If you complete your teacher training (Lehramtsreferendariat) in Bremen, you receive a trainee salary (Anwärterbezüge) and arrange your health insurance and civil servant health aid (Beihilfe) yourself. This guide explains the figures the Bremen Institute for School Education (LIS) publishes, the allowances on top of them, and what to check for health insurance.
Short answer: In teacher training in Bremen, the basic trainee amount for pay grade A 13 is 1,790.97 euros gross per month (status April 2026, according to the Besoldungstabelle of the dbb, provisional, subject to promulgation). The preparatory service lasts 18 months. An adjustment for 2026 has been announced, so check the current table with the LIS. Status: October 2026.
The key points at a glance
- The basic trainee amount follows pay grade A 13 (status April 2026, provisional).
- Family allowances come on top: 165.40 euros for the married component and 251.93 euros each for the first and second child.
- The preparatory service lasts 18 months. You take the second state examination during this period.
- You arrange health insurance and civil servant health aid yourself. The handout does not set out the rules, so the choice depends on your entitlement to aid and your tariff.
- The handout says nothing about side jobs. Ask the admission office before you start.
How much is the trainee salary in Bremen?
The LIS handout for the preparatory service lists gross amounts as of February 2025. Figures for 2026 may differ, so treat these numbers as a starting point.
| Item | Gross amount per month | Source and status |
|---|---|---|
| Basic trainee amount, pay grade A 13 | 1,790.97 euros | dbb pay table, April 2026, provisional |
| Family allowance level I, married component | 165.40 euros | LIS handout, February 2025, p. 3 |
| Child-related family allowance, 1st and 2nd child (each) | 251.93 euros | LIS handout, February 2025, p. 3 |
| Child-related family allowance, 3rd child | 578.66 euros | LIS handout, February 2025, p. 3 |
| Child-related family allowance, from the 4th child | 556.54 euros | LIS handout, February 2025, p. 3 |
The handout marks some amounts with an asterisk. For these amounts, the figure is halved if your spouse also works in the public sector or in an equivalent institution. For the family supplement (Familienergänzungszuschlag), the handout refers you to the office Performa Nord.
What changes in 2026
The provisional pay table for April 2026 gives 1,790.97 euros for pay grade A 13, but it is not yet confirmed whether and when it is binding. The allowances below come from the February 2025 handout. Ask the LIS for the current version before you plan.
Health insurance during training: statutory or private?
As a trainee teacher, you are generally not compulsorily insured. You choose whether to stay voluntarily in the statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) or move to private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung, PKV) with entitlement to civil servant health aid. Both routes have advantages and drawbacks, and the choice shapes your costs for many years. An overview of the options is in our guide Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims.
With voluntary GKV membership, the contribution depends on your income. For 2026 the minimum contribution base is 1,318.33 euros per month. The reduced contribution rate under § 243 SGB V is 14.0 percent, plus the additional contribution set by your fund. The national average additional contribution was 2.9 percent in 2026.
Worked example: voluntary GKV (assumption)
| Contribution part | Rate | Amount per month |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance, reduced rate under § 243 SGB V | 14.0 percent | 250.74 euros |
| Additional contribution, 2026 national average | 2.9 percent | 51.94 euros |
| Long-term care insurance | 3.6 percent | 64.47 euros |
| Total without childless surcharge | 367.15 euros |
Assumption: a trainee salary of 1,790.97 euros, contributions levied only on this amount, and no employer contribution. We have not checked whether and how much Bremen contributes, so the figures show the cost without any such contribution. From the age of 23 a childless surcharge of 0.6 percentage points applies, which is an additional 10.75 euros per month. Your fund’s additional contribution may differ from the average. Source: Faktenblatt Rechengrößen 2026 by the GKV-Spitzenverband, status 1 January 2026.
What counts with private insurance and civil servant health aid
With a comprehensive private health insurance policy, civil servant health aid covers part of the costs, and your tariff covers the rest. The rate depends on the Land’s rules. Check with the Bremen civil servant health aid office whether that rate still applies and which rate fits your pay grade.
The civil servant health aid pays only part of the costs, so your tariff must cover the remainder. A comparison therefore needs three facts: the benefits of the tariff, the aid rate and the premium. If you want to work through your situation with a person, you can find the way to a conversation on our page about how we work (in German).
Frequently asked questions
How long does teacher training in Bremen last?
According to the LIS handout, the preparatory service lasts 18 months. You take the second state examination during this time. Plan your health insurance and civil servant health aid for that period so that no gap appears.
Are there family allowances for trainees with children in Bremen?
Yes. The handout lists a child-related family allowance of 251.93 euros gross each for the first and second child, with higher amounts from the third child. These allowances are paid on top of the basic trainee amount. The handout refers you to Performa Nord for the family supplement.
Can I work alongside my training?
The LIS handout does not regulate side jobs. The rules are set by Land law and your admission notice. Ask before you start, because extra income can also affect your civil servant health aid and tax. An overview of insurance from university to training is in our guide Teacher training insurance: from studies to traineeship.
Who handles admission in Bremen?
The Landesinstitut für Schule, Zulassung Vorbereitungsdienst, Am Weidedamm 20, 28215 Bremen, is responsible. Phone 0421 361-14405, email [email protected]. These details come from the handout of February 2025, so check them briefly before you get in touch.
Is it worth switching to private insurance during training?
That depends on your entitlement to aid, your age, your health and the costs of the tariff. It also matters whether you will later become a civil servant or take a salaried job. Voluntary GKV membership charges a contribution based on income. Private insurance combines aid and tariff, but applicants with pre-existing conditions may face hurdles at acceptance. Both routes deserve a careful check.
What to do now
- Ask the LIS for the current 2026 pay table before you plan your start date.
- Clarify whether you have an entitlement to civil servant health aid and which aid rate applies to you.
- Calculate your costs: GKV contribution or private tariff with the aid share, plus the family allowances.
- Ask the admission office about side jobs before you accept one.
- Make your decision on the insurance route in writing and keep all certificates.
Related guides
- Trainee Teachers in Statutory Health Insurance: How Voluntary Cover Works
- Health Insurance After the Trainee Period: What Comes Next
- Civil Servant Health Aid: Rates and How It Works
- Teacher training in Berlin 2026/27: trainee pay, aid and health insurance
Sources: dbb pay table Bremen (provisional), status April 2026
- Handout for the preparatory service, Landesinstitut für Schule Bremen, status February 2025 (in German)
- Circular no. 13/2022 on the BremBBVAnpG 2022, status 14 November 2022 (in German)
- Contribution law figures 2026, GKV-Spitzenverband, status 1 January 2026 (in German)
- § 243 SGB V, Gesetze im Internet (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
