Assistent/Assistentin im Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen

Assistants in health and social care are trained in a school-based Ausbildung (vocational training). Learning locations are Berufskolleg (vocational college): classrooms (classroom instruction), school's own rooms for practical training (e.g., computer rooms, biology rooms), and internship companies: premises of health and social care institutions.

Occupation Type: Ausbildung (vocational training) occupation. Type of Training: School-based training at Berufskollegs (vocational colleges) (regulated by Bundesland (federal state) law). Training Duration: 1 year. Learning Locations: Berufskolleg (vocational college) and internship company. What does one do in this profession? Assistants in health and social care support managers in nursing, hospital, and department administration with routine business tasks. They are involved in preparing organizational and efficiency analyses or tasks in finance and accounting, and work in areas such as purchasing, cost and performance recording, or human resources. They also work in patient admissions, bill for services, or prepare nursing rate negotiations. Furthermore, they advise and support people in need of help and care, or participate in basic nursing measures. Where does one work? Employers: Assistants in health and social care find employment in institutions.

Job Title: Assistant in Health and Social Care. Occupation Type: Berufsfachschule (vocational school) occupation. Training Duration: 1 year. Entry Requirement: Usually a secondary school leaving certificate. What does one do in this profession? Assistants in health and social care support managers in nursing, hospital, and department administration with routine business tasks. They are involved in preparing organizational and efficiency analyses or tasks in finance and accounting, and work in areas such as purchasing, cost and performance recording, or human resources. They also work in patient admissions, bill for services, or prepare nursing rate negotiations. Furthermore, they advise and support people in need of help and care, or participate in basic nursing measures. Where does one work? Assistants in health and social care find employment in healthcare institutions.

1 year

Distribution of Hours (example): Compulsory Lessons: 1. Cross-Vocational Learning Area: Religious Studies: 1 hour per week, Mathematics: 4 hours per week, Social Studies/History: 1 hour per week, English: 3 hours per week, German: 3 hours per week. Total Cross-Vocational Learning Area: 12 hours per week. 2. Vocational Learning Area: Biology and Health Studies: 4 hours per week, Economics and Law: 5 hours per week, Nursing: 2 hours per week, Nutrition Science with Dietetics: 2 hours per week, Nursing Exercises and Documentation or Practice Firm: 5 hours per week. Total Vocational Learning Area: 18 hours per week. Total Compulsory Lessons: 30 hours per week. Elective Lessons: Economics and Law II (additional lessons to acquire the Assistant in Health and Care diploma): 2 hours per week. Further Elective Subjects (Pedagogy; second foreign language): 4 hours per week. Internship: 4 weeks. Total Hours: 32 hours per week.

Training at public schools is generally free for students, but admission and examination fees may apply. Private schools, however, usually charge course fees. Additional costs may arise, for example, for learning materials, professional clothing, travel to the training location, or external accommodation. Funding Opportunities: Under certain conditions, students participating in vocational training (Ausbildung) can receive funding under the Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (BAföG) (Federal Education Assistance Act). For more information: The BAföG: all information at a glance.

During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is acquired in areas such as biology and health education, nutrition and dietetics, economics and law, nursing, and project work. General subjects like German, English, and mathematics are also taught during the Ausbildung (vocational training). In company internships, theoretical content is applied in health and social care facilities. Students gain insight into business operations, gather experience in typical professional working methods, and obtain an overview of the structure and organizational processes of the respective institution. Depending on the offerings of individual schools, additional knowledge enabling the acquisition of the Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification) may be provided.

One should prepare for the following conditions and requirements: In theoretical lessons, instruction in a classroom setting, possibly project work, and processing content at home. In the school's own practical rooms and during internships, practical work is carried out under guidance: admitting patients, performing basic nursing measures, handling administrative and business management tasks. The environment involves changing workplaces (offices, reception or information desks, patient rooms). Requirements include customer orientation and willingness to make contact (e.g., when advising patients, quickly establishing contact with patients), diligence and confidentiality (e.g., when calculating nursing rates, handling patient data), communication skills and negotiation skills (e.g., when dealing with patients, procuring materials), and flexibility (e.g., switching between patient conversations and phone calls, handling changing tasks and workplaces).

