Teacher training in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is the practical part of your training after university. You teach under supervision, attend seminars and receive pay for this work. Trainee pay (Anwärterbezüge), state health aid (Beihilfe) and health insurance involve many details, so it is worth understanding them before you start.
Short answer: In NRW teacher training, trainee pay depends on the basic trainee amount (Anwärtergrundbetrag) of your entry grade. The teacher pay scale was adjusted on 1 August 2026, and your exact figure is in your personal notice. State health aid follows the 2026 guidance of the NRW finance administration, which lists 50 to 80 percent depending on family status and children.
The most important points at a glance
- Trainee pay: The amount depends on the pay grade of your entry grade and was adjusted on 1 August 2026.
- Notice: Trainee teachers receive the adjustment as a separate written notice.
- Health aid: The rates are staggered by family status and number of children. The guidance does not name trainees explicitly.
- Health insurance: Choosing between statutory (GKV) and private (PKV) cover depends on contributions, benefits and your family situation.
- Planning: Budget with your net pay and keep reserves for transition periods.
How high is trainee pay for teacher training in NRW?
Trainee pay consists of the basic trainee amount, which depends on the pay grade of your entry grade. The Landesamt für Besoldung und Versorgung NRW (state pay office) published the teacher pay adjustment effective 1 August 2026. It states that trainee teachers receive a separate written notice about their pay adjustment. The page itself does not list euro amounts. According to the dbb pay table (status April 2026, subject to promulgation), the basic trainee amount is 1,793.28 euros in A 13 and 1,760.37 euros in A 12. Your notice remains decisive. From 1 August 2026, table values for primary schools may differ, because primary and lower secondary teaching moves to A 13.
Your personal notice is therefore the binding source for the exact sum. Keep it together with your payslips so you can trace any change during training. The guide to trainee pay across all German states gives an overview: Referendariat: Anwärterbezüge nach Bundesland (in German).
How does state health aid work for trainee teachers in NRW?
State health aid (Beihilfe) complements your health insurance. It reimburses a share of eligible costs, the reimbursement rate (Bemessungssatz). You cover the rest through a private tariff or from your own funds. The guidance “Beihilfeanspruch und Antragstellung” of the NRW finance administration (as of January 2026) sets out the following rates.
| Group | Reimbursement rate (January 2026) |
|---|---|
| Eligible persons without a child or with one child | 50 percent |
| Eligible persons with two or more children | 70 percent |
| Eligible spouses | 70 percent |
| Eligible children | 80 percent |
| Pensioners | 70 percent |
Trainee teachers are not named explicitly in this guidance. Ask your health aid office which rate applies to you before you choose a tariff. The rate depends on the circumstances at the time the costs arise.
Worked example (assumption)
Assumption: an eligible doctor’s bill is EUR 400 and the rate is 50 percent. Health aid then covers EUR 200, and the remaining EUR 200 has to come from your health insurance or your own reserves. At 70 percent, you would have to cover only EUR 120.
Which health insurance suits teacher training in NRW?
During training you broadly have two options: statutory health insurance (GKV) with an income-based contribution, or private health insurance (PKV), usually combined with state health aid. Both have advantages and drawbacks, and these weigh differently depending on family situation, health and expectations about benefits.
Private cover can suit you if you combine health aid with a supplementary tariff and want to protect your out-of-pocket costs. Statutory cover can suit you if you prefer a fixed, transparent contribution and do not rely on health aid. An overview of the options is in the guide Krankenversicherung im Referendariat: GKV, PKV und Beihilfe (in German). If you want to discuss your situation personally, you can find out how to arrange a consultation at So arbeiten wir (in German).
How do you plan your money during training?
Plan with your net pay, not with the gross figure. Check income tax and social insurance contributions with the calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance. This guide deliberately does not calculate income tax itself. Keep reserves for transition periods, such as the gap between the end of your traineeship and your first salary.
Once a year, list your pay, your contributions and your health aid reimbursements side by side. This shows early whether a tariff still fits or needs adjusting.
What happens after the traineeship?
Your trainee period ends with the successful completion of the traineeship. Whether you become a civil servant or work as a salaried teacher depends on your employer or appointing authority. Your health aid status and your contributions then change, so review your health insurance before the switch. The step from university to the profession is covered in the German guide Lehramt: Versicherung vom Studium bis zum Referendariat (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Do I receive health aid during teacher training in NRW?
That depends on your status, which the health aid office checks. The guidance does not explicitly name trainees, so a written answer is the right route. Ask about the rate, the application process and the documents you need.
What rate applies to a spouse and children?
According to the guidance, eligible spouses receive 70 percent and eligible children 80 percent. Where two or more children are involved and both parents are eligible, the 70 percent rate goes to the person who receives the child portions of the family allowance.
Can I combine a civil service health aid with private insurance?
Yes, this is the usual route for eligible civil servants. Health aid covers the reimbursement rate, and the tariff covers the remaining share. Which combination makes sense depends on your age, health and budget.
Where can I find the exact amount of my pay?
In your written notice about the pay adjustment and in your pay statement. These documents take priority over any guide, including this one. If the figures differ, clarify this with the pay office.
What to do now
- Compare your pay notice of 1 August 2026 with your latest payslip and check whether the basic trainee amount is correct.
- Ask the health aid office in writing which reimbursement rate applies to your family situation and how to apply.
- Compare GKV and PKV based on contributions, benefits and your family plans before you sign anything.
- Calculate your monthly budget with net pay, for example with the calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and keep reserves for the transition.
Related guides
- Teacher training insurance: from studies to traineeship
- Trainee Teachers in Statutory Health Insurance: How Voluntary Cover Works
- Civil Servant Health Aid: Rates and How It Works
- Health Insurance Between Your State Exam and Training
- Referendariat: Anwärterbezüge nach Bundesland (in German)
Sources: Landesamt für Besoldung und Versorgung NRW: Adjustment of teacher pay on 1 August 2026 (accessed October 2026); NRW finance administration: guidance Beihilfeanspruch und Antragstellung (as of January 2026); Federal Ministry of Finance: tax and contribution calculator (accessed October 2026); dbb: pay table NRW (status April 2026, subject to promulgation).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
