Your recognition procedure as Early years teacher (m/f); Childhood educator (m/f)
in Baek, Brandenburg
- The profession of Early years teacher (m/f); Childhood educator (m/f) is regulated in Brandenburg.
- Recognition of your professional qualification is necessary for you to be able to work in the profession in Germany.
- Recognition has many advantages.
The competent authority
Ministerium für Bildung, Jugend und Sport des Landes Brandenburg
Ms Jenny Friese
Referat 23Quick-Info
There are two necessary procedures. The first procedure is called:
- Assessment of equivalence (in German: "Feststellung der Gleichwertigkeit")
Once equivalence has been successfully determined, you must apply for the second procedure. This procedure is called
- state recognition (in German: "staatliche Anerkennung")
For the assessment of equivalence :
- Equivalence of your professional qualification
In most cases you are required to provide evidence of the following for state recognition:
- Personal aptitude
- Medical fitness
- Knowledge of German
Sometimes you are also required to demonstrate:
- Equal status of your qualification with a German higher education qualification
- Knowledge of education and learning plans
- Knowledge of the general conditions relating to childcare institutions
- Knowledge of the necessary German legal areas
- Knowledge of the administration
- Professional experience in Germany supervised by a state-recognized specialist
The competent authority
will tell you which requirements you must demonstrate.
- You usually require knowledge of German at level B1 or C1 of the Common European Reference Framework for languages.
- You may be required to provide a language certificate
when applying. Sometimes you can provide evidence of knowledge of German at a later point in time.
- One month at the latest following receipt of your application by the competent authority : The competent authority will notify you of receipt of the documents. They will inform you if documents are missing. The procedure begins when the documents are complete.
- After 3 months at the latest you will receive notice
containing the result. In specific cases the competent authority may extend the procedure.
- Recognition procedure: approx. €55
- There may be additional costs, e.g. for certifications or compensation measures
- Information about financial support
Documents for my application
- competent authority Application form from the
If there is no application form, then apply without a standard application form
Proof of identity (e.g. passport or personal identification)
Marriage certificate (if your name has changed through marriage)
Curriculum vitae
Evidence of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, certificate of entitlement)
Evidence of the content and duration of your training (e.g. diploma supplement, transcript of records)
- professional experience
in this profession (e.g. employment references)
Evidence of your Evidence of your other qualifications (e.g. continuing vocational training, seminars)
- Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications
from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)
If available: - Intention to start work
: You may have to prove that you want to work in Germany.
- application for recognition
already submitted. In this case state to which authority
you applied.
Information about an
- If the profession is regulated in your country of training
: Certification that you are permitted to work in your occupation in your country of Training.
- Possibly: Evidence of your general education school-leaving certificate. Or your most recent end-of-year certificates.
- Maybe: Confirmation of registration of your place of residence in Germany
Maybe you also need to provide the following verifications. In most cases these documents are submitted later. The competent authority will inform you as to when you should submit the documents.
- Evidence of your personal aptitude : Certificate of good conduct from Germany or your country of origin (e.g. criminal record extract, certificate of good standing )
- Evidence of your medical fitness : doctor's certificate or written declaration
- Evidence of your knowledge of German: official language certificate
The competent authority will inform you as to which documents you must produce as originals or submit as copies. Some copies must be officially certified . We recommend that you do not send originals by post.
You must submit your documents in German. Sworn or authorised translators must prepare the translations.
My steps to recognition
- You can submit the application with the documents to the competent authority.
- You can also send the application by post to the competent authority. Do not send originals.
- You may be able to send the application via email. Ask your competent authority before you do. Later on in the recognition procedure, you may be required to submit original copies or certified copies of the documents.
- You are sometimes able to apply online. Later on in the recognition procedure, you may be required to submit original copies or certified copies of the documents. Use the federal state internet portal for the online application. You will then leave our information page: To the internet portal of Brandenburg.
The competent authority
receives the application. After one month at the latest, it will confirm that the application has arrived. Once the competent authority has received all the documents from you, it processes your application.
The competent authority carries out an equivalence assessment
: It compares your professional qualification with the German professional qualification as early years teacher. As part of this, the competent authority takes into account your professional experience
, other certificates
and other qualifications.
