Social insurance clerk (Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte/r)
You inform and advise the members of an insurance fund: a 3-year training, paid from the first year, with a choice of specialism among five branches.
What a social insurance clerk does
They link insured people and the insurance body: they inform about membership and entitlements, process benefit claims and calculate and monitor contributions.
Inform
Inform insured people about their membership, their rights and the benefits they can claim.
Process
Examine benefit claims, for example in case of illness, and prepare the decisions.
Calculate
Calculate, monitor and collect contributions, in line with social insurance law.
This occupation is for you if…
- you like explaining complex rules in a simple way
- you are precise and comfortable with texts and calculations
- you want a useful job, serving the public
- you enjoy receiving and advising people
Less suitable if…
- you do not like office work and written files
- you struggle with many detailed rules of law
- you want a job with little contact with the public
A typical day in the workshop
What you will learn, what is expected of you
Technical skills
Social insurance lawAdvising insured peopleCalculating contributionsExamining benefitsData protectionManagement softwarePersonal qualities
AccuracyDiscretionService mindsetClear expressionEmpathyHow 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.
The basics
- Social insurance and membership
- Contributions and benefits
- IT and data
The specialism
- Law of the chosen branch
- Advising insured people
- Intermediate exam
Independence
- Complete files handled alone
- Advisory interview
- Final exam
Exams and qualification
A written intermediate exam (Zwischenprüfung) takes place around the middle of the 2nd year. The final exam has written papers (insurance and financing, benefits, economics and society) and an advisory interview of at most 30 minutes. You obtain the end-of-training certificate as a social insurance clerk, issued by the competent public body.
You are paid during the training
Gross monthly pay during the training. These amounts are averages: they vary by region, sector and collective agreement.
What you need to apply
Education level
German level
Physical fitness
Documents to prepare
- CV and cover letter in German
- Translated baccalaureate diplomas and transcripts
- German B2 level certificate
Advantages and difficulties
Advantages
- Work in the public social insurance service
- Five specialisms to choose from
- Training in service and in-house
- A job that helps insured people
Difficulties
- Detailed social law and technical vocabulary
- Sedentary, administrative work
- Accuracy required on rules and deadlines
- Contact with insured people who may be worried
Where it can lead
Insurance fund clerk
Work at a health insurer, a pension, accident or agricultural insurance body.
Social insurance Fachwirt
Further training to progress, for example towards management roles in a health insurance fund.
Social insurance studies
With access to higher education, a social insurance degree course is possible.
Other trainings: Management, finance and administration
Not quite convinced by this occupation? Here are related trainings in the same field.
We are by your side from day one until you arrive in Germany
Four steps to move forward, all run by our own structures.
Take the test online or at the office
The eligibility test is done online on our website, or by visiting our Douala office directly.
Take the testTalk to our team
Germany: +49 (0) 7033 694 18 80
Cameroon: +237 622 20 81 64
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.
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.
Go to AZUFAFrom 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Stay informed
Join our channels to receive new offers, session dates and advice. These are announcement channels: no private conversations.
Our structures for this occupation
Our platform for recruiting apprentices and skilled staff from Africa: matching with German companies through to the training contract.
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 →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)You may be wondering…
What German level is required?
How long does the training last?
Am I paid during the training?
Where can I take the eligibility test?
Where can I learn German?
What are the five possible specialisms?
Is part of the training held outside the insurance body?
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.