Becoming a civil servant (Beamter) in the Saarland depends partly on your fitness for the post, which is checked in a medical examination. This guide explains how that examination is set up, which trainee pay the Saarland Civil Service Pay Act sets, and how state aid (Beihilfe) and health insurance work together. The pay figures come from the official gazette unless stated otherwise.
In short: Before appointment in the Saarland the employer checks your fitness, usually through a medical opinion. The table grade A 13 for trainees is EUR 1,707.82 under Act No. 2204 (status 1 April 2026). For civil servants on probation without children, a secondary source gives 50 percent state aid, and a flat-rate option is reported as unavailable. Last updated: October 2026.
The key points
- The employer checks your fitness before appointment. The public health doctor’s opinion is the usual route.
- The trainee grade A 13 is set in the Saarland Civil Service Pay Act, Annex VI, at EUR 1,707.82.
- The law raises the values to EUR 1,767.82 on 1 March 2027 and to EUR 1,797.82 on 1 January 2028.
- According to a secondary source, state aid is 50 percent. A flat-rate option is not available there.
- Probation and the step to lifetime tenure are governed by Saarland state law.
What does the public health doctor check in the Saarland?
The public health doctor assesses whether you are medically fit for the demands of the office. The BeamtStG names aptitude, qualification and performance as the basis for appointment. It does not name medical fitness separately, but in practice it belongs to the concept of aptitude. The wording of section 9 BeamtStG is in the statute.
If you complete the questionnaire incompletely, you risk queries and delays. Declare pre-existing conditions, treatments and medication in full, even if you consider them unimportant.
- The hiring authority invites you to the examination and names the documents you need.
- You complete the health questionnaire fully and attach evidence if it is requested.
- The public health doctor examines you and writes an opinion for the employer.
- The authority decides on the appointment. If it refuses, you can object.
What are trainee pay and state aid in the Saarland?
Trainee pay is set in the Saarland Civil Service Pay Act, and state aid is a benefit from the employer. The table shows the values that the law already sets for the coming steps.
| Item | Value | Date and source |
|---|---|---|
| Table grade A 13 (trainees) | EUR 1,707.82 | from 1 April 2026, Act No. 2204, official gazette of the Saarland Part I No. 24 |
| Next step A 13 | EUR 1,767.82 | from 1 March 2027, same source |
| Next step A 13 | EUR 1,797.82 | from 1 January 2028, same source |
| State aid rate for trainees (no children) | 50 percent | October 2026, secondary source covago.de |
Assumption: a medical bill of EUR 400 is fully eligible and your rate is 50 percent. State aid then pays EUR 200, and the rest is up to your tariff or to you. According to a secondary source, a flat-rate option does not exist in the Saarland, so individual billing applies.
How does health insurance work after you become a civil servant?
Civil servants are exempt from statutory health insurance under section 6 subsection 1 no. 2 of Book V of the Social Code (SGB V) if they are entitled to state aid. Cover therefore consists of state aid and a supplementary private tariff. The logic of trainee tariffs is explained in the guide on trainee tariffs.
If you have a pre-existing condition, look at the PKV opening offer for civil service starters. A review of your case is possible through Academycon at https://academycon.de/so-arbeiten-wir/.
How are you protected up to lifetime tenure?
The BeamtStG distinguishes appointments on probation and for life. The Saarland civil service act sets when probation turns into lifetime tenure. Ask the authority for the exact procedure.
Disability insurance can close gaps where health limits your ability to work. The differences from occupational disability insurance are explained in the guide on disability insurance for teachers.
Frequently asked questions
How reliable are the trainee pay figures for the coming years?
The steps on 1 March 2027 and 1 January 2028 are set by law and are therefore official. You can use them for planning, but new legislation can always set different values.
Do I have to be privately insured in the Saarland?
As a civil servant you are exempt from statutory insurance because you are entitled to state aid. State aid covers part of the costs and a private tariff covers the rest. Which tariff fits depends on your family, your health and your aid rate.
Can a pre-existing condition lead to refusal?
That is possible, but not automatic. The public health doctor assesses the individual case. If the appointment is refused, you can ask for the reasons in writing.
What changes if I come from another state?
State aid, procedure and pay follow the state of your employer. A move can therefore change the rate and the tariff choice. Pay and state aid for teacher trainees in the Saarland are summarised in the guide on the teacher traineeship in the Saarland.
When is advice worthwhile?
When state aid, tariff, health and disability cover are all still open. Advice helps to sort the questions but does not replace the authority’s information.
Your next steps
- Ask the hiring authority for the timetable of the examination and the health questionnaire.
- Plan with the official figures from 1 March 2027 and 1 January 2028 set by law.
- Compare tariffs and have the state aid form confirmed in writing.
- Clarify disability cover before you sign a contract.
Related guides
- State aid in the Saarland: rates, own share and suitable PKV for civil servants
- Teacher traineeship in the Saarland 2026/27: trainee pay, state aid and health insurance
- Legal traineeship in the Saarland: trainee allowance, health insurance and side jobs
- PKV trainee tariffs: how the training tariffs work
- Disability insurance for teachers: differences from BU
Sources: Federal Civil Service Status Act (BeamtStG), section 9 (gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed October 2026); Social Code Book V, section 6 (gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed October 2026); Official gazette of the Saarland Part I No. 24, 25 June 2026 (German); covago.de, state aid for trainees by state (secondary source, October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
