First Week in an Ausbildung: Checklist

October 30, 2026 T. Ausbildung Corner

Short answer: Your first week in an Ausbildung is mostly about paperwork, people and routines. Before day one, line up your tax ID, health insurer, bank details and insurance number. In the first days, meet your trainer, ask for the training plan, start your training record and learn the safety rules. Be on time, ask questions and read your contract again.

This guide is for anyone starting an Ausbildung, including people who are new to Germany and do not yet have every document. It explains what to arrange before day one, what usually happens in the first days, which rights you already have and which German words to learn first. It is general information, not legal advice. Visa and residence questions are outside the scope of this site.

Table of Contents

Before day one: what to arrange

According to IHK Munich, a training usually starts on 1 August or 1 September, and many companies send you details for your first day a few days before. Use the time before to arrange these items:

What	Why you need it	If you do not have it yet
Tax ID (Steuer-Identifikationsnummer)	Your employer needs it to calculate your tax	People registered in Germany receive it by letter from the Federal Central Tax Office. If you cannot find it, you can request it again there
Health insurer (Krankenkasse)	You must be a member, and your employer needs to know which insurer you chose	Apply for membership before the first day. IHK Munich advises doing this early
Social insurance number	Used to register you with the pension insurance	If you have one, give it to your employer by the start. If not, your health insurer requests it and sends it by post
Bank account (IBAN)	Your employer pays your training pay into it	Tell your employer your bank details by the start at the latest
Medical check certificate	Required if you are under 18	IHK Magdeburg says it must not be older than 14 months, and the chamber will not register the contract without it
Your copy of the contract	To check dates, pay, holiday and probation	Ask for it if you have not received one

IHK Munich also suggests checking whether you are still covered by a private liability insurance, for example through your parents, once you start. The vocational school registration is done by your employer, who usually needs the contract and a copy of your last school certificate, according to IHK Magdeburg.

Day one

Every company runs the first day differently, but most do the same things:

You meet your trainer, your colleagues and the other trainees, and see where you will work.
You hand over the numbers and documents above and receive your first information about your tasks and schedule.
You are told how the workplace is organised, such as breaks, rules and who to ask for what.

Bring your identity document, your contract copy, the numbers and papers the company asked for, and a notebook and pen. Ask in advance what clothing you need. According to IHK Magdeburg, the company must provide safety clothing that the accident insurance prescribes, but you wear ordinary work clothing yourself.

The public Ausbildungslotsen guide of the Landkreis Osnabrück gives simple advice that works anywhere: arrive five minutes early, plan for delays, greet people clearly, learn the names of the colleagues you work with, spend breaks with the team and keep your phone away. If you will be late, tell the company right away.

Days two to five

Ask for the training plan. IHK Lüneburg-Wolfsburg says every training contract is based on a company training plan. It tells you what you will learn and when.
Start your training record (Berichtsheft). You must keep it, and your employer must give you the chance to write it during work. You need it for admission to the exams.
Learn the safety rules. The law says the company must protect you from physical and moral danger. Ask about safety rules and protective equipment, and take notes during any safety instruction.
Know your school dates. Ask when your school days or block weeks are. See our Berufsschule guide for your rights around lessons.
Find your contacts. Note who is your trainer, who handles pay and who to call if you are sick or late.
Ask when you do not understand. Employers expect questions from trainees, and the Landkreis Osnabrück guide says asking shows interest. Admit mistakes openly rather than hiding them.

Your rights already apply in week one

Pay from the start. IHK Munich says you are entitled to training pay from the start of the training. The BBiG says the pay for the current month is due at the latest on the last working day of the month.
Free materials. The company must provide the tools and materials you need for the training and the exams free of charge. School books are not included, according to IHK Magdeburg.
Tasks that serve the training. The company may give you only tasks that serve the training and suit your physical strength.
Release for school and exams. The company must release you for lessons and exams.
Hours and holidays. Legal limits apply, with stricter rules if you are under 18. See our guide to Ausbildung working hours and holidays.
Probation. The first one to four months are a probation period. Read how it works in the same guide.

If your first week does not match your contract, compare the two. Our guide to the Ausbildung contract explains what it must contain.

German words to learn first

German	In English
Ausbilder/in	The person who trains you at work
Ausbildungsplan	Your company’s training plan
Berichtsheft, Ausbildungsnachweis	Your training record
Berufsschule	Vocational school
Unterweisung	Instruction, for example in safety rules
Krankmeldung	Report of an illness to your employer
Ansprechperson	Contact person
Ausbildungsvergütung	Training pay
Probezeit	Probation period
Freistellung	Release from work, for example for school

For many more terms, see our Ausbildung glossary.

Your first week, step by step

Two to four weeks before: apply for your health insurer membership, find your tax ID and open a bank account.
One week before: read your contract again, plan your route and check what to wear and bring.
Day one: arrive early, hand over your documents, learn names and write notes.
Day two or three: ask for the training plan, start your training record and learn the safety rules.
Day four or five: note your school dates and contacts, and ask any open questions.
End of the week: check that you have your contract copy, your plan and your questions for next week.

If something goes wrong

Talk to your trainer calmly first, and refer to your contract. The Landkreis Osnabrück guide suggests preparing the talk: choose a time, note your points and stay factual. If that does not help, the training advisers of the responsible chamber help both trainees and companies, according to IHK Magdeburg. Remember that during probation either side can end the training without notice, so keep your documents and records in order from the start.

Common mistakes

Arriving without your tax ID, insurer or bank details. It delays your first pay.
Staying silent when you do not understand. Ask early.
Hiding a mistake. Admit it and fix it.
Forgetting the training record. Start it in week one.
Not telling the company when you are late or sick.
Paying anyone for “starter packages”. You do not need to.

Frequently asked questions

What should I bring on the first day of my Ausbildung?

Your identity document, your contract copy, your tax ID, health insurer details, insurance number if you have one, bank details, a notebook and anything else the company asked for.

What if I do not have a tax ID or insurance number yet?

Tell your employer. Your health insurer requests the insurance number when you join, and you can request your tax ID from the Federal Central Tax Office if you cannot find it.

Do I get paid in the first week?

You are entitled to training pay from the start of the training. The pay for the current month is due at the latest on the last working day of the month.

Who registers me at the vocational school?

Your employer does, usually with your contract and a copy of your last school certificate.

What should I do if I will be late or sick?

Tell your company immediately and, on a school day, the school too. Ask how medical certificates are handled.

Sources

Last updated: 30 October 2026. Rules and figures can change, so confirm details with the official source before you decide.

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