In-service training educator - Christina Cherry

In-service training as an educator is possible at some technical schools and is offered in addition to the classic school education full-time. For many people, this option seems ideal, as it is sometimes not so tempting to go to school again for a few years before you can finally start working and start your dream job.

Especially in view of the fact that there is no distance education for educators and that attending a corresponding technical school is mandatory for prospective educators, part-time training appears to be the perfect solution. In this way, one can complete the teacher training on the one hand and, on the other hand, pursue a professional activity.

The practice-integrated training as a teacher

When it comes to part-time training as an educator, there is usually talk of practice-integrated training. In many professions, dual vocational training that combines theory and practice is the rule and therefore the absolute standard. In contrast, school education for prospective educators only provides for a few internships and otherwise consists of full-time tuition.

Those who prefer more practical vocational training and who want to become educators at the same time should consider practically integrated training. Depending on the school, the practice-integrated form of training, or PIA for short, takes three to five years. The main advantage is that the trainees are introduced to pedagogical practice at an early stage and experience it every day in their everyday work as an educator in the facility that functions as a practice position. Budding educators who are for the practice-integrated training decide, on the one hand they attend the technical school for social pedagogy and on the other hand they work in a day care center.

The concept is thus based on the development of dual vocational training, although educators actually complete a school education. The organization of the lessons essentially depends on the respective school. In some schools, for example, two fixed school days are defined per week, while other technical schools distribute the theoretical lessons over the evenings of several days.

The salary in part-time teacher training

It should be clear to aspiring educators that school education comes without a training allowance. If you want to learn the teaching profession, you are preparing yourself for the fact that you will not earn your own income during your training. However, the situation is different with the PIA variant, because the trainees usually receive a training allowance from the practice center.

However, it is hardly possible to find general information on the salary during part-time training as an educator, since the remuneration fluctuates greatly. Examples from the recent past show that a gross monthly income of 600 to 1,200 euros can be achieved. Since practice-integrated training is still rather the exception, no reliable information on the average training salary can be found.

Training as an educator for career changers

The practice-integrated training as an educator is not only a great opportunity for all those who think that purely school-based training is too boring. Especially for career changers, there is a promising opportunity to enter the pedagogical field and to qualify as a state-recognized educator.

Anyone who is or has been working and is now considering an educator’s education as part of a professional reorientation sometimes refrains from these plans because purely school-based training without any income is out of the question.

In-service training that includes a practical and also paid job in a daycare facility can solve this problem and make it much easier for career changers to enter the teaching profession. Alternatively, there may also be the possibility to take an external examination and thus acquire the qualification as a state-recognized educator. However, extensive professional experience is absolutely necessary.

Basically, one also has to consider with regard to a lateral entry into the teaching profession that it is a state-regulated training. The opportunities for career changers who want to start as an educator in the course of a professional reorientation thus vary from state to state.

What are the requirements for part-time training as a teacher??

In-service teacher training is subject to state law, which means that the formal requirements may vary depending on the federal state. Childcare workers, educational assistants and absolute career changers are addressed equally.

Interest in pedagogy as well as pleasure in dealing with children should be present. In addition, part-time teacher training requires a particular degree of resilience and discipline.

When it comes to the formal criteria, however, no general statements can be made, which is why contacting the technical school makes sense and is important.

What are the costs of part-time teacher training??

Whether and how much costs arise in the context of part-time teacher training depends primarily on the respective course provider.

Private institutions are financed by the fees and can therefore cause considerable costs of several thousand euros. On the other hand, anyone attending a public technical academy or vocational school for social education while on the job does not have to pay school fees.

How can you get a part-time apprenticeship as a teacher?

It arises also the question again and again how to get a part-time apprenticeship in the teaching profession. There are basically two options here. Either you first turn to a technical school with part-time courses or you first look for a daycare or other educational institution that supports practice-integrated educator training.

After the first confirmation, all you have to do is look for a training company or school so that part-time teacher training can begin alongside the job.

Caution! Tips from the editorial team:

That one deals in-depth with the part-time education has to deal with the educator is out of the question and should be a matter of course. At the same time, it is worth paying attention to the following tips. This means that the success of qualifying as an educator is also within reach for career changers.

Pay attention to the special features of part-time teacher training in your federal state!

For this reason, special consideration of the special features in your own state is essential. For example, in Saxony-Anhalt, part-time teacher training is explicitly aimed at people without previous educational knowledge.

In contrast, part-time training as a teacher in Schleswig-Holstein is expected to have a vocational qualification or relevant professional activity of at least three years. It therefore makes a big difference in which federal state you take part-time teacher training.

Think carefully whether you can handle the double burden of part-time training as an educator!

Usually, as part of a school education followed by a year of recognition, you become an educator and thus have time to concentrate fully on the school or practical training. In the case of part-time teacher training, both take place in parallel instead.

For example, you attend school two days a week and work in kindergarten for the rest of the time. This can result in a not inconsiderable double burden, which one has to be able to cope with in order to qualify successfully as an educator. The combination of theory and practice is undoubtedly attractive, but should not be underestimated.