For an Ausbildung abroad, the following options are available, for example: Austria offers training opportunities through institutions like WIFI Austria (e.g., using the search term 'Gesundheitswesen').

No remuneration is paid for this Ausbildung.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects are good prerequisites for a successful Ausbildung: German (e.g., to advise patients and record personal data), Economics (e.g., to understand the structure and organization of businesses), Mathematics (e.g., to bill services with health insurance companies), Biology (e.g., to understand the basics of health education).

The following Ausbildung alternatives are available for the profession of Assistant in Health and Social Care: In the nursing field, Altenpflegehelfer/in (elderly care assistant) and Sozialassistent/in (social assistant). Their commonality is caring for, supporting, and advising people in need of help.

Assistant in Health and Social Care is a school-based Ausbildung (vocational training) regulated by state law at Berufskollegs (vocational colleges). It lasts 1 year and leads to a state final examination.

This Ausbildung (vocational training) is only legally regulated in the mentioned Bundesland (federal state) and leads to the following qualification: Baden-Württemberg: State-certified Assistant in Health and Social Care.

Improve opportunities with additional qualifications: Future Assistants in Health and Social Care can improve their chances during their Ausbildung (vocational training) by acquiring additional qualifications, e.g., the Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification) as a basis for a later Studium (university study). Find suitable employment: After their Ausbildung (vocational training), Assistants in Health and Social Care work in hospitals, social welfare institutions, and larger doctor's practices, as well as for health insurance companies and health authorities. Secure employability: Through adaptive further training, one can keep their specialist knowledge current or bring it up to date. The range of topics extends from accounting to care documentation. Advance professionally: Further training for career advancement helps to progress professionally and achieve leadership positions. It is logical to take the examination as a Specialist in Health and Social Care (Fachwirt/in im Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen). With a Hochschul (higher education).

1 year

During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in the following areas: Compulsory Area: General Area: Religious Education, History with Social Studies, German, English, Mathematics. Vocational Area: Biology with Health Education, Economics and Law I, Care, Nutrition with Dietetics, Project Competence. Vocational Practical Area: Care Exercises and Documentation, Practice Company. Elective Area: Additional lessons for acquiring the vocational qualification: Economics and Law II, other subjects, e.g., Pedagogy and Psychology or a second foreign language. Internship: The internship is optional.

Regulation at the federal level: Framework Agreement on Berufsfachschulen (vocational schools) (Resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of 17.10.2013 as amended on 21.03.2024). The framework agreement of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs on Ausbildung (vocational training) at Berufsfachschulen (vocational schools) is not directly applicable law. The individual Bundesländer (federal states) regulate assistant training in their school or Berufsfachschule (vocational school) regulations based on the framework agreement. Regulation at the state level: Ordinance of the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs on Ausbildung (vocational training) and Examination at Berufskollegs II (BK-II-Verordnung) of 25.08.2015 (BW.GBl. S. 800), last amended by Article 11 of the Ordinance of 08.04.2026 (BW.GBl. Nr. 48). In the following Bundesländer (federal states), there are no state-specific legal regulations: Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia. Overarching legal provision (training/activity): Law on the Prevention and Control.

A secondary school leaving certificate is required. Proof of measles protection is necessary for practical Ausbildung (vocational training) in community facilities and medical institutions. Furthermore, institutions may require additional vaccinations (e.g., against Hepatitis A and B) or corresponding immunity certificates. Further prerequisites may vary depending on the Bundesland (federal state) and the educational offering.

School and professional prerequisites: Realschulabschluss (secondary school certificate) and completion of Berufskolleg I, Health and Care (an average grade of at least 3.0 from the grades for German with business communication, English, Mathematics, and Biology with health education).