Career change as a social care assistant

Career change paths

• Head of a residential unit in integration assistance

  Also: Group leader in a residential facility for people with disabilities

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As head of a residential unit or team leader you lead a team, organize shifts and occupancy, and are the contact for funding bodies and legal guardians.

  What you bring:

  You know support planning, documentation, duty rosters and how to work with relatives and authorities.

  How to get there:

  This is an internal promotion after some years of work experience, often with a part-time further training course in management and team leadership lasting a few months. Providers usually expect a specialist qualification such as disability support worker (Heilerziehungspfleger). If you are a social care assistant (Sozialassistent), you usually need to complete this vocational college training (Fachschulausbildung) first. To lead whole facilities, some providers also expect further training such as special needs education (Heilpädagogik) or a university degree.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Lots of contact with people

  €5,771gross per monthMedian salary

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• School support worker

  Also: Integration assistant, Educational assistant at primary schools

  With on-the-job training

  As a school support worker you help a child with a disability or special support needs in class and during breaks.

  What you bring:

  You can respond to individual children, bring calm and work with parents and professionals.

  How to get there:

  You start with an independent provider of youth services or integration assistance (freier Träger), with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), often including a course of a few days to weeks. The jobs are usually tied to a school year and often part-time. For educational assistant jobs at schools, each federal state has its own hiring rules.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €3,340gross per monthMedian salary

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• Nursing assistant

  Also: Nursing specialist assistant

  With on-the-job training

  As a nursing assistant you support older or sick people in daily life.

  What you bring:

  You take responsibility for people who need help, you are patient, and from looking after small children you know personal care, feeding and hygiene.

  How to get there:

  You start as a nursing aide after a basic nursing course (Pflegebasiskurs) of a few weeks. A qualification comes from training as a nursing specialist assistant (Pflegefachassistenz). From 2027 it will be the same across Germany and takes 18 months full-time, with training pay. With work experience in nursing, it can be shortened.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,296gross per monthMedian salary

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• Care support worker

  Also: Daily living companion

  With on-the-job training

  As a care support worker you structure the day for people with dementia or care needs, without taking on nursing tasks.

  What you bring:

  You plan activities, games, songs and craft sessions and bring patience and empathy.

  How to get there:

  You qualify under the guidelines for § 53b SGB XI: an orientation internship, at least 160 hours of classes and a care internship. Altogether this usually takes a few months, and it can often be funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Jobs are available in care homes, day care centers and with outpatient care services.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Lots of contact with people

  €3,296gross per monthMedian salary

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• Special needs educator (Heilpädagoge)

  Also: Early intervention specialist

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a special needs educator you assess the support need more precisely and provide targeted support, for example in early intervention or special needs education services.

  What you bring:

  You support children, young people or adults with special support needs, and you know developmental observation, support plans and working with parents.

  How to get there:

  You take the further training at a vocational college for special needs education (Fachschule für Heilpädagogik). It usually takes one and a half to two years full-time and longer alongside a job, and ends with a qualification as state-recognized special needs educator (Heilpädagoge). You generally need a qualification as early childhood educator (Erzieher) or disability support worker (Heilerziehungspfleger) plus work experience. The further training can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications).*Regulated by law (State law: state recognition under each state's vocational college regulations).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €4,350gross per monthMedian salary

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• Occupational therapist

  With further training

  Occupational therapists treat exactly this on a doctor's prescription, for example in children, after accidents or in people with mental illness.

  What you bring:

  You promote motor skills, perception and independence in everyday life, and you know developmental delays and disabilities from hands-on experience.

  How to get there:

  You train at a vocational school (Berufsfachschule) for three years and finish with a state exam. You need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) plus at least two years of vocational training. Depending on the state and school, tuition fees may still apply.*Regulated by law (Occupational Therapists Act (ErgThG)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsLots of contact with people

  €4,001gross per monthMedian salary

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• Speech therapist

  With further training

  In speech therapy you treat language, speech, voice and swallowing disorders in children and adults on a doctor's prescription.

  What you bring:

  You support people with disabilities in communicating, for example with plain language, signs or communication aids, and you notice problems with speaking or swallowing.

