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Vocational training in Germany (Ausbildung)

Sheet metal worker and roof plumber (Klempner/in)

Klempner / Klempnerin

You shape sheet metal for gutters, façades and ventilation: a paid training of three and a half years for a trade split between workshop and building site.

Check my eligibility →I already have B2
LevelBaccalaureaterequired
Duration3.5 years42 months
GermanB2required level
Pay during training€1,100 to €1,450gross / month, during the training
The occupation in 30 seconds

What a Klempner does

They make and fit gutter systems, window sills, façade cladding and sheet-metal ventilation ducts, both on building sites and in the workshop.

Shape

Cut, bend, fold and weld sheet metal and tubes to make roof-metalwork parts.

Fit

Install gutters and downpipes, roof and façade cladding, then seal them.

Install

Fit ventilation ducts, solar collectors and lightning protection systems.

This occupation is for you if…

  • you like working with metal and shaping parts precisely
  • you are handy and comfortable with cutting and bending machines
  • you are not afraid of heights on ladders and scaffolding
  • you like alternating between workshop and outdoor sites

Less suitable if…

  • you are afraid of heights or avoid them
  • you cope badly with the noise of workshop machines
  • you find it hard to carry heavy parts

Advantages

  • Paid from the first year
  • Qualification recognised throughout Germany
  • Varied work: workshop, roofs and façades
  • Route to master craftsman or further study

Difficulties

  • Physical work, sometimes at height
  • Machine noise in the workshop
  • Changeable weather on building sites
  • Longer training, three and a half years
Day to day

A typical day and the key skills

Start of shift in the workshopCheck the day's orders, prepare the metal sheets and put on ear protection.
Cutting and bending sheet metalMark out, cut and then bend the sheet on the machine to obtain the required shape.
Welding and assemblyJoin the parts by welding, soldering or folding, then check the fit.
Loading and leaving for the siteLoad the finished parts and the tools for fitting on the roof or façade.
Fitting a gutterFix the brackets and the gutter, connect the downpipe and check the water flow.
Checking and tidying upCheck the seals of the joints, clean the site and put the equipment away.

Technical skills

Sheet metal bending and cuttingWelding and solderingGutter fittingVentilation ductsSolar installationReading plans

Personal qualities

PrecisionManual skillSense of balanceTeamworkCare
The training

How the Ausbildung works, year by year

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

≈ €1,100gross / month
  • Workshop, tools and safety
  • Cutting, bending and welding
  • First simple parts
Year 2

Technique

≈ €1,217gross / month
  • Gutters and cladding
  • Fixing into masonry and timber
  • Part 1 of the final exam
Year 3

Independence

≈ €1,333gross / month
  • Ventilation and sealing
  • Solar and lightning protection
  • Sites run independently
Year 4 (6 months)

Finishing

≈ €1,450gross / month
  • Complete jobs to order
  • Preparing for the final exam
  • Part 2 of the final exam

Gross monthly pay during the training. Source: ausbildung.de, fourchette 1ere-derniere annee communiquee par le client (3,5 ans) ; annees intermediaires estimees par interpolation lineaire, non verifiees independamment sur la page. These are averages: they vary by region, sector and collective agreement.

Exams and qualification
The journeyman's exam (Gesellenprüfung) has two parts: part 1 takes place before the end of the second year and counts for 30 per cent of the result; part 2, at the end of the training, covers a customer order, manufacturing, assembly and maintenance technology, and business and social studies. You obtain the journeyman's certificate (Gesellenbrief), issued by the Chamber of Crafts (HWK).
Requirements and prospects

Applying, then moving on

What you need to apply

Education levelBaccalaureate level is required.
German levelThe required level is B2. Good technical vocabulary for the trade is a real plus.
Physical fitnessThe job calls for good physical fitness and ease at height, since sheet metal is taken up ladders and scaffolding; in the workshop, machine noise calls for ear protection.
Documents to prepare
  • CV and cover letter in German
  • Translated baccalaureate diplomas and transcripts
  • German B2 level certificate

Where it can lead

Straight awaySkilled KlempnerJobs in building installation firms or ventilation companies.
With experienceFurther trainingDeepen your skills in sheet metalwork or pipe fitting through short training courses.
Longer termMaster or degreeTake the Klempnermeister (master craftsman), start your own firm or study civil engineering with university entry.
Already B2? Take action

Already have German level B2 and looking for a training contract?

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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.

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Take the test

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

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Talk to an advisor

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

DZK, our language centre

Our own language centre, in Douala. Elsewhere: partner centres, call us.

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From German A1 to the first day of training in Germany

A pathway in a loopEach step is run by one of our structures. You keep the same contact from start to finish.
  1. 1

    Check my eligibility

    Campus GermanyCampus Germany
  2. 2

    Talk to an advisor

    Campus GermanyCampus Germany
  3. 3

    Learn German, from A1 to B2

    DZKDZK
    Douala: DZK centre. Elsewhere: partners
  4. 4

    Prepare the application file

    Campus GermanyCampus Germany
  5. 5

    Find the company and sign the training contract

    AZUFAAZUFA
    It is always us
  6. 6

    Prepare the visa and paperwork

    Campus GermanyCampus Germany
  7. 7

    Prepare your departure and settling in

    KAGEDEV e.V.KAGEDEV e.V.
  8. 8

    First day of training in Germany

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

    Check my eligibility

    The test is done online on our website or at our Douala office.

    Campus GermanyRun by Campus Germany
  2. 2

    Talk to an advisor

    Review your profile, your wishes and the chosen occupation.

    Campus GermanyRun by Campus Germany
  3. 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.

    DZKRun by DZK · Douala: DZK centre. Elsewhere: partners
  4. 4

    Prepare the application file

    CV and cover letter in German, translated baccalaureate diplomas and transcripts, B2 level certificate.

    Campus GermanyRun by Campus Germany
  5. 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.

    AZUFARun by AZUFA · It is always us
  6. 6

    Prepare the visa and paperwork

    Support to gather the documents and complete the administrative steps.

    Campus GermanyRun by Campus Germany
  7. 7

    Prepare your departure and settling in

    Travel, housing and first steps in Germany: we prepare you before you leave.

    KAGEDEV e.V.Run by KAGEDEV e.V.
  8. 8

    First day of training in Germany

    You arrive prepared and supported, with a team that has known you since day one.

    AZUFARun by AZUFA · It is always us

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Our structures for this occupation

AZUFA
AZUFAOur platform for recruiting apprentices and skilled staff from Africa: matching with German companies through to the training contract.
See AZUFA
DZK
Deutschzentrum KAGEDEV (DZK)Our own German language centre, in Douala. Outside Douala: partner centres.
See the offer
Occupation brochure

Take this sheet with you

Two documents to read offline or show your family: the 5-page brochure (occupation, training, pay, pathway) and the one-page flyer with the essentials.

Occupation brochure
Occupation brochurePDF, 5 pagesDownload the brochure
Flyer
FlyerPDF, 1 A4 pageDownload the flyer
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?
42 months, i.e. 3.5 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.
How much do you earn during the training?
It depends on the Land: as an example, from €724 to €1,140 gross a month in the first year and from €1,014 to €1,440 in the fourth year, according to collective agreements.
How do company and school alternate?
The training is dual: you work in a company and attend the Berufsschule (vocational school) one or two days a week, or in blocks.
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Germany+49 (0) 7033 694 18 80Cameroon+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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