After completing a teaching degree in Saarland, you do your practical training (Vorbereitungsdienst, in English often called the teacher training or clerkship phase, Referendariat) at a teacher training seminar. For planning, three questions matter: how long the training lasts, what pay you receive and how you are insured. This guide sorts these questions and shows which office gives binding answers.
In short: The binding period of the practical training is stated in your appointment letter. The trainee basic amount under Annex VI to the Saarland pay act (status April 2026) is EUR 1,707.82 in A 13 and EUR 1,676.20 in A 12. Whether you are entitled to Beihilfe or are statutorily insured depends on your status. Last updated: October 2026.
The essentials in brief
- The binding period is stated in your appointment letter.
- Trainee pay is set by Saarland pay law. The current amount is available from the responsible state office.
- In most states, teacher trainees hold a civil servant status on probation (Beamter auf Widerruf). Ask the responsible office in writing whether this applies in Saarland.
- Whether you are statutorily or privately insured depends on your status and your choice, not on the length of the training.
- Clarify pay, Beihilfe entitlement and insurance in writing before the training starts.
How long is teacher training in Saarland?
The binding period is stated in your appointment letter. Training takes place at a teacher training seminar and combines teaching at schools with seminar sessions. The exact start depends on your appointment date, which can vary by training year. The date in your appointment letter is therefore the binding one. The German version of this guide contains more detail (in German).
What pay do trainee teachers receive in Saarland?
Trainee pay (Anwärterbezüge) is the monthly salary during the training. Its amount follows Saarland pay law and changes when pay is adjusted. According to Annex VI to the Saarland pay act (Law No. 2204 of 20 May 2026, Official Gazette Part I No. 24 of 25 June 2026), the trainee basic amount in A 13 rises on 1 March 2027 to EUR 1,767.82 and on 1 January 2028 to EUR 1,797.82. The written statement of the responsible office remains decisive. For a reliable figure, you need the current pay table or a written statement from the responsible office. Pay portals and comparison calculators from other states do not help here.
For a net calculation, use the income tax calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance (bmf-steuerrechner.de). Your own estimates of income tax are easily wrong, especially with family allowances and allowances.
| Topic | Responsible office | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Duration of the training | Teacher training seminar and appointing authority | Period in the appointment letter (binding) |
| Trainee pay | Responsible pay office of the state | Current pay table and family allowances |
| Beihilfe entitlement | State Beihilfe office | Status as a civil servant on probation and rate under the Saarland Beihilfe ordinance |
| Health insurance | Employer and chosen insurer | Statutory or private, with Beihilfe or without |
How are you insured during the training?
If you are registered as a civil servant on probation during the training, you are usually entitled to Beihilfe. The question then becomes whether private health insurance supplementing Beihilfe fits you, or whether you stay in statutory insurance. Both have pros and cons, which depend on your health, age and family plans.
- With private insurance and Beihilfe, you usually pay only part of the costs yourself, and your tariff covers the rest. Premiums depend on age, tariff and health check.
- Statutory insurance has no health check. Contributions depend on your contributory income, and the employer usually contributes.
- Private insurers often accept pre-existing conditions only with surcharges or exclusions. This matters especially during the training.
- Switching from statutory to private insurance later is harder if your health deteriorates.
A general overview does not replace a look at your case. Get personal advice before you sign a tariff: how Academycon works with clients (in German). More background on insurance during the training is in Health insurance during clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe.
What applies to trainees with a partner or child?
Family allowances and Beihilfe rates usually depend on your marital status and the number of eligible family members. The exact amounts and rates are set in Saarland pay and Beihilfe law, not in this guide. If you plan with a partner or child, have pay and Beihilfe checked together, because both determine how much remains at the end of the month and what your coverage looks like.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the teacher training in Saarland?
The binding period is in your appointment letter. Check the start and end there before you plan a move or a lease.
Do I receive pay during the training?
Yes, as a trainee teacher you receive trainee pay. The amount follows pay law and not a collective agreement. Side jobs usually require approval, and the permitted scope is limited. Clarify this in writing before you start.
Can I take private health insurance during the training?
That is possible if you are entitled to Beihilfe. Weigh the decision carefully, because the health check and the tariff have long-term effects. Switching later is often harder than deciding carefully at the start.
Is teacher training in Saarland comparable to other states?
The basic structure is similar, but duration, pay and Beihilfe differ between states. Compare only with information from the responsible office of each state. The German guide on Beihilfe in Rhineland-Palatinate (in German) shows how other states regulate it, but those rules do not transfer to Saarland.
What to do next
- Ask the teacher training seminar or the responsible office for the duration, pay and Beihilfe status, and request a written answer.
- Have your first pay slip explained before you choose an insurance.
- Compare statutory and private insurance using your actual health data, not sales promises.
- Set aside savings for the period after the training, because the transition to a follow-on position can leave gaps.
Related reading
- Health insurance during the clerkship (German)
- Teacher training: insurance from study to clerkship (German)
- Trainee pay by state (German)
- Beihilfe in Rhineland-Palatinate (German)
Sources: Saarland University, Centre for Teacher Education, flyer on the teaching degree (last updated June 2024); Saarland state portal, information on pay and Beihilfe (website, status as of October 2026); Official Gazette of Saarland, Part I No. 24 (25 June 2026), Annex VI to the Saarland pay act.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
