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Vocational training in Germany (Ausbildung)

Painter and decorator (Maler und Lackierer/in)

Maler und Lackierer / Malerin und Lackiererin

You prepare, paint and decorate walls, ceilings and façades: a 3-year training, paid from the first year, for a creative and practical trade.

Check my eligibility →I already have B2
LevelBaccalaureaterequired
Duration3 years36 months
GermanB2required level
Pay during training€868 to €1,127gross / month, during the training
The occupation in 30 seconds

What a painter and decorator does

They treat, coat, clad, decorate and insulate the interiors and façades of buildings, and also carry out plastering and drywall work.

Prepare

Clean the surfaces, fill cracks and defects, repair the plaster and apply primers.

Paint

Mix colours and apply paints, stains and varnishes by brush, roller or spray gun.

Decorate

Hang wallpaper and coverings, create surface effects and design wall decorations.

This occupation is for you if…

  • you have a sense of colour and aesthetics
  • you are careful and attentive to the details and flaws of a surface
  • you like giving a space a fresh new look
  • you accept working on scaffolding or in awkward positions

Less suitable if…

  • you are very sensitive to smells and chemicals
  • you find it hard to stand for long or work with arms raised
  • you are afraid of heights on scaffolding or platforms

Advantages

  • Paid from the first year
  • Qualification recognised throughout Germany
  • Creative work with visible results
  • Route to master craftsman or further study

Difficulties

  • Physical work, often standing or with arms raised
  • Smells, dust and products: protection needed
  • Changing sites, sometimes outdoors
  • Trainee pay lower than in other building trades
Day to day

A typical day and the key skills

Arrival on siteThe team receives the day's instructions and protects floors and furniture before starting.
Preparing the wallsStrip, clean, fill the cracks and sand before applying the primer.
Mixing coloursPrepare the colour requested by the client and test it on a sample surface.
Applying the paintPaint walls and ceilings with roller and brush, taking care with corners and edges.
Woodwork and decorationApply stain or varnish to windows and doors, or create a wall decoration.
Checking and cleaningCheck the result, remove the protection and clean the tools and the room.

Technical skills

Surface preparationColour mixingPaint applicationPlaster and plasteringFitting wall coveringsThermal insulation

Personal qualities

Sense of colourPrecisionCareCreativityStamina
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

≈ €868gross / month
  • Site, tools and safety
  • Surface preparation
  • First paint and plaster jobs
Year 2

Practice

≈ €961gross / month
  • Colours, techniques and coverings
  • Drywall and insulation
  • Part 1 of the final exam
Year 3

Specialisation

≈ €1,127gross / month
  • Sites run independently
  • Decoration, façades and repairs
  • Part 2 of the final exam

Gross monthly pay during the training. Source: BIBB 2025, moyenne nationale. 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 at the end of the fourth half-year of training and counts for 30 per cent of the result; part 2, taken in your specialisation, closes the training. 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: carrying components and tools, working on scaffolding and sometimes in awkward positions, with a mask and gloves.
Documents to prepare
  • CV and cover letter in German
  • Translated baccalaureate diplomas and transcripts
  • German B2 level certificate

Where it can lead

Straight awaySkilled painterJobs in painting firms, plastering firms or building companies.
With experienceFurther trainingDeepen your skills in painting and varnishing or building repair through short training courses.
Longer termMaster or degreeTake the Maler- und Lackierermeister (master painter), start your own firm or study interior design.
Already B2? Take action

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

Employers in the “Building and construction” sector are currently looking for candidates in Africa on AZUFA.

Create your candidate profile, state your German level and the “Painter and decorator (Maler und Lackierer/in)” occupation: companies recruiting apprentices can find you, and we follow your application step by step.

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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.

Check my eligibility

Take the test

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

Take the test
Talk to an advisor

Talk to our team

Call us, an advisor will answer.

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

DZK, our language centre

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

See the courses
Get the contract

AZUFA is always us

Our platform connects you with German companies recruiting apprentices.

Go to AZUFA

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

Stay informed

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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?
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 trade has five specialisations (Fachrichtungen), including design and maintenance, or church painting and heritage conservation. The content shown here follows the Gestaltung und Instandhaltung specialisation.
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.
In the same category

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Ready to find out whether this training 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 →Need assistanceWrite on WhatsApp
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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