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Vocational training in Germany (Ausbildung)

Roofer (Dachdecker/in)

Dachdecker / Dachdeckerin

You cover, insulate and waterproof roofs and façades: a 3-year training, paid from the first year, for a trade that means working at height and in a team.

Check my eligibility →Occupation brochure

LevelBaccalaureaterequired

Duration3 years36 months

GermanB2required level

Pay during training€1,002 to €1,403gross / month, during the training

The occupation in 30 seconds

What a roofer does

They cover roofs and clad façades with tiles, slates or panels, make them watertight, fit insulation and install solar panels.

Cover

Lay tiles, slates, shingles or sheets on roofs and clad exterior walls.

Waterproof

Fit vapour barriers, insulation and waterproofing layers on roofs, balconies and terraces.

Equip

Install gutters, roof windows, lightning protection and solar panels on roofs.

This occupation is for you if…

you like working at height, outdoors and in a team
you have good balance and no fear of heights
you are handy and precise with roofing materials
you are interested in insulation and solar energy

Less suitable if…

you are afraid of heights or avoid ladders and scaffolding
you cope badly with cold, heat or rain
you find it hard to carry heavy loads

Day to day

A typical day in the workshop

07:00

Departure and safety briefingThe team loads the materials and checks the scaffolding and the fall protection.

08:00

Lifting the materialsBring tiles, insulation and tools up to the roof with the hoist and with the help of colleagues.

09:30

Laying the roof coveringLay tiles or slates row by row on the roof, respecting the overlaps.

11:00

Waterproofing and flashingsLay the waterproofing and make the flashings around a chimney or a roof window.

13:30

Insulation and fittingsFit the insulation, fix a gutter or install a support for a solar panel.

15:30

Checking and tidying upCheck the watertightness, clean the roof and stow the equipment before coming down.

Skills and qualities

What you will learn, what is expected of you

Technical skills

Roof coveringRoof waterproofingFaçade claddingInsulation and vapour barriersSolar panel fittingSafety at height

Personal qualities

PrecisionBalanceTeamworkSafety awarenessStamina

The training

How the Ausbildung works

In Germany you learn by working: this is the “dual system”. You are an employee of a company and a student at a vocational school (Berufsschule) at the same time.

3 to 4 days a week at the company

1–2 days school

Year 1

The basics

Site, scaffolding and safety
Roofing materials
First jobs on the roof

Year 2

Practice

Covering and waterproofing
Cladding and insulation
Intermediate exam

Year 3

Specialisation

Flashings, gutters and solar
Sites run independently
Journeyman's exam

Exams and qualification

An intermediate exam (Zwischenprüfung) takes place at the latest at the end of the second year. The training ends with the journeyman's exam (Gesellenprüfung), whose main paper, roof, wall and waterproofing technology, counts for 60 per cent. You obtain the Gesellenbrief, issued by the Chamber of Crafts (HWK).

Pay

You are paid during the training

Gross monthly pay during the training. These amounts are averages: they vary by region, sector and collective agreement.

1st year

≈ €1,002

2nd year

≈ €1,155

3rd year

≈ €1,403

Requirements

What you need to apply

Education level

Baccalaureate level is required.

German level

The required level is B2. Good technical vocabulary for the trade is a real plus.

Physical fitness

The job calls for good physical fitness to carry materials, as well as balance, sure-footedness and a head for heights on ladders and scaffolding.

Documents to prepare

CV and cover letter in German
Translated baccalaureate diplomas and transcripts
German B2 level certificate

The reality of the job

Advantages and difficulties

Advantages

Paid from the first year
Qualification recognised throughout Germany
Outdoor work, far from the office
Career openings linked to insulation and solar

Difficulties

Physical work at height, exposed to the weather
Cold, heat and rain are part of daily life
Noise and dust on building sites
Strict safety rules against falls

After the training

Where it can lead

Straight away

Skilled roofer

Jobs in roofing or waterproofing firms, or in a roofing company.

With experience

Further training

Deepen your skills in roofing or solar thermal through short training courses.

Longer term

Master or degree

Take the Dachdeckermeister (master roofer), start your own firm or study civil engineering with university entry.

In the same category

Other trainings: Building and construction

Not quite convinced by this occupation? Here are related trainings in the same field.

