Course content

The Teacher Training at Vocational Schools degree program is divided into three areas:

• Your vocational subject
• A general education subject or a second vocational subject
• Educational sciences

Content and Structure of the Social Pedagogy Teacher Training Program

If students have no relevant work experience, they must undertake vocational internship for 12 months alongside their regular studies.

1. Study and Examination Regulations

Study Regulations

You will find the current version of the Study Regulations for first and second vocational subjects and/or the general subject here.

Examination Regulations

You will find the current version of the Module Study Regulations for Teacher Training at Vocational Schools here. You will find the Examination Regulations for the first State Examination here. Practical School Exercises

2. Practical School Exercise

Goals and content

The practical school exercises (SPÜ) are a part of school practical studies, to which school placements A and B also belong. Their aim is to link the fundamental theoretical and didactic knowledge gained during studies with the realities of teaching at vocational schools. Students plan, lead and reflect on lessons under supervision. Within the SPÜ, subject-specific and vocational knowledge is combined with the planning of teaching and learning processes.

Supplementary materials

For the organizational and legal foundations of the SPÜ, please see the

• Handout for Vocational Subjects
• Supplementary handout for practical school exercises
• For more information on how to register, please see the Center for Teacher Education and Educational Research website.

Teaching and learning methods

The module comprises an internship alongside regular studies, a tutorial (1 hour per week) and independent study.

3. Block B

Goals and content

School placement B is the last section of the school practical studies and is generally undertaken by students on their own responsibility. During workplace shadowing, lessons are analyzed and evaluated according to specific criteria. The insights gained from this, together with the foundations acquired by studying theory, should then form the starting point for teaching units planned and carried out by the students themselves.

Students hold lessons and evaluate these, develop lesson objectives and content, plan how to apply the methodology, media, and social and action forms, record patterns of communication and interaction, and also address the challenges of performance assessment.

Teaching and learning methods

This module covers school placements in a vocational school (in a 4-week block) and independent study.

You will find important information on how to register and how the internship is structured on the Center for Teacher Education and Educational Research website.

4. Referendariat (practical training phase)

The Saxon State Office for School and Education is responsible for applications and the organization of practical training phase for teachers-to-be in Saxony.

If you do not wish to undertake your practical training phase in Saxony, please visit www.bildungsserver.de for information on the responsible offices and contact details for other states.

FAQs for the first State Examination

Which Study and Examination Regulations are binding?

• The Study and Module Examination Regulations for the individual vocational subjects,
• Teacher Examination Regulations I (Lehramtsprüfungsordnung I, LAPO I)

Where should I register for my first State Examination?

Saxon State Office for School and Education
Standort Dresden
Referat 42/Prüfungen
Großenhainer Straße 92
01127 Dresden

Tel.: +49 351 8439 470

For registration deadlines, please visit the website.

Where can I find information on examination periods?

You can find this information on the Saxon State Office for School and Education website.

How is the State Examination structured?

• General Provisions (§§ 1–23 LAPO I),
• General Provisions for Teacher Training at Vocational Schools (§§ 100–103 LAPO I),
• Social Pedagogy (§ 114 LAPO I).

Which examined assessments make up the examination?

• An academic thesis (§ 11 LAPO I),
• An oral examination according to § 12 LAPO I and pursuant to the stipulations of Parts 2 through 6,
• A written examination (§ 13 LAPO I).

How is the overall grade for the first State Examination calculated?

§ 16 LAPO I describes the procedure for calculating the overall grade in detail. You can find this here.