Ausbildung Support: Free Tutoring Help
Short answer: Ausbildung support is free help from the Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) if you struggle in training. Its official name is Assistierte Ausbildung. A training provider can give you extra tutoring, personal guidance and help with problems at the company or at school. You ask your local Berufsberatung.
Many trainees fall behind in the Berufsschule or have problems at work and think they must cope alone. They do not. This guide explains what Ausbildung support covers, who can get it and how to ask. You can read how the school side works in our guide to the Berufsschule.
What is Assistierte Ausbildung?
Assistierte Ausbildung (often shortened to AsA) is a support service in German social law (SGB III, sections 74 to 75a). The Employment Agency can support young people and their training companies during a company-based Ausbildung or an internship before training (Einstiegsqualifizierung). A training provider (Bildungsträger) does the work for the agency.
You may also see the older name “ausbildungsbegleitende Hilfen” (abH). Many websites still use it. The current law text calls the support during training the “Begleitende Phase der Assistierten Ausbildung”. If an advisor mentions either name, they mean the same kind of help.
What help can you get?
According to the law, the support during training can include four things. The agency decides case by case which ones you need, after talking to you.
| Type of help | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Personal guidance | A social worker or coach supports you with problems that affect your training. |
| Stabilising the training | Help to keep the training contract or internship going when there is conflict or risk of quitting. |
| Language and learning gaps | Extra lessons to close school and German-language gaps. |
| Technical theory | Extra tutoring in the theory subjects of your occupation, for example before an exam. |
The training provider also works with your company. Your company stays fully responsible for your training, and companies can get organisational help too.
Who can get Ausbildung support?
The law says young people qualify if, without support, they cannot start or continue training, or are likely to struggle to finish it. Under the agency’s internal instructions (valid from 1 August 2024) you also need to be ready and suited for training and must not be in full-time compulsory schooling. There is no age limit.
Typical reasons are poor grades at the Berufsschule, language difficulties, exam anxiety or personal problems. The agency makes the final decision, so ask early instead of guessing whether you qualify. Some details differ if you are not yet in Germany or have a special residence situation, and our site does not cover those. Ask the agency or use the official sources below.
Support before you find a training place
There is also an optional preparation phase (Vorphase). It helps young people find and start a company-based Ausbildung and can include internships. It lasts up to six months and can be extended by up to two months if you still have no place. For this phase, the agency’s instructions generally expect German at about B1 on entry, and B2 for dual training. Check how our application guide fits with your timeline.
How long does the support last?
The support during training can run until you successfully finish the Ausbildung. Funding is usually set for one year and then reviewed. Follow-up support after training ends at the latest six months after you start work or one year after the training ends.
How to ask for support: 4 steps
- Call or write to the Berufsberatung. Your local Employment Agency has one. The free number for young people is 0800 4 5555 00.
- Explain the problem. For example: failing tests, missing theory, language problems or trouble in the company.
- Bring your papers. The application is informal. Usually you need your latest school report and a CV. During training, add your signed training contract and a current Berufsschule report. See our contract guide.
- Join the sessions. A training provider is assigned. The agency pays the costs, and you give up some free time each week.
Your company can also point you to the agency if it sees that you need help.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until you fail. Ask when grades start to drop, not after a failed exam. Our exam guide shows the dates to plan around.
- Paying for private tutoring first. Ask the agency whether the free support applies to you.
- Quitting without asking. The support also exists to keep a training relationship stable.
- Assuming you are not eligible. Eligibility is decided by the agency, not by rumours online.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ausbildung support really free?
Yes. The Employment Agency says it covers the costs. Trainees only give up a few hours of free time each week.
What is the difference between abH and Assistierte Ausbildung?
abH is the older name for the help during training. The current law calls it the Begleitende Phase der Assistierten Ausbildung. Some websites still use abH, so rely on the agency for current rules.
Can I get help before I have a training contract?
Possibly. The optional preparation phase supports the search for a place for up to six months, with extra conditions. Ask the Berufsberatung.
Does the support cover every occupation?
It is meant for company-based training. The agency’s instructions exclude state-regulated nursing helper training, so ask your advisor about your occupation.
Can my employer ask for it?
Employers can refer trainees to the agency and can get organisational help for their own role through the Arbeitgeber-Service.
Sources
- § 74 SGB III, Assistierte Ausbildung (dejure.org)
- § 75 SGB III, Begleitende Phase der Assistierten Ausbildung (dejure.org)
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Fachliche Weisungen Assistierte Ausbildung (valid from 1 August 2024)
- Agentur für Arbeit Lübeck, “Wenn es sein muss: Nachhilfe!” (9 December 2024)
Last updated: 30 October 2026. Rules and figures can change, so confirm details with the official source before you decide.