Zimmerer/ZimmerinCharpentier / Charpentière36 monthsSee the sheet →Klempner/KlempnerinPlombier-zingueur / Plombière-zingueuse (couvreur-plombier)42 monthsSee the sheet →Maurer/MaurerinMaçon / Maçonne36 monthsSee the sheet →Fliesen-, Platten- und Mosaikleger/Fliesen-, Platten- und MosaiklegerinCarreleur / Carreleuse (carrelage, dalles et mosaïque)36 monthsSee the sheet →Straßenbauer/StraßenbauerinConstructeur / Constructrice de routes36 monthsSee the sheet →Geomatiker/GeomatikerinGéomaticien / Géomaticienne36 monthsSee the sheet →

See all trainings in this category →

Your pathway with Campus Germany

We are by your side from day one until you arrive in Germany

Four steps to move forward, all run by our own structures.

Check my eligibility

Take the test online or at the office

The eligibility test is done online on our website, or by visiting our Douala office directly.

Talk to an advisor

Talk to our team

Germany: +49 (0) 7033 694 18 80
Cameroon: +237 622 20 81 64

Prepare your German

DZK, our language centre

Deutschzentrum KAGEDEV (DZK) is our own language centre in Douala. Outside Douala: partner language centres, call us to find the nearest one.

Get the contract

AZUFA is always us

AZUFA is our platform: it connects you with German companies that recruit apprentices and follows your application through to the training contract.

From German A1 to the first day of training in Germany

Each step is run by one of our structures. You keep the same contact from start to finish.

1
Check my eligibility
The test is done online on our website or at our Douala office.
Run by Campus Germany
2
Talk to an advisor
Review your profile, your wishes and the chosen occupation.
Run by Campus Germany
3
Learn German, from A1 to B2
Courses adapted to your starting level, up to the required B2 level. In Douala at our own language centre; elsewhere, with our partner centres.
Run by DZK
4
Prepare the application file
CV and cover letter in German, translated baccalaureate diplomas and transcripts, B2 level certificate.
Run by Campus Germany
5
Find the company and sign the training contract
We connect you with German companies that recruit apprentices, and follow your application through to the contract.
Run by AZUFA
6
Prepare the visa and paperwork
Support to gather the documents and complete the administrative steps.
Run by Campus Germany
7
Prepare your departure and settling in
Travel, housing and first steps in Germany: we prepare you before you leave.
Run by KAGEDEV e.V.
8
First day of training in Germany
You arrive prepared and supported, with a team that has known you since day one.
Run by AZUFA

Stay informed

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Our structures for this occupation

AZUFA
Our platform for recruiting apprentices and skilled staff from Africa: matching with German companies through to the training contract.

Deutschzentrum KAGEDEV (DZK)
Our own German language centre, in Douala. Outside Douala: partner centres.

Training offers for this occupation

No offer is open here at the moment. Browse apprenticeship offers on AZUFA, or receive an e-mail as soon as a partner company recruits.

See offers on AZUFA →

Roofer (Dachdecker/in)

Occupation brochure

Take this sheet with you

A 5-page document to read offline or show your family: the occupation, the training, the pay and the whole pathway, from German A1 to the first day of training.

Download the brochure (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

You may be wondering…

What German level is required?

Level B2 is required. You do not need perfect German, but you must be able to follow lessons and understand safety instructions.

How long does the training last?

36 months, i.e. 3 years.

Am I paid during the training?

Yes. You receive a monthly pay throughout the training, and it generally increases each year.

Where can I take the eligibility test?

Online on our website, or directly at our Douala office.

Where can I learn German?

In Douala, at our language centre DZK. Elsewhere, at our partner language centres: call us to find the nearest one.

Can you choose a specialisation during the training?

Yes: the regulation provides for five specialisations, namely roofing, waterproofing, façade cladding, energy on roof and wall, or thatching.

How do company and school alternate?

The training is dual: you work in a company, attend the Berufsschule (vocational school) one or two days a week, or in blocks, and spend periods in an inter-company training centre.

Ready to find out whether this occupation is for you?

Take the test online or come and see us at the office. We are by your side from day one until you arrive in Germany.

Check my eligibility →Write on WhatsApp

Germany+49 (0) 7033 694 18 80

Cameroon+237 622 20 81 64

Douala office : Rond-point Maetur Bonamoussadi – Nice Cream building (4th floor), opposite the COGENI hardware store, Douala, Cameroon

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