ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an overview of initial teacher education for vocational schools in the German state school sector. It differentiates between the different structures and requirements in teacher education for teachers in vocational schools and for the in-company trainers. Vocational schools in Germany are, with a small number of exceptions, part of the state school sector. School education in Germany is, in contrast to many other countries, the sole responsibility of the State. Teacher training for teachers in vocational schools therefore has a similar structure to the teacher training for general schools. The historical development leading to an academic route into the teaching profession in vocational schools was not straightforward, and it was different for the three different fields of vocational subjects. In-company trainers refer to the group of people involved in in-company training as part of the dual apprenticeship system.