their German struggle at school.
Offers that promise an “Ausbildung in English”
You will find advertisements for vocational programmes in Germany “fully in English”, sometimes with a fee. Before you pay anything, check three things:
- Is the profession recognised? Look it up in the register of recognised training occupations of the BIBB.
- Who holds the final exam? A recognised Ausbildung ends with an exam at a chamber or another public body, not with a certificate from a private company.
- Which vocational school will you attend? A serious provider can name it.
Private courses can be useful, but a certificate from a private course is not the same as a German vocational qualification. It does not give you the same residence rights either.
How long it really takes to reach B1
In our experience, candidates who start from zero need about ten to twelve months of intensive classes to pass a B1 exam in all four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Intensive means several hours of lessons a day, plus homework, plus practice outside the classroom. People who learn part-time alongside a job usually need considerably longer.
This is also why the language course is the best test of whether you really want an Ausbildung. Someone who studies for a year and passes the exam has shown the commitment that companies are looking for.
Learning German with the Ausbildung in mind
A general German course prepares you for everyday life. An Ausbildung needs a little more. From what we see with our own candidates, these habits make the biggest difference:
- Learn the vocabulary of your profession early. Once you know which profession you want, learn the names of tools, materials, machines and safety terms.
- Listen to real German, not only course recordings. Regional news, podcasts and videos from Germany get you used to different speeds and accents.
- Speak from the first week. Mistakes are normal. Silence is the bigger problem in an interview.
- Practise phone calls and forms. Appointments with authorities, landlords and banks are part of your first month.
- Do not stop after the exam. The weeks between your B1 exam and your departure are valuable. Use them.
Once you are in Germany, you can continue. The residence permit for company-based vocational training allows you to attend a preparatory German course. Job-related German courses of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees are another option; ask your company about them.
If you do not want to learn German
Then an Ausbildung is probably not the right path for you, and it is better to know that now than after a year of paperwork. People who already have a university degree and want to work in English, for example in IT, can look at other visa types such as the EU Blue Card. Make it in Germany has an overview of all options.
Questions about language
For recognised dual training occupations, practically none. Vocational school and chamber exams are in German. Some companies use English at work, but the school part stays German.
No. The final exam of a recognised Ausbildung is held in German.
A B1 certificate from a recognised provider such as the Goethe-Institut, telc or ÖSD, covering all four skills. Check with the German embassy in your country which certificates it accepts.
Usually not, because the visa normally requires B1. And even where exceptions apply, starting vocational school with A2 is very hard. Reaching B1 before you leave is in your own interest.
Sources: Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal), Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). As of September 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.
How we write these guides: we check every legal statement against official German sources such as the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Employment Agency, Make it in Germany and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), and we add what we have learned from more than 320 apprenticeships we have organised. We do not accept payment for mentioning companies or services. This information is general and is not legal advice.
More guides
Ausbildung in Germany: the complete guide
How the system works, who can apply from abroad and where most applicants go wrong.
Requirements and checklist
School certificate, German level, age, money and visa, with official sources.
Professions with real chances
Where the open training places are and which fields suit applicants from abroad.
Salary and living costs
Training pay by year, net income, a sample budget and pay after the Ausbildung.
The Ausbildung visa
Requirements, approval, steps at the embassy and the first appointments after arrival.
How to apply from abroad
Where to find places, the German CV and cover letter, and the interview.
Costs and scams
What you really pay, what you should never pay and how to check an offer.
After the Ausbildung
Staying on, the job search permit, permanent residence and salary.
How to choose a recruitment agency
What agencies may charge, the warning signs and the questions to ask.
Planning your Ausbildung on your own?
We are preparing a step-by-step online course based on the process we use with our own candidates. There is no start date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know.