Career change as a school support assistant
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 3 with on-the-job training and 5 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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Learning coach
Also: Tutor at a tutoring center
With on-the-job training
As a learning coach or tutor you work with individual students or small groups, plan exercises and talk to parents about progress.
- What you bring:
- You help children learn, explain step by step and see where things get stuck.
- How to get there:
- Tutoring centers and training providers train learning support staff on the job. Good knowledge of the subjects is required, and further training courses to become a learning coach take a few weeks. There are also part-time or freelance jobs, and permanent jobs are more likely at larger providers.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,254gross per monthMedian salary
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Swimming instructor for children
Also: Children's sports instructor
With on-the-job training
As a swimming instructor or sports instructor (Übungsleiter) you give swimming and sports courses for children, keep an eye on safety and guide them toward their first badges.
- What you bring:
- You can motivate children, lead groups safely and guide movement in a playful way.
- How to get there:
- Swim schools, clubs and pools hire course leaders who have a lifeguard badge and have taken a course with the German Life Saving Association (DLRG), a swimming association or the water rescue service (Wasserwacht). The courses take a few weekends to a few weeks. There are also part-time and freelance jobs.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demandingLots of contact with people -
First aid instructor
With on-the-job training
As a first aid instructor you give courses for driving license applicants, businesses, daycare centers and schools, demonstrate the measures in practice and practice them with the participants.
- What you bring:
- You explain patiently, lead groups and stay calm when things get hectic.
- How to get there:
- Aid organizations and private training bodies train instructors in courses that usually take a few weeks. You need to have completed first aid training yourself. The work is often part-time or freelance at a recognized training body.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€5,254gross per monthMedian salary
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Early childhood educator
Also: Daycare center educator
With further trainingPromotion
As an early childhood educator (Erzieher) you plan the educational work, support the children's development, talk with parents and take responsibility for a group.
- What you bring:
- You already look after children in a daycare center (Kita), at school or in all-day care and know how to guide groups and support individual children.
- How to get there:
- Training at a vocational college for social education (Fachschule für Sozialpädagogik) takes 2 to 5 years depending on the federal state, and is also available as paid practice-integrated training or alongside work. Each state sets the access requirements and decides how previous experience is recognized.*Regulated by law (State law: state recognition under the vocational college regulations of the federal states).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€3,995gross per monthMedian salary
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Disability support worker
Also: Group leader in a workshop for people with disabilities
With further trainingPromotion
As a disability support worker (Heilerziehungspfleger) you guide and encourage people with disabilities in residential groups, schools, day centers or workshops and plan the support they need.
- What you bring:
- You support children with special needs in daily life and know how to combine patience, structure and closeness.
- How to get there:
- Training as a disability support worker (Heilerziehungspfleger) at a vocational college (Fachschule) usually takes 3 years, often integrated with practice and paid, or alongside work. Each state sets the access requirements and the length. For group leadership in a workshop for people with disabilities, the Workshop Ordinance (Werkstättenverordnung) also requires an additional special-needs education qualification, which you can also complete later.*Regulated by law (State law: state recognition under the vocational college regulations of the federal states).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demandingLots of contact with people€4,461gross per monthMedian salary
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Childminder
Also: Family day care provider
With further training
In childminding (Kindertagespflege) you look after a few children in your own or rented rooms, shape their day and work closely with the parents and the youth welfare office (Jugendamt).
- What you bring:
- You have experience with small groups, know the needs of children and like to work independently.
- How to get there:
- You need a care permit (Pflegeerlaubnis) from the youth welfare office. For this you must complete a qualification course for childminding and show suitable rooms. The state or youth welfare office sets the scope and course of the qualification, which usually takes several months alongside work.*Regulated by law (§ 43 Social Code VIII (SGB VIII)).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€3,340gross per monthMedian salary
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Driving instructor
With vocational training
As a driving instructor you teach theory, drive with learners and prepare them for the test.
- What you bring:
- You explain calmly and clearly, give factual feedback and stay patient even when something has to be practiced several times.
- How to get there:
- You train at a recognized driving instructor training center, with an internship at a driving school. Altogether this takes about a year and ends with an exam and a permit from the responsible authority. Requirements include a minimum age, a driving license class B held for several years and a completed vocational qualification or equivalent prior education.*Regulated by law (Driving Instructors Act (FahrlG) §§ 1, 2).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€3,977gross per monthMedian salary
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Occupational therapist
With further training
As an occupational therapist you work with children and adults who have limitations, in practices, clinics or early intervention centers, helping them become more independent in daily life.
- What you bring:
- You support children with learning, concentration or developmental difficulties and know how much small steps of progress mean.
- How to get there:
- Training at a vocational school (Berufsfachschule) for occupational therapy takes 3 years, and an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss) is usually required. Some schools charge tuition fees; in some states they have been abolished.*Regulated by law (Occupational Therapists Act (ErgThG) § 1).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsLots of contact with people€4,001gross per monthMedian salary
Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as a school support assistant without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Learning coach, Swimming instructor for children and First aid instructor.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a school support assistant?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Early childhood educator, Disability support worker, Childminder, Driving instructor and Occupational therapist.
What promotion options do I have as a school support assistant?
Promotions include, for example: Early childhood educator and Disability support worker.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Learning coach (€5,254 gross per month), First aid instructor (€5,254 gross per month) and Disability support worker (€4,461 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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