Preparatory service for teachers at secondary schools
Once you have successfully completed the M.Ed. Teacher Education for Secondary Schools, you can start your preparatory service (Referendariat) and thus begin your practical training as a teacher. The preparatory service takes place at a training school and at one of the state seminars for the training and further training of teachers ( secondary schools or vocational schools) in Baden-Württemberg and lasts 18 months. You can find detailed information on the website of the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs.
Overview of the preparatory service
Basic information
The preparatory service begins once a year at the end of the Christmas vacations (beginning of January) and lasts until the end of the following school year (18 months). Basic information on the procedure, application and contact persons can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs:
- Preparatory service at general secondary schools
- Preparatory service at vocational schools
Application
The application period usually begins on March 15 and ends on June 15 of the previous year of your preparatory service. You can apply via the Ministry of Education's online portal. To apply, you will need proof of first aid training and a company or social internship. If you have chosen Informatics, Political Science or Economics as your subject, the company internship is required.
Guest auditor status
Starting the preparatory service as a guest student may be useful if you cannot submit your Master's certificate to the responsible regional council by mid-December or if you are unsure whether you will be able to meet this deadline. In this case, you must apply as a guest auditor as part of your application for the preparatory service by June 15 and provide proof of successful completion of your teacher training course by March 31 at the latest. You can find further information in your study guide. We will be happy to advise you on your individual situation.
Information event
The information event on the preparatory service usually takes place at the beginning of May. You can find the presentations for the last information event on 07.05.2025 here.
Contact
Laura Grabarek, M.A.
Center for Teacher Education and Educational Innovation
Schloss
68161 Mannheim