The competent authority then checks other requirements for the recognition. For example: Your personal aptitude
and your medical fitness
. You might need to submit other documents for this. The competent authority will inform you in this case.
The procedure takes a maximum of 3 months. In specific cases the competent authority may extend the procedure. At the end, the competent authority sends you a notice
containing the result.
Outcome: Recognition
Your professional qualification and the German professional qualification are equivalent . You also meet all further requirements. Your professional qualification is recognised.
You are permitted to use the professional title
“state-recognised
early years teacher”. Professionally you have the same rights as a person with the German professional qualification.
Outcome: No recognition because the professional qualification is not equivalent.
There are substantial differences
between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification. You are not able to compensate for these differences with your professional experience
and other knowledge of the profession. Your professional qualification is therefore not equivalent to the German professional qualification.
In most cases you are able to complete a compensation measure
. This allows you to compensate for the substantial differences
.
Outcome: No recognition because you do not meet all the requirements
Your professional qualification is equivalent. However, you do not meet all other requirements for the recognition. You may still need to provide evidence that you e.g. are personally apt
or have knowledge of German. The competent authority
will inform you of which evidence is missing.
You are able to take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. Details on this procedure can be found in the legal redress advice (German: “Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung”) at the end of your notice
. We recommend that you speak to a counselling centre first before challenging the decision or taking legal action.
Compensation measures
If your professional qualification is not equivalent you can complete a compensation measure . A compensation measure allows you to compensate for substantial differences . Substantial differences are listed in your notice .
There are a range of compensation measures:
Often you can choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test.
If you successfully complete the compensation measure , you receive a certificate. You submit this certificate to the competent authority. The competent authority checks the certificate and all other requirements (e.g. personal aptitude or knowledge of German). If you meet all requirements, your professional qualification is recognised. Professionally, you then have the same rights as a person with the German professional qualification.
Are you not yet living in Germany? You are permitted to enter Germany for a compensation measure . Please seek advice if you have questions, or find out more about entry e.g. via the hotline Working and Living in Germany.
Counselling
If you do not meet all requirements, you can find out from the competent authority about the options available to you. Were you not able e.g to provide evidence of your personal aptitude or your medical fitness
? The competent authority can help you with this
My other options
Work as an educational specialist
Do you already live in Germany and are you permitted to work in Germany? If so, you are sometimes able to work in the field of social education even without recognition. This is often with private providers or in private institutions. The employers make the decision regarding your appointment.
You can sometimes work without recognition as a so-called educational specialist. Your employer must apply for this. The competent authority then decides whether you meet the requirements.
However, without recognition of your professional qualification you do not receive state recognition . This means: you are not permitted to use the job title “state-recognised early years teacher”.
You can find out more about entry, residence and work via the hotline Working and Living in Germany.
As an Ethnic German Resettler , you can select between two procedures for vocational recognition:
- You apply for the procedure described here.
- You apply for the procedure under Section 10 of the Federal Expellees Act (German: “§10 Bundesvertriebenengesetz, BVFG”).
You can decide this. Your competent authority will advise you.
Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications
A Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications can make it easier for you to access the German labour market. The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) assesses your certificate. Please note, the Statement of Comparability does not replace recognition of your professional qualification. You can only receive recognition of your professional qualification from the competent authority. Further information about Statement of Comparability is available here.
Do you have any questions? Do you need help with the application? Seek advise! You will find your counselling centre one step in advance. In the navigation, click "Counselling offers".
Further information
State recognition is important for work in the public sector. In Germany, a person working in their occupation has different or additional duties and rights as a result of state recognition.
With a foreign professional qualification, you only receive state recognition
with recognition of your professional qualification. You are then also permitted to use the German job title
: state-recognised early years teacher.
last update on: 14.09.2023
The competent authority
Ministerium für Bildung, Jugend und Sport des Landes Brandenburg
Ms Jenny Friese
Referat 23Ministerium für Bildung, Jugend und Sport des Landes Brandenburg
- Heinrich-Mann-Allee 107
14473 Potsdam - View on Google Maps
- +49 331 866 0
- Website
Ms Jenny Friese
Referat 23Any questions or feedback?
Do you have a question about the recognition procedure? Or have you noticed any information that could be improved? We're happy to help.