Hiring and paying apprentices in Germany
The vocational training contract under the BBiG: twelve minimum items in text form before the first day, a probation period of one to four months and registration with the chamber. Then the minimum allowance for apprenticeships starting in 2026 — €724 in the first, €854 in the second, €977 in the third and €1,014 in the fourth year — which is set by the year training began, release for vocational school and the €325 social security threshold. The third module covers the Youth Employment Protection Act for apprentices under 18 and the end of training: examination, continued work and notice. Three modules with case studies built on the statutory text.
Foundational3 modules67 minModule 1 free to read
2026 rules — verified on September 23, 2026
Figures are tied to dated, sourced tax constants. A module whose rules have changed is flagged for review, and is unpublished automatically beyond 90 days.
By the end of this course, you can…
These outcomes are the modules' own: the promise cannot say anything the course does not teach.
- tell who may hire apprentices and who may train them
- record the twelve minimum items of the contract in text form, completely and on time
- recognise the clauses the Vocational Training Act declares void
- set a lawful probation period between one and four months
- apply for entry in the register of training relationships and meet its conditions
- know the 2026 minimum allowance for each training year and assign it by the year training began
- check whether an allowance above the minimum is nonetheless inappropriate
- handle benefits in kind, overtime, due dates and continued payment of the allowance correctly
- meet the firm's training duties under section 14 BBiG
- plan release and crediting for vocational school and examinations correctly
- recognise when the Youth Employment Protection Act applies on top of the BBiG
- plan working time, breaks, rest and night rest for apprentices under 18
- determine a young person's leave entitlement from their age
- request the medical examinations in good time
- know when training ends and how notice is validly given
The programme, module by module
Each module has its own page. Durations are derived from the actual text, never announced by hand.
- Module 121 minFree — no accountThe training contract: content, probation and registration with the chamberWhat you will be able to do
- tell who may hire apprentices and who may train them
- record the twelve minimum items of the contract in text form, completely and on time
- recognise the clauses the Vocational Training Act declares void
- set a lawful probation period between one and four months
- apply for entry in the register of training relationships and meet its conditions
- Module 224 minIncluded in the full courseTraining allowance, the firm's duties and release for vocational schoolWhat you will be able to do
- know the 2026 minimum allowance for each training year and assign it by the year training began
- check whether an allowance above the minimum is nonetheless inappropriate
- handle benefits in kind, overtime, due dates and continued payment of the allowance correctly
- meet the firm's training duties under section 14 BBiG
- plan release and crediting for vocational school and examinations correctly
- Module 321 minIncluded in the full courseApprentices under 18 and the end of trainingWhat you will be able to do
- recognise when the Youth Employment Protection Act applies on top of the BBiG
- plan working time, breaks, rest and night rest for apprentices under 18
- determine a young person's leave entitlement from their age
- request the medical examinations in good time
- know when training ends and how notice is validly given
What you take away
A handout you keep, not just a page you read. The sections are derived from the course itself: what is announced here is exactly what gets generated.
Participant handout (PDF)
PDF
- Learning objectives (3)
- Key figures (15)
- Mistakes to avoid (3)
- Official sources (3)
Exercise workbook (Word)
Word
- Learning objectives (3)
- Key figures (15)
- Mistakes to avoid (3)
- Official sources (3)
Answers live in a separate appendix: the participant handout and the workbook stay distributable before the exercise.
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Where this course leads
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Educational content, current with the sources cited. It does not replace advice tailored to your situation. These courses are neither certifying nor CPF-eligible: they prepare for no certification registered with the French RNCP or specific register.