The vocational school imparts job-related and cross-occupational skills for recognised training occupations according to the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) or the Crafts Code (HwO) in the dual system. It enables students to exercise their profession and to help shape the world of work and society. Before the vocational school, you can complete a vocational preparation year.

The system is called dual because the training is carried out at 2 learning locations: in the company and in the vocational school. The vocational school and the training companies fulfil a common educational mandate in dual vocational training. As an independent place of learning, the vocational school works together with those involved in vocational training.

The dual training lasts 2, 3 or 3 years and 6 months in recognised training occupations.

The training includes theoretical training at the vocational school and practical training in the company. The Federal Government draws up regulations for in-company training. For the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK), regulations for vocational schools are drawn up.

The teaching time at the vocational school comprises 12 lessons per week. It can also be combined into multi-week teaching blocks. In principle, instruction is given in specialist classes of a training occupation or related training occupations. Of the approximately 330 recognized training occupations, about 240 are taught in Saxony-Anhalt. If the number of pupils in certain occupations is low, schooling takes place in transnational specialist classes. This means that the vocational school may be located in another federal state.

If you have successfully attended the vocational school, you will receive the vocational school certificate. With the vocational school leaving certificate, the lower secondary school leaving certificate is acquired. Furthermore, you can acquire the Realschulabschluss and extended Realschulabschlusse. If you have taken part in an additional offer during your training and passed the additional examination, you will acquire the Fachhochschulreife.