Professional recognition

 

Planning to work in Germany?

Have you completed higher education or qualified vocational training outside Germany? If you would like to work in your profession, you might need to have your professional qualification recognized. Click here to find out, if your profession is regulated or not. If you wish to work in a regulated profession, the recognition of your qualification is mandatory. 
 

For professionals in regulated professions, recognition is a prerequisite for both practicing the profession and using the corresponding job title. Without recognition, individuals with professional and vocational qualifications obtained abroad may not work in these professions in Germany. Regulated professions in Germany include doctors, nurses, teachers, and nursery school teachers.
 
Success stories: The portal https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de  provides information on professional recognition and success stories of foreign skilled workers in different occupational fields, including health care as well as teaching, education, and social services. 
 

Recognition is not an essential prerequisite for practicing non-regulated occupations. Individuals can work directly in these occupations without prior recognition. Non-regulated professions include office workers, medical assistants, and some types of social counseling (if the employer does not require recognition as a social worker).
 
However, an evaluation of your qualifications can be beneficial in providing employers and companies with a better understanding of your skills. With a recognition of your qualification, you may have the opportunity to secure a higher salary. 
 
Please note: As a third-country national, you always need a residence permit, which allows you to work in Germany. If you are a skilled professional without a university degree, you need a recognition of your qualifications in order to obtain a visa and residence permit, even for work in a non-regulated profession. 
 

If you hold a university degree in a non-regulated profession (e.g. business sciences, arts, social sciences etc.), a formal recognition procedure does not exist. However, you have the option to apply for an individual Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications from the “Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen” – Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). This statement, issued by the ZAB can be useful in providing employers and companies with a better understanding of your qualifications. It includes information about the nature and duration of your studies as well as the comparability of the academic level (bachelor, diploma, master etc.). This evaluation of your qualifications is valid in all federal states of Germany. Please note that it is a comparative assessment but not a recognition certificate. For more information, please click here. 
 

More information on recognition and qualification

You can find additional information about the recognition procedure here:
 

There are different authorities responsible for the evaluation and recognition of foreign professional qualifications. These include, for example, regional councils, chambers of crafts and trades and chambers of industry and commerce. You can check the competent authority of your qualification here.
 
 

The competent authority compares your qualification with the German reference profession. To ascertain equivalence, the authority will check the duration and contents of your qualification. It will also consider relevant work experience. For this procedure, it is important to present official certificates, including information about your studies or vocational training as well as any available work certificates. In some cases, a German language certificate may also be required. The competent authority will determine the specific documents needed for the recognition procedure. Please inform yourself before submitting an application. 
 

  1. No significant differences between your qualification and the German reference profession are identified, or your professional experience compensates for any differences found. In this case, you will receive a certificate of full equivalence.
  2. If significant differences exist between your qualifications and the German reference profession, you will receive notification of partial equivalence. To compensate for the differences, depending on your profession, you will have to participate in an adaptation course or undergo a knowledge test to obtain full recognition of your qualification.
  3. The competent authority may determine that there is no equivalence, if there are too many differences between your qualification and the German reference profession, even if you have work experience in this profession. In this case, recognition is not possible. 
 

The required documents for the recognition procedure vary depending on the competent authority responsible for evaluating and recognizing foreign professional qualifications. It is important to gather information about the specific documents required and the preferred method of application submission (by post or email). 
If a translation is required, it is recommendable to have your documents translated by a sworn translator. You can search for sworn translators in Germany here.
 

During the initial 4-week period, the authority verifies its competence to review your recognition application and checks the completeness of your submitted documents. Once your application is deemed complete, the assessment of equivalence should not take longer than 3 months.
 

The cost of the recognition process varies depending on the responsible office and can range between 100 and 600 euros. You are responsible for covering the costs of recognition. However, if you are receiving unemployment benefits, you may be eligible to apply for funding through the Arbeitsagentur (Federal Employment Agency) or Jobcenter. It is important to submit your application for funding before commencing the recognition procedure. In certain cases, there may be additional funding options available for recognition, such as the "Anerkennungszuschuss" (recognition grant). You can find more information about it here.
 

If you receive a certificate of partial equivalence, it means that there are significant differences between your qualification and the German professional qualification. The notification you receive provides detailed information on the differences. In such cases, you have various options to compensate for the identified differences. You can participate in an adaptation course or undergo a knowledge test to obtain full recognition of your qualification. Do not hesitate to make use of our advisory services!
 

