In-service training to become an educator
Subsidized further training as a nursery school teacher - part-time to a recognized qualification
Employee qualification Opportunities for daycare helpers
The shortage of skilled workers in the social and educational professions is a persistent problem that has a major impact on work in child and youth welfare. In order to counteract this, we would like to draw particular attention to the possibility of recruiting new skilled workers: practice-integrated further training to become a state-recognized educator.
In accordance with Section 81 (2) SGB III, financial support is available if employees do not have a vocational qualification or have not worked in their original profession for four years, are currently in semi-skilled or unskilled work and are no longer likely to be able to work in a job that corresponds to their vocational qualification. Daycare assistants in particular often meet these criteria. The prerequisite for funding is that regular employment contracts exist and that the employees are released from work by the vocational school for the downtime required during further training.
The Federal Employment Agency offers funding for employees' downtime during further training and covers up to 100 percent of the course costs. Within the three-year, practice-integrated training course, not only 2,400 hours of lessons at the vocational college are covered, but also 1,200 hours (900 hours) of practical training in child and youth welfare facilities. The exact amount of funding is determined by the local Federal Employment Agency.
If the requirements for admission to a vocational school are not met, childcare training at a vocational school could also be completed as an alternative. Here too, the Federal Employment Agency can support the providers with subsidies for the training-related downtime.
Further information can be found in the following FAQ.
Frequently asked questions about in-service training to become an educator at vocational schools
In principle, anyone who meets the requirements for admission to a vocational school can complete a practice-integrated further training course to become an educator. The practice-integrated training is demanding and must be completed full-time. It could therefore be worthwhile, for example, to approach those childcare assistants who you believe will successfully complete the training and who also have the time capacity for full-time further training.
No.
Two things must be fulfilled:
1) the prerequisite for admission to the vocational school and
2) the prerequisite for individual support from the employment agency.
- The prerequisite for admission of this group of people to a three-year further training course to become a "state-recognized educator" is either
- . to become a state-recognized educator" is either
- a secondary school leaving certificate, a non-relevant vocational training and 240 hours of practical training in a child and youth welfare facility
- a university entrance qualification and 240 hours of practical training in a child and youth welfare facility (e.g. Abitur, Fachabitur or vocational baccalaureate). Abitur, Fachabitur or professional qualifications such as master craftsman), or
a degree from a higher vocational school for social services or a technical college for social services.
The higher school supervisory authority can also approve deviations from the admission requirements for applicants in the fields of social pedagogy or curative education on a case-by-case basis until the 2030/31 school year. Prerequisites are a first school-leaving certificate, successful completion of non-relevant vocational training and proof of five years of relevant full-time professional experience (in a child and youth welfare facility or for curative education care in an integration assistance facility).
- In accordance with Section 81 (2) SGB III, the following persons are eligible for support:
Persons who do not yet have a vocational qualification (unskilled workers) or who have not worked in the occupation they originally learned for four years, are currently employed in semi-skilled or unskilled work and are no longer likely to be able to work in an occupation corresponding to their vocational qualification (re-skilled workers). However, this does not apply to young people who are about to complete their initial training directly after leaving school.
The relevant employment agency decides whether a person meets these requirements based on their professional background.
The Federal Employment Agency supports at least all training-related downtimes that are implemented by the respective training provider. Using the example of practice-integrated further training to become an educator, this would be:
- 2.400 teaching hours for attending classes at the Fachschule für Sozialpädagogik and
- 1,200 hours (900 hours) of practical training in the facilities
The basis for calculating the wage subsidy is the pay that is attributable to the working hours that are "lost" due to further training, i.e. taking into account the difference between the regular weekly working hours and the scope of the reduced weekly workload.
The amount of funding is at the discretion of the relevant employment agency; please get in touch with the relevant contact person in this regard.
You can contact the Federal Employment Agency here: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/unternehmen/finanziell/foerderung-von-weiterbildung/individuelle-foerderung
All public vocational schools for social pedagogy and curative education meet the requirement so that the employment agency can provide appropriate funding for training-related downtime. Like public vocational schools, private vocational schools for social pedagogy or curative education must be certified in accordance with AZAV.
A list of vocational schools that offer practice-integrated further training to become an educator can be found here: List of school locations
A list of vocational schools that offer practice-integrated further training to become a curative education nurse can be found here: List of school locations
Important: It must be an employment contract, not an internship or training contract. The contract must cover at least the number of hours per week required to complete the qualification. The exact minimum number of hours should be discussed with the respective vocational school. A minimum of 30 hours per week should be assumed.
The employment contracts must be effective from the first day of training at the latest. However, the employment contracts can of course also have been in place for some time (e.g. for daycare assistants who are already working at the facility) or be concluded at an earlier date.
Yes, the time spent at the technical college is also remunerated.
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia respects the autonomy of the providers and the level of remuneration is agreed by the collective bargaining partners. However, the minimum wage regulations must be observed in all cases.
No, the Kita-Helfer:innen guideline funds cannot be used for people who are undergoing training or further training in accordance with state law.
The education voucher can be issued by the responsible employment agency a maximum of 3 months before the start of the training. This certifies that the eligibility requirements have been met for the duration of the education voucher's validity. The original education voucher must be submitted to the Federal Employment Agency before the start of the further training. It is important that the complete measure can only start once all documents have been received and approved by the Federal Employment Agency.
Yes, the Personnel Ordinance can be applied as normal, specifically Section 13 (1) PersVO:
Persons in practice-integrated training for the professions of state-recognized educator and state-recognized curative education nurse can
- be entitled to supplementary staff hours,
- in the second year of training with half of their attendance time in the institution on specialist hours and
- in the third year of training with two thirds of their attendance time in the institution on specialist hours
.
Yes, if employees do not meet the school requirements for the vocational school or if the employees would prefer a childcare apprenticeship, the Employment Agency can also support you here as part of employee qualification.
A list of vocational schools that offer practice-integrated childcare training can be found here: List of school locations
You can find an overview of eligible further training courses at: www.mein-now.de