Mechatronics Ausbildung Guide
Short answer: Mechatronics Ausbildung (Mechatroniker/-in) is a three-and-a-half-year dual training in which you build, program, commission and maintain systems that combine mechanical, electrical and electronic parts. The training regulation names no required school certificate, so employers decide. The final exam has two parts, and pay is not fixed in the regulation.
This guide explains what the training involves, how it is organised, how the final exam works, who can apply and where to find the official information. Visa and entry rules are outside the scope of this site.
Mechatronics Ausbildung at a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| German name | Mechatroniker/-in |
| Type | Dual training: company and vocational school (Berufsschule) |
| Duration | 3.5 years |
| School certificate | None named in the training regulation. Employers decide |
| Final exam | Two parts: Part 1 before the end of the second year, Part 2 at the end |
| Optional extras | Four additional qualifications can be agreed (see below) |
| Training pay | Not set in the training regulation. See the pay section below |
What mechatronics technicians do
According to the IHK Cologne occupational profile, mechatronics technicians build complex systems from mechanical, electrical and electronic parts. They make the individual components, assemble them into systems and plants, commission them, program them and install the related software. They work from circuit diagrams or construction drawings, check the systems carefully before handing them to customers, and also maintain, repair and retrofit them.
IHK Ulm says the work is possible across industries and often done in teams, on assembly sites, in workshops or in service. Typical employers include machine and plant construction, the chemical industry, electrical plant construction and vehicle manufacturers.
How the training works
The training regulation says the Ausbildung lasts three and a half years. You sign a training contract (Ausbildungsvertrag) with a company and attend a vocational school. The regulation lists what the company must teach you, including:
- Safety and health at work, environmental protection and data protection.
- Reading technical drawings and circuit diagrams, and technical communication in German and English.
- Manual and machine cutting, forming and joining of metal and plastic.
- Installing electrical components, and measuring and testing electrical values.
- Building and testing controls, and programming mechatronic systems.
- Assembling machines and systems, putting them into operation and maintaining them.
Optional extra qualifications
The regulation allows four additional qualifications to be agreed on top of the standard training: digital networking, programming, IT security and additive manufacturing. They are examined separately within Part 2 of the final exam, on your request, once you have shown you were taught the skills. Ask the employer whether it offers any of them.
The final exam
The final exam has two parts held at different times. The regulation sets the content, times and weighting:
| Part | Area | Form | Share of the result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Working on a mechatronic sub-system | A practical task of 8 hours in total, including short technical conversations (up to 10 minutes) and written tasks (about 90 minutes) | 40% |
| Part 2 | Work order | Either a company order of 20 hours with a technical conversation of up to 30 minutes, or a work task of 14 hours with a conversation of up to 20 minutes. Your employer chooses the variant | 30% |
| Part 2 | Work planning | Written, 105 minutes | 12% |
| Part 2 | Functional analysis | Written, 105 minutes | 12% |
| Part 2 | Economics and social studies | Written, 60 minutes | 6% |
To pass, you need at least “sufficient” (ausreichend) overall, in the work order, and in two of the three written areas, and no area of Part 2 may be graded “insufficient” (ungenügend). If a written area is worse than sufficient, you can ask for an oral supplementary exam of about 15 minutes when it could decide the result. For admission, repeating and preparation, see our guide to Ausbildung exams.
Who can apply
The training regulation names no required school certificate, so each employer sets its own requirements. Read the posting carefully. Technical English is also part of the training: the regulation mentions English technical terms and documents. Expect to work and study in German, and see our guide to the German level for Ausbildung.
Training pay
The training regulation does not set pay, so it depends on the employer and the training year. Do not rely on a figure from a random website. See our Ausbildung salary guide for the legal minimum and how to compare offers, and check the employer’s posting.
How to apply
- Search for “Mechatroniker/-in” on the official boards. Our guide on where to find Ausbildung openings lists them.
- Check the start date, the location and whether the employer offers any of the extra qualifications.
- Send a tailored application: a cover letter, a CV and copies of your certificates.
- Prepare for the interview by learning about the company and its products.
Is it right for you?
- You like working with your hands and with technical drawings.
- You are interested in both mechanics and electrics, and ready to learn programming.
- You can work carefully and follow safety rules.
- You can work in a team, as IHK Ulm says is common in this job.
- You are ready to study technical terms in German and English.
Common mistakes
- Treating it as a university course. It is a dual vocational training with a company contract.
- Ignoring the electrical and software side because you like mechanics, or the reverse. The training covers both.
- Relying on a pay figure from a random website. Check the employer’s offer.
- Underestimating the German and English technical vocabulary.
- Not asking about the final exam variant your employer will choose.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the mechatronics Ausbildung?
Three and a half years, according to the training regulation.
Do I need a particular school certificate?
The training regulation names none. Employers set their own requirements, so check each posting.
How is the final exam structured?
In two parts. Part 1 is held before the end of the second year and counts for 40 percent. Part 2 is held at the end and makes up the remaining 60 percent.
Can I add extra qualifications?
Yes. The regulation allows digital networking, programming, IT security and additive manufacturing to be agreed in addition. They are examined separately within Part 2.
Is English part of the training?
Yes, technical English. The regulation mentions English technical terms and technical documents in English.
Sources
- Federal Law Gazette via BIBB: Mechatroniker training regulation, 2018 version (PDF), in German
- IHK Cologne: Mechatroniker/-in occupational profile, in German
- IHK Ulm: Mechatroniker/-in, in German
Last updated: 19 October 2026. Training rules, requirements and pay change, so check the official pages above and the employer’s posting before you apply.