We strongly recommend seeking advice before initiating the recognition procedure to save time and ensure a smooth process. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further questions! You can also contact one of the following advisory offices specializing in the recognition of foreign professional qualifications: 
 
If you are living in Baden-Wurttemberg or if you are abroad and plan to work in Baden-Wurttemberg:
If you are residing in Baden-Württemberg or planning to work in Baden-Württemberg while being abroad, you can contact the advisory offices for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications operated by the IQ Network. There are advisory offices in Mannheim/Karlsruhe (administrative district of Karlsruhe), in Stuttgart (administrative district of Stuttgart), in Freiburg (administrative district of Freiburg), in Ulm (administrative district of Tübingen), and in Aalen (region of East Wurttemberg). 
 
If you are still abroad, you may contact one of the following advisory services:
 

Possibilities of qualification

If you receive a certificate of partial equivalence, you can participate in an adaptation course or undergo a knowledge test to obtain full recognition of your qualification. Depending on your profession, various qualification pathways are offered to support you during an adaptation period or prepare you for the knowledge exam:
 

Doctors, dentists, or pharmacists are required a recognition of their qualification in order to work as professionals in Baden-Wurttemberg. They can apply for the recognition of their academic healthcare profession at the Regional Council in Stuttgart. 
 
There are qualifications specifically designed for academic health professionals with international qualifications. Here, you find some educational offers: 
 
 

 
International educational workers are required a recognition of their qualification in order to work as professionals in Baden-Wurttemberg. They can apply for professional recognition as educators or socio-educational assistants at the Regional Council in Stuttgart. 
 
Most international international educational workers receive a statement of partial recognition, which means that essential differences exist between the German qualification and the qualification acquired abroad. In this case, they have the possibility to compensate the missing competences by completing an adaptation period ("Anpassungslehrgang"). The following programs support international educational workers in the process of recognition or qualification for the job market: 
 
  • Kipäd plus – Bachelor Childhood Education at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Freiburg
    By following this program educational workers with a foreign academic title may obtain a Bachelor of Arts in childhood education. 
    For more information, please click here:
    https://www.eh-freiburg.de/kipaed-plus/
  • IQ.SocialWork - Online Qualification for Social Work in Germany
    This is a program for international professionals with social or pedagocial qualifications who are interested in working as social workers in Germany.
    For more information, please click here:
    https://palais-ev.de/iq-socialwork/ 
 

 
International nurses and other healthcare professionals are required a recognition of their qualification in order to work as professionals in Baden-Wurttemberg. They can apply for professional recognition:
Recognition of nursing professions at the Regional Council in Stuttgart
Recognition of healthcare professions at the Regional Council in Stuttgart 
 
Most international nurses and healthcare professionals with qualifications from a non-EU country receive a statement of partial recognition, which means that essential differences exist between the German qualification and the qualification acquired abroad. In this case, they have the possibility to compensate the missing competences by completing an adaptation period ("Anpassungslehrgang") or an aptitude test ("Kenntnisprüfung"). 
 
Here, you can find further information in English language: 
 
The following programs support international nurses in the process of professional recognition: 
 

Teachers with international qualifications need a German language certificate at the level of C2 or of C1 + "Sprachkolloquium" (an oral language exam specifically designed for international teachers) and a recognition of their qualification in order to work at public schools in Baden-Wurttemberg. They can apply for an evaluation (free of charge) and for a recognition of their teaching qualification at the Regional Council in Tübingen. 
 
Most teaching qualifications from outside Germany include only one teaching subject. In Germany, two teaching subjects are required. Therefore, in most cases international teachers are required to enroll at a university of education to study a second subject and to complete an adaptation period afterwads. 
 
In Baden-Wurttemberg, the following programs offer international teachers the possibility to qualify for working as a teacher in public schools. They require German language skills of at least B2. Here, you can find further information: 
 
Teachers who do not have their international qualifications recognized can be employed in public schools in Baden-Wurttemberg by means of the so-called "Direkteinstieg". A prerequisite is that they have studied two subjects that are teaching subjects at public schools and that they have a German language certificate at the level of C2 or of C1 + "Sprachkolloquium" (an oral language exam specifically designed for international teachers). In addition, under such conditions, they have the possibility to be employed at private schools. Here, you find further information and an overview of private schools in Baden-Wurttemberg:
 

Are you interested in studying in Germany?

If you are considering studying in Germany, the first step is to select a university that accepts you as a student. Germany is home to numerous universities, each with its own specific regulations and admission procedures. Additionally, the university will evaluate whether you are eligible to continue your studies if you have already begun your university education abroad. It is advisable to apply to multiple universities to increase your chances of acceptance. You can search for universities and degree programs here. 
 
Do you have any questions? Please do not hesitate to contact the team of the Welcome Center Sozialwirtschaft. We will be glad to get back to you.