The teacher training (Lehramtsreferendariat) in Brandenburg, the preparatory service for future teachers, cannot be described in one set of financial figures. The legal status comes first: civil servant on probation (Beamtin oder Beamter auf Widerruf) or a public-law training relationship (öffentlich-rechtliches Ausbildungsverhältnis). Beihilfe, health insurance and pay depend on it. This guide explains what matters and where the binding information is published. The path from university to training is also covered in the German guide on insurance from study to clerkship (in German).
Short answer: In the teacher training in Brandenburg, your status decides whether you are appointed as a civil servant on probation with a Beihilfe entitlement or are in a public-law training relationship. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport names both routes in its job advertisement. The actual pay is on the ministry information page. Last updated: October 2026.
Key points
- According to the ministry advertisement, appointment is normally as a civil servant on probation.
- If that is not possible, the training runs in a public-law training relationship.
- Your status determines whether and how you are entitled to Beihilfe. Clarify this before you start.
- The state sets the pay. The actual amounts are on the ministry page, not in this text.
- An information sheet on Beihilfe rates does not name trainees. Ask the Beihilfe office for your rate.
What does civil servant on probation mean during training?
Many teacher trainees are appointed as civil servants on probation (Beamtenverhältnis auf Widerruf). The ministry advertisement describes this form as the usual case, provided the conditions are met. If they are not, you complete the training in a public-law training relationship.
The difference matters. A civil servant on probation is in a service relationship with a salary and, as a rule, an entitlement to Beihilfe. A training relationship follows its own rules, and your health insurance may then look different.
Which Beihilfe do you get as a trainee?
Beihilfe in Brandenburg is calculated with a reimbursement rate. An information sheet from the central pay office of the state names 50 percent as the basic rate for Beihilfe-entitled civil servants and 70 percent for pensioners. The sheet does not explicitly say anything about trainees and clerks.
| Group | Rate according to the sheet | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Beihilfe-entitled civil servants | 50 percent | Basic rule |
| Civil servants on parental leave | 70 percent | Special rule |
| Pensioners | 70 percent | Except orphans |
| Beihilfe-entitled orphans | 80 percent | Special rule |
| Trainees and clerks | not explicitly named | Ask the Beihilfe office |
The sheet is dated 15 October 2021. Rates can change, so check the current position before you commit.
How does health insurance work in a training relationship?
If you are appointed as a civil servant on probation, you are usually entitled to Beihilfe and need private cover for the remaining share. In a public-law training relationship, your insurance depends on how social insurance applies in your case.
Clarify first with the training office whether social insurance contributions apply. An overview of insurance during the clerkship is in the German guide on health insurance during the clerkship (in German).
Does part-time work or family matter?
Part-time training is possible under certain conditions. The ministry advertisement mentions that, for part-time for family reasons, an appointment as a civil servant on probation can still take place. So the reason for part-time work also influences which status applies.
Settle this in writing before you apply. Also ask whether your payments change with part-time work.
Where do you find the binding pay information?
According to the draft bill of 2 July 2026 (not yet promulgated), the trainee base pay is 1,800.10 euros for A 13 and 1,768.84 euros for A 12 per month (values as of 1 January 2026). The amounts change, and we show figures only with their status. The binding basis is the state pay law and the information page of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. There you find the current position and notes on payments.
Which documents should you keep?
- The appointment letter with the exact statement of your status.
- Written information from the Beihilfe office and the training office on your rate and payments.
- Evidence of your family situation and of eligible dependants.
- The insurance certificate of your health insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Am I a civil servant as a teacher trainee in Brandenburg?
The advertisement names the usual case of appointment as a civil servant on probation. Whether it applies to you is shown in your appointment letter. Read it carefully and ask if the status is not clearly stated there.
Do I get Beihilfe even in a training relationship?
That depends on your status. The Beihilfe office answers this for your case in writing. A training relationship is not automatically the same as a civil servant entitlement.
Is there an average Beihilfe amount?
No. An average figure does not help you much. What counts is your rate, your family and your actual bills. Calculate your case with your own figures, and the gap becomes visible.
Does part-time work automatically change my payments?
Not automatically. Payments depend on the rule that applies to you. Ask the responsible office before you apply for part-time work, so that you are not surprised.
What changes if I move to another federal state?
Then the rules of the new state apply. A move can bring different pay and different Beihilfe rates. Check this before you change posts.
What to do next
- Read your appointment letter and note whether you are appointed as a civil servant on probation or in a training relationship.
- Ask the Beihilfe office in writing for the rate that applies to you and your family.
- Clarify with your health insurer which cover fits your status before you cancel anything.
- Get the current pay directly from the ministry and keep the documents.
Related guides
- Teaching: insurance from study to clerkship (in German)
- Health insurance during clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe
- Teacher training in Berlin 2026/27: allowances, Beihilfe and health insurance
- Beihilfe during the clerkship: entitlement, rate and application (in German)
- Clerkship pay by federal state (in German)
Sources: draft bill on Brandenburg pay tables, 2 July 2026 (in German), Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport Brandenburg, job advertisement for the preparatory service (undated, appointment date 1 February 2025), Central Pay Office of the State of Brandenburg, information sheet on reimbursement rates, dated 15 October 2021 (both German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
