If you are studying to become a teacher or are already in your trainee period, you will soon ask whether a disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung, BU) during the probation period of teacher training is worth it. The answer depends on two points: the health questions in the application and the waiting periods set out in the policy terms. This guide explains both points and shows you where to find the key details.
Short answer: You can take out disability insurance during the teacher probation period, provided you pass the health check. Waiting periods and exclusion periods are not fixed by law. They are set out in the policy terms. The definition of occupational disability is in § 172 VVG. Stand: October 2026.
Key Points at a Glance
- Occupational disability is defined in the Insurance Contract Act (§ 172 VVG). What the policy actually covers is set out in the terms of your contract.
- Waiting periods, exclusion periods and benefit exclusions are contractual. They differ between providers and between policies.
- When you apply, the duty to disclose (Anzeigepflicht) under § 19 VVG applies. Health questions must be answered completely and truthfully.
- Civil servants are subject to their own rules on inability to serve (Dienstunfähigkeit). A disability policy therefore does not automatically replace the protection that civil service law provides.
- Whether it makes sense to take out the policy during probation depends on pre-existing conditions, the contract term and your income after you become a civil servant.
What Does “Probation Period” Mean in Teaching?
In teaching, the term usually refers to two different phases. The first is the trainee period (Vorbereitungsdienst, commonly called Referendariat). Trainee teachers are usually appointed as civil servants on revocable terms (Beamtenverhältnis auf Widerruf), and the details are set by state law. The second phase begins after you have been hired into the school system. You are then initially appointed as a civil servant on probation (Beamter auf Probe). The length of this probation period is set by state civil service law and differs from one federal state to another.
For the question of disability insurance, this distinction matters, because your status also changes how much protection you need. The overview below shows the key points.
| Phase | Legal status (typical case) | What matters for disability insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Trainee period (Referendariat) | Civil servant on revocable terms, trainee pay | Health questions in the application, lower income, the policy must cover the occupation “teacher” |
| Probation after hiring | Civil servant on probation, length set by state law | Report a change of occupation if the policy requires it, check against state provision |
| After probation | Civil servant for life | Inability to serve under civil service law, check additional cover in a targeted way |
The basic rules on inability to serve for civil servants for life are set out in § 26 of the Federal Civil Service Status Act (Beamtenstatusgesetz, BeamtStG). Under it, civil servants for life are retired if they are permanently unable to serve. Anyone who can be deployed elsewhere is not retired. For civil servants on probation and on revocable terms, the state civil service laws sometimes apply different rules, which this guide does not examine in detail.
How Does the Health Check Work?
For a disability policy, the insurer checks your health based on the information in your application. The questions must be put to you in text form (Textform) for the duty to disclose to apply. Under § 19 (1) VVG, you must disclose all material risk circumstances that the insurer has asked about. This also applies to questions that are added after you submit the application but before the insurer accepts it.
The typical process looks like this:
- You complete the health questionnaire in full. This includes diagnoses, treatments, medication and sick notes from recent years, depending on the question catalogue.
- The insurer reviews your details and requests medical reports or doctors’ records if needed.
- The risk assessment leads to acceptance on standard terms, to a surcharge, to changed terms, or to the exclusion of certain causes.
- You receive the contract with all its terms and can check whether the acceptance matches your application.
The consequences of an incorrect or incomplete answer are important. Under § 19 (2) VVG, the insurer may withdraw from the contract. If you were only slightly negligent, the right to withdraw is excluded (§ 19 (3) VVG). The insurer must also have informed you separately, in text form, of the consequences (§ 19 (5) VVG). This legal position does not protect you from consequences if you answer incorrectly intentionally or through gross negligence.
What Does the Waiting Period in the Policy Mean?
In practice, the term “waiting period” is used for different rules. It usually refers to exclusion periods (Karenzzeiten), meaning time frames after the contract starts during which no benefits are paid for certain causes. Mental illness is a frequent example. In addition, there are exclusions for pre-existing conditions that were known when you applied. There is no statutory minimum for these periods, which is why offers differ considerably.
