Becoming a civil servant (Beamter) in Hamburg usually begins with appointment to the preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) for teachers. Whether a public health officer (Amtsarzt) checks you is not described in detail on the official page, so ask directly. This guide shows where to send your documents, what the page says and how Beihilfe, the state aid for medical costs, works in Hamburg.
Short answer: The appointment page of the Behörde für Schule, Familie und Berufsbildung gives no details on the medical check, so ask the personnel office. Documents are sent by post. A first-aid certificate should be no older than 6 months on the day you start. According to secondary sources, a flat-rate Beihilfe for trainees applies since 1 August 2018. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points
- Appointment to the preparatory service runs through the personnel service of the Behörde für Schule, Familie und Berufsbildung.
- The page gives no details on the medical check, so ask directly.
- The first-aid certificate should be no older than 6 months when you start work.
- The Hamburg model is a flat-rate Beihilfe, and according to the sources the choice is irreversible.
- The personnel case officer clarifies which type of appointment fits your case.
Where do the documents go?
The appointment page asks you to send your documents by post to the personnel service. The address is Behörde für Schule, Familie und Berufsbildung, Personalservice (V 442), Hamburger Straße 31, 22083 Hamburg. If you are unsure which type of appointment applies, contact the personnel case officer. The page describes the documents only in outline, so ask before you send them.
| Topic | What the page says |
|---|---|
| Sending | By post to the personnel service |
| First-aid certificate | Basic training with 9 teaching units of 45 minutes each, no older than 6 months when you start |
| Medical check | No information on the page |
| Beihilfe | No information on the page, secondary sources see below |
The medical check: what to do
The appointment page does not mention an examination by the public health officer or a health certificate. That does not mean no health check takes place. The personnel case officer can tell you whether a health certificate will be requested.
Ask before you send the documents, so you are not caught unprepared by a medical examination. Ask for the answer in writing.
Beihilfe in Hamburg: the Hamburg model
According to secondary sources, Hamburg has used a flat-rate Beihilfe for trainees since 1 August 2018, known as the Hamburg model. The employer pays a fixed amount and you cover the remaining medical costs yourself. The advice portal deutsche-beamtenversorgung.de (status October 2026) describes this choice as irreversible.
The sources give no amount, and neither do we. If you make this choice, have the conditions confirmed in writing before you take out health insurance. As a rule, civil servants without children receive a Beihilfe rate of 50 percent, and the details are set out in the state Beihilfe regulation.
Health insurance: private top-up or obligation?
Civil servants entitled to Beihilfe are exempt from statutory health insurance (section 6 para. 1 no. 2 SGB V, in German). Beihilfe is therefore the foundation, and insurance tops it up.
A private health insurance suits you best if you are in good health and want to keep your own share low. With pre-existing conditions it becomes harder, because the insurer asks about your medical history and may demand surcharges or exclusions. Answer the insurer completely, or section 19 VVG (in German) can lead to consequences, up to withdrawal.
For a personal assessment of your case, you can talk to Academycon, see how we work (in German).
If the civil service appointment does not happen
Then a training relationship without civil servant status may be the route. The page does not say whether Hamburg uses this route. Without civil servant status, Beihilfe usually lapses, and the rules for employees in health insurance apply. Check this with the personnel case officer before you sign.
From probation to life tenure
Appointment on probation is followed by a probation period (Probezeit). Hamburg law sets its length and the requirements for life tenure (Lebenszeit). Proven performance decides, and suitability stays relevant. Note that the Beihilfe can change with the appointment on probation, and clarify it in good time.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I send the documents?
To the personnel service of the Behörde für Schule, Familie und Berufsbildung, Hamburger Straße 31, 22083 Hamburg. The page requires postal submission.
How old may the first-aid certificate be?
According to the page, no older than 6 months on the day you start work. The basic training comprises 9 teaching units of 45 minutes each.
Do I have to see the public health officer?
The appointment page says nothing about this. Ask the personnel case officer whether a health certificate is required, and get the answer in writing.
Does the Hamburg model apply to everyone?
According to secondary sources, it is a flat-rate Beihilfe for trainees since August 2018. The choice is irreversible. Have the conditions confirmed for your case.
What does the health check cost?
The page gives no costs. Clarify in advance whether any expenses are reimbursed.
What you can do now
- Ask the personnel case officer which type of appointment applies to you.
- Send the documents by post to the personnel service and keep copies.
- Obtain the first-aid certificate if needed, which should be no older than 6 months when you start work.
- Decide on the Hamburg model only after the Beihilfe rules have been confirmed in writing.
Related guides
- Civil service in Berlin
- Civil service in Brandenburg
- Beihilfe im Referendariat (in German)
- Civil service in Bremen
Sources: Behörde für Schule, Familie und Berufsbildung Hamburg, appointment page for the preparatory service (accessed October 2026, in German); Gesetze im Internet, section 6 SGB V (accessed October 2026, in German); Gesetze im Internet, section 19 VVG (accessed October 2026, in German); deutsche-beamtenversorgung.de, flat-rate Beihilfe (secondary source, status October 2026, in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
