If you start the traineeship in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), you want to know above all how much money arrives each month, how state benefit (Beihilfe) works and which health insurance fits. The answers differ depending on whether you train for teaching or in law. This guide separates both paths and gives only figures we can source. Key terms: traineeship (Referendariat) and statutory health insurance (GKV).
Short answer: In NRW, the A 13 trainee basic amount is 1,793.28 euros gross per month according to a dbb table (status 1 April 2026, subject to confirmation). Law trainees receive a maintenance allowance of 1,585.17 euros under the ordinance, status 1 April 2026. State benefit is usually 50 percent. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points
- In teacher training, the basic amount is 1,793.28 euros in A 13 and 1,760.37 euros in A 12. The figures come from a dbb table subject to confirmation.
- For primary and secondary level I, the trainee basic amount rises from 1 August 2026, according to the state pay office LBV NRW. The announcement gives no amounts.
- In law training, a maintenance allowance of 1,585.17 euros applies. It is verified by ordinance, and a family allowance may be added.
- State benefit is usually 50 percent. According to secondary sources, a flat-rate benefit is not available in NRW.
- Health insurance depends on your status: benefit combined with private or voluntary cover for civil servants, and a separate check for training relationships.
Two paths: teaching or law
In NRW the status depends on the training. Trainee teachers are usually probationary civil servants (Beamte auf Widerruf) and receive trainee pay. Law trainees (Rechtsreferendare) receive a maintenance allowance set by ordinance. Your appointment notice states which applies to you.
Teaching: trainee basic amount in A 13 and A 12
The table shows the monthly gross basic amount according to the dbb pay table for North Rhine-Westphalia, status 1 April 2026. This is a trade union compilation that stands subject to publication in the official gazette. For that reason we mark the figure and recommend checking it against your pay notice.
| Pay grade | Basic amount (euros gross/month) | Date and status |
|---|---|---|
| A 13 | 1,793.28 | 1 April 2026, dbb table subject to confirmation |
| A 12 | 1,760.37 | 1 April 2026, dbb table subject to confirmation |
| Family allowance | depends on marital status and children | amount set in the state pay law, not given here |
A change applies from 1 August 2026. The LBV NRW announces that primary and secondary level I move to A 13. The basic amount for primary schools may therefore differ from the table above from August 2026. The announcement gives no amounts, so we give no figure. The LBV NRW announcement is the starting point for your enquiry.
Law traineeship: maintenance allowance
For law trainees in NRW, the maintenance allowance is set by ordinance. The basic amount is 1,585.17 euros per month, status 1 April 2026. A family allowance may be added if the conditions are met. We do not give its amount, because it depends on your family situation.
According to the source, the ordinance applies until 28 February 2027. Further stages are planned for 1 March 2027 and 1 January 2028. Check with the office that sets your allowance whether and at what amount they apply. An overview of the law traineeship in NRW is in the guide on the law traineeship in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The higher regional courts (Oberlandesgerichte) in NRW are responsible for training, namely Düsseldorf, Hamm and Köln. Which location you are assigned to depends on the allocation. Direct payment questions to the office that issued your notice.
Benefit in NRW: 50 percent as the standard rate
State benefit for civil servants in training is usually 50 percent in NRW. This follows from a university information sheet of November 2025 and from the state benefit ordinance. The benefit office assesses each case individually. The university information sheet on pay and insurance states the rate explicitly.
According to secondary sources, a flat-rate benefit is not available in NRW. We have not confirmed this officially, so ask the benefit office before you rely on a solution.
| Step (assumption) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Medical invoice | 300.00 euros |
| Benefit at 50 percent | 150.00 euros |
| Remaining costs under your tariff | 150.00 euros |
How reimbursement works in practice is shown in the guide on submitting benefit invoices. Benefit in NRW in detail is covered in the guide on benefit in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Health insurance: private or statutory, depending on status
If you receive benefit as a probationary civil servant, you usually choose between private health insurance, which supplements the benefit, and voluntary statutory insurance. If you are in a training relationship in law, your cover must be checked against your own status. There is no single solution for everyone.
As a reference point for voluntary statutory insurance, the 2026 minimum contribution for health insurance is 222.80 euros per month. Assumption: the reduced rate of 14.0 percent plus the average additional contribution of 2.9 percent on a minimum assessment base of 1,318.33 euros. Long-term care insurance comes on top. Source: GKV umbrella association, fact sheet on 2026 calculation values. For the choice itself, see the decision guide for trainees.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be placed in A 13 or A 12 as a trainee teacher?
Placement depends on the school type and the state’s procedure. For primary and secondary level I, according to LBV, an increase applies from August 2026. Ask the examination office or the LBV which group applies to you.
Is the maintenance allowance taxed?
We do not calculate tax. For an estimate, use the tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance or ask the tax office. The maintenance allowance and trainee pay are not the same, so check the position for your case.
How long does the maintenance allowance ordinance apply?
According to the source, until 28 February 2027, after which further stages are planned. Check the current status before you plan with these figures.
Is there a flat-rate benefit in NRW?
According to secondary sources, no. We have not confirmed this officially, so have it checked with the benefit office.
What to do now
- Check in your appointment notice whether you are employed for teaching or for the law traineeship.
- Read your pay notice and compare the amount with the figures in this guide.
- Ask the LBV NRW about your grading and about the increase from 1 August 2026 if you teach at primary or secondary level I.
- Clarify the benefit rate and the question of flat-rate benefit with the benefit office before you decide.
- Have your health insurance checked against your status before you cancel any existing policy.
Related guides
- Teacher traineeship in North Rhine-Westphalia 2026/27
- Law traineeship in North Rhine-Westphalia
- State benefit in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Traineeship pay 2026 by state (in German)
- Which health insurance as a trainee? Decision guide in 5 steps
Sources: Ordinance on the monthly maintenance allowance, North Rhine-Westphalia (status 1 April 2026), dbb pay table North Rhine-Westphalia (status 1 April 2026, subject to confirmation), LBV NRW, adjustment of teacher pay from 1 August 2026, University information sheet on pay and insurance (November 2025).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
