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Integration course
The integration course and the exam at the end of it
The integration course is how most people in Germany reach B1: 700 lessons, heavily subsidised, ending in two exams on the same certificate. Almost everything that matters later - a settlement permit, naturalisation - depends on which of two results you walk out with.
- German lessons
- 600 (six modules of 100)
- Orientation course
- 100 lessons on law, history and society
- Cost contribution
- €2.29 per lesson, about €1,603 in total
- Exemption
- Free if you receive Bürgergeld or are otherwise in need
- Final exams
- DTZ (scaled A2/B1) and "Leben in Deutschland"
- If you reach A2 only
- Usually one repeat, with up to 300 extra lessons
Who this applies to
- New arrivals with an entitlement (Berechtigung) issued by the Ausländerbehörde or BAMF.
- People required to attend by the Ausländerbehörde or the Jobcenter.
- EU citizens and long-term residents applying for a place as self-payers, subject to availability.
- Spouses arriving on a family reunification visa, who normally join a course soon after arrival.
Which certificates are accepted
- Zertifikat Integrationskurs - issued when you pass the DTZ at B1 and the "Leben in Deutschland" test
- The DTZ certificate itself, which records A2 or B1 separately for the written and the oral part
- The "Leben in Deutschland" certificate, which also satisfies the knowledge test for a settlement permit
PassDeutsch prepares you for the B1 exams named here - Goethe, telc and the DTZ - with full-length model tests in each provider’s own format. See the B1 guide.
Exceptions and special cases
Where the rule works differently
These are the situations that most often change the answer. None of them replaces advice on your own file.
Specialised course types
Alongside the general course there are literacy courses, courses for parents and women, youth courses and intensive courses. The hours differ - a literacy course runs considerably longer.
A second attempt at the DTZ
Reaching A2 rather than B1 is not a failure in the exam's own terms, but if you need B1 you can normally repeat the DTZ once, with up to 300 additional funded lessons. Ask your course provider immediately, because the entitlement is time-limited.
You do not have to take the course to take the exam
The DTZ can be booked as a self-payer at an approved test centre without attending an integration course. In that case you lose the exam training the course provides, so realistic model tests matter more.
Step by step
How the process runs
- 1
Get the entitlement
The Ausländerbehörde, the Jobcenter or the BAMF issues a Berechtigungsschein. Self-payers apply to the BAMF for admission instead.
- 2
Choose a course provider
Providers are approved by the BAMF and range from Volkshochschulen to private language schools. Timetables vary a lot - full-time courses finish in months, evening courses take a year or more.
- 3
Work through the six modules
Base course modules one to three take you to A2, advanced modules four to six to B1. Each module is 100 lessons, and the pace assumes homework between sessions.
- 4
Sit the DTZ and the "Leben in Deutschland" test
The DTZ has a written part of about 100 minutes and a paired oral exam of about 16 minutes. "Leben in Deutschland" is 33 multiple-choice questions, of which 17 must be correct.
Get the B1 certificate
B1 is about 2,400 words, the passive and Konjunktiv II - a finite target. PassDeutsch gives you full model tests in the Goethe, telc and DTZ formats, with AI feedback on writing and speaking.
Free to download · all 210 model tests included
What goes wrong
Three things that cost people months
Coasting to A2
The course is designed to reach B1, but the exam certifies whatever you actually produce on the day. If you need B1 for a residence permit or naturalisation, treat A2 as a fail even though the certificate does not use that word.
Leaving Sprechen to the course
Classroom speaking time is shared between fifteen people. The oral exam is where the B1 result is usually won or lost, and it is the easiest part to practise outside class.
Missing the repeat window
The entitlement to repeat with extra funded lessons is time-limited. If your result is A2, start the conversation with your provider in the same week, not after the summer.
FAQ
Integration course and the DTZ: common questions
How much does the integration course cost?
The cost contribution is €2.29 per lesson, so a general course of 700 lessons comes to about €1,603. If you receive Bürgergeld, unemployment benefit or social assistance, or you are otherwise financially in need, you can be exempted. Passing within two years also entitles you to a refund of half the contribution.
What exam do you take at the end of the integration course?
Two: the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer, a scaled exam certified at A2 or B1 for the written and the oral part separately, and the "Leben in Deutschland" test on law, history and society. Passing the DTZ at B1 together with the LiD test earns the Zertifikat Integrationskurs.
What if I only reach A2 in the DTZ?
Your certificate records A2 for that part. Course participants can normally repeat the exam once, often with up to 300 additional funded lessons - ask your provider straight away, because the entitlement expires.
Can I take the DTZ without doing the integration course?
Yes, as a self-payer at an approved test centre. You then miss the exam training built into the course, which makes practising with full, timed model tests in the DTZ format considerably more important.
Sources
Page last checked against these sources in July 2026.
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