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Lehrerfortbildung – mandatory professional development for teachers in Germany
First: What is Lehrerfortbildung?
It includes all learning activities teachers take part in after starting service, with the aim of:
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developing teaching and educational skills
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keeping up with updated curricula and new regulations
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introducing new digital technologies in classrooms
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improving social, psychological, or language competencies
Second: Requirements by federal state (selected examples)
| Federal state (Bundesland) | Is Fortbildung mandatory? | Required days per year | Responsible body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bavaria (Bayern) | Yes | recommended: 12 days / 3 years | Akademie für Lehrerfortbildung |
| Berlin (Berlin) | Yes | general obligation with no fixed number | Senatsverwaltung für Bildung |
| Hamburg (Hamburg) | officially mandatory | no fixed number | Landesinstitut Hamburg |
| North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) | Yes | at least 3 days per year | QUA-LiS NRW |
| Baden-Württemberg | Yes | no fixed mandatory number | Zentrum für Schulqualität |
| Saxony (Sachsen) | Yes | according to the school plan | Sächsische Bildungsagentur |
| Saxony-Anhalt | Yes | Fortbildung is encouraged | Landesinstitut für Schulqualität |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | Yes | preferably at least 5 days / year | Pädagogisches Landesinstitut |
Note: In all states, Fortbildung is considered part of the job duty and must be coordinated with the school management or the ministry.
Third: How is Fortbildung implemented?
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through official state institutions
such as: Landesinstitut, Pädagogische Akademie, Akademie für Lehrerfortbildung -
through approved external providers
such as:-
Deutscher Bildungsserver
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fobizz (digital technical training)
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Verband Bildung und Erziehung (VBE)
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through schools themselves
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internal Fortbildung (Schulinterne Fortbildung – SCHILF)
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organized according to the needs of the school and the teaching team
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Fourth: Common Fortbildung types
| Type | Example content |
|---|---|
| Digitale Bildung | smart boards, Moodle, Datenschutz |
| Inklusion & Diversität | working with students with special needs |
| Sprachförderung | supporting German language skills for foreign students |
| Pädagogik & Didaktik | modern teaching methods, classroom management |
| Psychologie & Konflikt | conflict resolution, psychological stress, burnout prevention |
Fifth: Does the teacher receive a Fortbildung certificate?
Yes, a recognized participation certificate is often issued and may be attached to an evaluation or documented in the teacher’s annual assessment file.
Sixth: Practical steps for teachers
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search for suitable Fortbildung via the state portal (e.g., Fobiportals or the Landesinstitut website)
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request approval from the school administration
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attend the course and receive a certificate
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keep it in your professional file; it may be counted in your performance evaluation
Did you know?
In some states such as NRW, failing to complete the minimum Fortbildung can affect professional evaluation and promotion.
-* The team of writers and editors at the website strives to provide accurate information through extensive research and reviewing multiple sources when writing articles. However, some errors may occur or unconfirmed information may be included. Therefore, please consider the information in the articles as an initial reference and always consult the competent authorities to obtain confirmed information.