A worked example makes the difference clear. Assumption: the contract starts on 1 January 2027, and the policy sets an exclusion period of 36 months for a particular cause. Coverage for that cause then only begins on 1 January 2030. If the insured person falls ill in 2028, there is no entitlement for that case in this example. Whether such a clause exists at all, and in what form, is determined solely by your specific contract.
What Happens to My Disability Insurance When I Become a Civil Servant?
Moving from university into the school system is a change in your professional activity. Many policies require you to report changes of occupation or new activities, because the risk can change. The general rule is in § 23 VVG: after you have made your contract declaration, the policyholder may not increase the risk, or allow it to be increased, without the insurer’s consent (increase in risk, Gefahrerhöhung). Whether becoming a civil servant counts as an increase in risk depends on the individual case and on your contract.
When you become a civil servant, a public health doctor (Amtsarzt) usually assesses your fitness for service. This does not replace the insurer’s health check. Both assessments run separately and apply different standards, so a positive result from the Amtsarzt says nothing about your disability insurance application.
When Does Disability Insurance Fit During Probation, and When Does It Not?
Taking out a policy early has advantages if you are in good health and the policy contains no clauses that exclude teaching work. The premium depends on age, health and occupation. Young people in good health usually get better terms than they would later. Taking out a policy can be less worthwhile if you already have pre-existing conditions that lead to exclusions, or if your budget leaves little room. In that case, it can make more sense to first check state provision and other forms of cover.
A personal review of your documents is worthwhile before you sign an application. At Academycon, you can arrange an appointment for this: How we work (in German).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take out disability insurance during probation?
Yes, taking out a policy is generally possible. What matters is whether the health check passes without exclusions and whether the policy covers your work in schools. The probation period itself is not a legal obstacle, but it is relevant when you decide which additional cover makes sense.
Does inability to serve replace disability insurance?
No, the two follow different rules. Inability to serve is governed by civil service law, while disability insurance is governed by the insurance contract. How far state provision extends in the case of inability to serve depends on your length of service, your pay and state law.
What happens if I conceal a pre-existing condition?
Under § 19 VVG, the insurer may withdraw from or terminate the contract, depending on the degree of fault. Intentional or grossly negligent concealment has the most serious consequences. In the event of a claim, the protection you expected may then be missing. That is why your answers must be complete.
Do I have to report becoming a civil servant to the insurer?
Check the terms of your policy. Many contracts require notice of changes of occupation, and § 23 VVG obliges you to report later increases in risk. Reporting is always the safe route.
How long does the review take?
The duration depends on your documents and on whether the insurer has to request further medical reports. Straightforward cases are completed faster. Where there are pre-existing conditions, the review often takes longer.
How to Proceed Now
- Read the policy terms and mark all waiting periods, exclusion periods and exclusion clauses.
- Gather medical reports and doctors’ letters on conditions from recent years before you complete the application.
- Answer the health questions completely, and have anything unclear explained to you before you submit.
- Report changes of occupation and becoming a civil servant to the insurer as soon as they are confirmed, then check the contract again.
Related Articles
- Disability insurance during a teaching degree: occupational group, costs and health questions (in German)
- Teacher Disability Insurance: Occupational vs. Inability to Serve
- Disability insurance health questions during studies: psychotherapy, allergies, sport
- Disability insurance with a pre-existing condition as a student: anonymous risk pre-assessment
- Teacher trainee period in North Rhine-Westphalia 2026/27: trainee pay, state healthcare allowance (Beihilfe) and health insurance
Sources: § 172 VVG, insurer’s benefits (occupational disability) · § 19 VVG, duty to disclose · § 23 VVG, increase in risk · § 26 BeamtStG, inability to serve (each accessed October 2026)
Stand: October 2026. This guide is general information and not individual advice.
