Which trade should you aim for in Ausbildung? The comparison, sector by sector.
Over 300 trades exist in Ausbildung. Here are 21 put under the microscope, with the real duration, the difficulty for a Moroccan candidate, and the German level actually expected, beyond the legal minimum.
21 / 21
- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B2 recommended in practice
- Shortage status
- Official shortage occupation (Mangelberuf)
- Duration
- 1 year
- Real German level
- B1, the legal level is enough
- Shortage status
- Official shortage occupation (Mangelberuf)
Medical assistant (doctor's office)
Medizinischer Fachangestellter (MFA)- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B2 recommended in practice
- Shortage status
- Official shortage occupation (Mangelberuf)
Building electrician
Elektroniker/-in für Energie- und Gebäudetechnik- Duration
- 3.5 years
- Real German level
- B1, the legal level is enough
- Shortage status
- Official shortage occupation (Mangelberuf)
Plumber & heating technician
Anlagenmechaniker/-in SHK- Duration
- 3.5 years
- Real German level
- B1, the legal level is enough
- Shortage status
- Official shortage occupation (Mangelberuf)
Mechatronics technician
Mechatroniker/-in- Duration
- 3.5 years
- Real German level
- B1, the legal level is enough
- Shortage status
- Shortage reported on the ground
Bricklayer
Maurer/-in- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B1, the legal level is enough
- Shortage status
- Shortage reported on the ground
Painter & decorator
Maler/-in und Lackierer/-in- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B1, the legal level is enough
- Shortage status
- Shortage reported on the ground
Carpenter/joiner
Tischler/-in (or Schreiner/-in)- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B1, the legal level is enough
- Shortage status
- Not confirmed
Application developer
Fachinformatiker/-in, Anwendungsentwicklung- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B2 recommended in practice
- Shortage status
- Shortage reported on the ground
IT systems integrator
Fachinformatiker/-in, Systemintegration- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B2 recommended in practice
- Shortage status
- Shortage reported on the ground
IT systems electronics technician
IT-System-Elektroniker/-in- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B2 recommended in practice
- Shortage status
- Not confirmed
Cook
Koch/Köchin- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B2 recommended in practice
- Shortage status
- Shortage reported on the ground
All-round hospitality clerk
Hotelfachmann/-frau- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B2 recommended in practice
- Shortage status
- Shortage reported on the ground
Catering assistant (fast-track)
Fachkraft für Gastronomie- Duration
- 2 years
- Real German level
- B1, the legal level is enough
- Shortage status
- Shortage reported on the ground
Warehouse operative / forklift operator
Fachlagerist/-in- Duration
- 2 years
- Real German level
- B1, the legal level is enough
- Shortage status
- Official shortage occupation (Mangelberuf)
Warehouse logistics technician
Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B1 legal, B2 advisable in practice
- Shortage status
- Official shortage occupation (Mangelberuf)
Retail sales clerk
Kaufmann/-frau im Einzelhandel- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B1 legal, B2 advisable in practice
- Shortage status
- Shortage reported on the ground
Tax assistant
Steuerfachangestellte/r- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B2 recommended in practice
- Shortage status
- Shortage reported on the ground
Legal & notary assistant
Rechtsanwalts- und Notarfachangestellte/r- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B2 recommended in practice
- Shortage status
- Shortage reported on the ground
Office management clerk
Kaufmann/-frau für Büromanagement- Duration
- 3 years
- Real German level
- B2 recommended in practice
- Shortage status
- Not confirmed
Shortage status
This comparison draws on official sources (the federal employment agency, the federal vocational-training institute, professional chambers) and recent sector surveys. Reality varies from one company to the next: this table gives a general trend, not an individual guarantee. B1 remains the legal minimum for the visa in every case.
A question about your own case?
Message us: we look at your profile and tell you honestly what is possible.
Read next
- AusbildungTraining that pays from day one — and what it demands.
- Can you go to Germany without the baccalaureate?Yes, for Ausbildung. It's one of the biggest misunderstandings on this topic: unlike university studies, Ausbildung doesn't…
- Is a German Ausbildung free or paid for? The honest answer for Moroccan candidatesIn a dual Ausbildung you pay nothing for the training itself, you earn from it.
- The assessment13 questions, 3 minutes, a reasoned answer.
Not sure yet which trade to aim for?
The diagnostic is free, takes 3 minutes, and comes with no commitment.