  How to get there:

  You train at a vocational school for speech therapy (Berufsfachschule für Logopädie) for three years and finish with a state exam. You need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) plus at least two years of vocational training. At some schools tuition fees still apply.*Regulated by law (Act on the Profession of Speech Therapist (LogopG) § 4).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,307gross per monthMedian salary

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• Registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann)

  With vocational training

  The nursing training adds medical nursing care, pathology and responsibility for care planning.

  What you bring:

  Especially as a disability support worker, you know basic care, giving medication according to plan and supporting people who need assistance.

  How to get there:

  You do vocational training (Ausbildung) as a registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann). It takes three years full-time or up to five years part-time, and you receive a training allowance. On request, the responsible authority can credit an equivalent previous training, up to two thirds of the training period at most. How much is possible with your qualification is decided case by case.*Regulated by law (Nursing Professions Act (PflBG)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,421gross per monthMedian salary

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• Prison officer

  Also: Officer in the general prison service

  With vocational training

  In the prison service you look after and supervise prisoners in daily life, and in juvenile detention in particular, educational skills are in demand.

  What you bring:

  You can lead groups, defuse conflicts and enforce clear rules in a friendly but firm way.

  How to get there:

  You do the preparatory service as a state civil servant, usually for about two years, and you are paid during training. You usually need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) together with vocational training (Berufsausbildung). The sports test, health requirements and age limits differ by state.*Regulated by law (Training and examination regulations of the federal states for the general prison service).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demanding

  €4,041gross per monthMedian salary

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• Adventure education specialist (Erlebnispädagoge)

  Also: Outdoor trainer

  With vocational training

  In adventure education you lead climbing, canoe trips, hikes and team exercises for school classes, youth groups or companies.

  What you bring:

  You plan group activities, keep safety and group dynamics in view, and can inspire children and young people.

  How to get there:

  You take a part-time additional training in adventure education at an independent training provider, usually in modules over several months, often with certificates, for example for climbing or canoeing. Permanent jobs exist mainly at child and youth welfare providers, youth hostels and training centers, and some positions are seasonal or paid on a fee basis.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with peopleLots of time outdoors

  €4,457gross per monthMedian salary

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• Early childhood educator (Erzieher)

  With further trainingPromotion

  As an early childhood educator (Erzieher) you work with children and young people in a daycare center (Kita), after-school care center (Hort), all-day school or residential group, plan the educational work and take responsibility for a group.

  What you bring:

  From your work in social facilities you know everyday support, observation, documentation and cooperation with relatives and professionals.

  How to get there:

  You do vocational college training (Fachschulausbildung) under state law, usually for two to three years plus practice. Depending on the state, it can also be practice-integrated with pay, or part-time alongside a job. Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications) is possible. Depending on the state, a qualification as social care assistant (Sozialassistent) is the usual route in. With other qualifications, the states regulate access differently.*Regulated by law (State law: state recognition under each state's vocational college regulations).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsLots of contact with people

  €3,995gross per monthMedian salary

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• Medical assistant (MFA)

  With retraining

  In a doctor's practice, for example a pediatrician's, you also handle scheduling and billing, draw blood and assist with examinations.

  What you bring:

  You deal calmly with children and worried parents and keep the overview even when it is hectic.

  How to get there:

  Vocational training (Ausbildung) takes 3 years and can be shortened on request, especially with the Abitur (university-entrance diploma) or a completed vocational qualification. Alternatively, you can retrain (Umschulung), which usually takes about 2 years and can often be funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €3,270gross per monthMedian salary

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• Office management clerk

  Also: Office clerk

  With retraining

  In an office you use this care for correspondence, filing, scheduling and invoices, usually with fixed working hours.

  What you bring:

  You organize processes, document reliably and keep track of appointments and agreements with parents.

  How to get there:

  You can retrain (Umschulung) as an office management clerk (Kaufmann/Kauffrau für Büromanagement). It usually takes 2 years and can often be funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Regular vocational training (Ausbildung) takes 3 years.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €3,810gross per monthMedian salary

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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.