Teaching German as a Foreign Language: Qualifications

There is no single licence to teach German as a foreign or second language. What counts depends on where you want to work: integration courses in Germany require approval by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), while private language schools, institutions abroad and online platforms set their own requirements. A degree in German as a foreign or second language is the most direct route; additional qualifications and professional development courses are the common alternatives.

General guidance only, not legal advice. As of October 2026; always check current approval rules with BAMF.

German as a foreign or a second language

In German, the field is split into DaF (Deutsch als Fremdsprache, German as a foreign language) and DaZ (Deutsch als Zweitsprache, German as a second language). DaF typically describes teaching outside German-speaking countries, for example at a language school abroad. DaZ describes teaching people who live in Germany, Austria or Switzerland and need German for daily life, work or training. Job ads in Germany often ask for experience in both.

The main routes

Route	Most useful for	Time needed
Degree in DaF/DaZ (bachelor, master, add-on subject)	Integration courses, universities, senior roles, abroad	Several semesters
Other degree plus BAMF additional qualification	Integration courses	70 or 140 teaching units, depending on background
Goethe-Institut training programmes	Language schools, abroad, online teaching	Modular, part-time
University certificates in DaF/DaZ	Private schools, adult education centres, CV	A few months to a year
Examiner licences from exam providers	Exam preparation and examining	Short training, provider-specific entry rules

Integration courses and BAMF approval

To teach integration courses in Germany you need approval from BAMF. The rules are set out in the Integration Course Ordinance and specified in BAMF’s approval criteria, published on the BAMF website (mostly in German). In simplified form:

• A completed degree in DaF/DaZ generally allows direct approval.
• Other university degrees, such as German studies, another philology or a teaching degree, usually require an additional qualification in DaZ. Depending on your degree, experience and existing certificates, BAMF asks for the shortened version of 70 teaching units or the full version of 140 teaching units.
• German at C1 level must generally be proven by teachers whose first language is not German. Exceptions include a German school-leaving certificate or a degree from a German-language university.

The additional qualification is offered by universities, adult education centres and other institutions approved by BAMF. Special course types, such as literacy courses or job-related German courses, can require further qualifications. Check that a provider is approved before you enrol.

Goethe-Institut and universities

The Goethe-Institut runs professional development programmes for teachers of German, including modular series that can be taken online alongside work. These are valued by language schools abroad and look good on a CV. Many German universities also offer continuing education certificates in DaF/DaZ, often part-time or online.

Not every certificate replaces BAMF’s additional qualification. If integration courses are your goal, ask in advance whether a course is recognised for that purpose.

Austria and Switzerland

Both countries have their own rules for integration and German courses. In Austria the Austrian Integration Fund is the main reference point; in Switzerland, requirements are linked to the national fide framework. BAMF approval does not transfer automatically.

Private schools and online platforms

Private schools and platforms decide for themselves. They often look for:

• documented teaching experience, including volunteering or tandem work,
• a DaF/DaZ training certificate,
• native or near-native German,
• a convincing profile and introduction video.

For the online route, see how to become an online language tutor.

Building a specialism

Many teachers of German go beyond the basics:

• Exam preparation for Goethe-Zertifikat, telc, ÖSD or TestDaF, see specialising in exam preparation.
• German for specific professions such as nursing, engineering or administration.
• English as a second subject, where a TEFL course is the usual entry point, see TEFL certification.
• Teaching abroad, where many of the practical questions (visas, contracts, degree requirements) are similar to those in teaching English abroad.

Approval rules change from time to time, so ongoing training helps. Overview: online CPD courses.