Is B1 or B2 needed for Ausbildung in Germany?

For a qualified (dual) Ausbildung the visa standard is B1. Healthcare and nursing training usually need B2. Many employers prefer B2 even when B1 is the legal minimum, because vocational school is fully in German. A preparatory-course route can start at A2. Verify the exact level with your German mission and training company.

Which exam certificate is accepted for an Ausbildung visa?

Goethe-Institut, telc, and ÖSD certificates are accepted by German missions for the Ausbildung visa. telc and Goethe at B1/B2 are the most commonly requested. Always check your specific mission's accepted-certificate list before booking.

YOUR GOAL

I want to do an Ausbildung (vocational training)

THE ANSWER

For a qualified (dual) Ausbildung, the visa standard is B1. The preparatory-course route can start at A2 and build up to B1 during the course.

Qualified dual training (the standard path)

B1 is the level named for qualified vocational training under §16a.

GoetheB1
telcB1
ÖSDB1
TestDaFB2(TestDaF starts at B2)

Preparatory-course route

If you first do a preparatory German course, you can enter at A2 and reach B1 during it.

GoetheA2
telcA2
ÖSDA2

Nursing or care Ausbildung

Healthcare training is the exception: it typically needs B2, with the nursing-specific exam.

telcB1·B2 Pflege(the dedicated nursing exam)
GoetheB2
ÖSDB2

telc Deutsch and Goethe-Zertifikat at B1 or B2 are the two most commonly requested certificates. Many employers and the IHK/HWK chambers prefer B2, because vocational school is taught entirely in German. That is a tendency, not a legal rule.

Acceptance is set by your German mission and training provider

Confirm the exact level on your German mission's visa page (B1 is the published standard for qualified training, A2 for the preparatory-course route).
Ask your training company / chamber (IHK or HWK) whether they want B2 in practice.

NEXT STEP

See open exam dates for your providers

Goethe dates telc dates ÖSD dates

Know the second a slot opens

Free email alerts when a matching exam slot appears. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

SourcesAs of 17 Jun 2026

§16a AufenthG (Ausbildung residence) · gesetze-im-internet.de (Federal Ministry of Justice)
Vocational training visa (B1 / otherwise A2) · Make-it-in-Germany (Federal Government)
telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege (nursing exam) · telc gGmbH

COMPARE · 5 PROVIDERS

The five German exams at a glance

All five are CEFR-aligned and accepted as a class. Which one counts is set by the institution you apply to.

Exam	Levels	Mainly used for	Note
Goethe-Institut	A1 to C2	All routes; strong for university (C2) and visas	Most exam centers in India
telc	A1 to C2	Ausbildung, nursing (B1·B2 Pflege), jobs	Slots tend to open more often
ÖSD	A1 to C2	All routes; Austria's official exam	Accepted across routes
TestDaF	B2 to C1 (TDN 3-5)	University admission	No A1; not for a spouse visa
ECL	A2 to C1	General immigration / jobs	No A1 or C2; rarely used for university

See all goals