Your recognition procedure as Specialised dental practitioner - Orthodontist (m/f)
in München, Bavaria
- The profession of Specialised dental practitioner - Orthodontist (m/f) is regulated in Bavaria.
- Recognition of your professional qualification is necessary for you to be able to work in the profession in Germany. You are also able to apply for recognition after you enter the country. See “My other options” for further information.
- Recognition has many advantages.
The competent authority
Bayerische Landeszahnärztekammer
Quick-Info
This procedure is called: Recognition of continuing vocational education and training in third countries.
Please note: For the application you need approbation (licence to practise medicine in Germany) or authorisation to practise an occupation as a dentist in Germany. You apply for approbation or authorisation to practise an occupation in another procedure.
- Approbation or authorisation to practise an occupation as a specialised dental practitioner in Germany
- Equivalence of your professional qualification
Sometimes this requirement also applies:
- You are a member of a German dental association.
- You have at least one year of professional experience as a dentist.
You need to provide evidence of your knowledge of German for the authorisation to practise an occupation or for the approbation. In most cases you do not also need to provide evidence of your knowledge of German for recognition of your professional qualification as a specialised dental practitioner.
- 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 4 months at the latest you will receive notice containing the result. In specific cases the competent authority may extend the procedure.
- Recognition procedure: €300 to €580. The competent authority will inform you of the exact costs.
- There may be additional costs, e.g. for translations, certifications or compensation measures.
- Information about financial support.
Documents for my application
Application form from the competent authority
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)
If necessary: certificate of conformity
Evidence of your professional experience in this profession (e.g. employment references)
Evidence of your other qualifications (e.g. continuing vocational training, seminars)
You will possibly be required to provide evidence that you are permitted to work in your country of training
Intention to start work: You may have to prove that you want to work in Germany.
Information about an application for recognition already submitted. In this case state to which authority you applied.
- Your approbation or authorisation to practise an occupation with recognition notice
- Possibly: confirmation of employment over the last five years
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 may also apply if you are not yet living in Germany.
- You can 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 Bavaria.
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 firstly checks: Do you already have approbation or authorisation to practise an occupation as a dentist in Germany?
If you do not yet have this, you first need to apply for recognition as a dentist. Read the information about this in our Recognition Finder under dentist.
If you already have approbation or authorisation to practise an occupation as a dentist in Germany, then the competent authority will complete an equivalence assessment. This means: It compares your professional qualification with the German professional qualification as a specialised dental practitioner. As part of this, the competent authority takes into account your professional experience, other certificates and other qualifications.
You may need to take a test if checking your application involves too much work. If, for example, key documents and evidence are missing. There are various tests:
Ask the competent authority which test you can take.
The procedure takes a maximum of 4 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. Your professional qualification is recognised.
You are authorised to use the professional title permitted by the continuing vocational education and training in your specialisation as a specialised dental practitioner. 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 continuing vocational education and training. 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.
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:
You may be required to complete continuing vocational education and training before the compensation measure
The competent authority will tell you which compensation measure you can complete. You can sometimes choose a compensation measure. It depends on your professional qualification. Your competent authority will inform you.
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 requirements. If you meet all requirements, your professional qualification is recognised. Professionally, you then have the same rights as a person with the German continuing vocational training.
Do you come from a third country? 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.
My other options
Do you need recognition in order to work in Germany? You can also apply for recognition after entering the country. For this you need a recognition partnership with your future employer in Germany.
The following requirements apply to a recognition partnership:
- You have completed training of at least two years or a degree.
- Your qualification is recognised by the state in the country of training. The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) will confirm this for you.
- You need German language skills at least at level A2 of the Common European Reference Framework for languages.
- You have found an employer.
Further information about the recognition partnership can be found here.
You may also be able to work in a non-regulated profession in Germany without recognition:
- This is possible, for example, with completed training and professional experience. What's also important is how much you earn, whether you have a contract of employment, whether you speak German and how old you are. We recommend that you complete the Quick-Check here, this will provide all the information: Make-it-in-Germany.com.
- This is possible, for example, with a higher education qualification: Find out whether it is comparable to a German higher education qualification. There are two ways of checking this.
- anabin database: You will find universities in the database. Your university must be recognised in the database (H+). AND your higher education qualification must be assessed as equivalent. This then means that your qualification is equivalent to a German higher education qualification. Save as a PDF. This is evidence. Further information and a guide is available at Make-it-in-Germany.com.
- Statement of Comparability: What if your university or qualification are not in anabin? In this case you can apply to the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) for an individual statement of comparability. The statement of comparability is a document that confirms the equivalence of your higher education qualification with a German higher education qualification.
Do you already live in Germany and are you permitted to work in Germany?
If you have authorisation to practise an occupation or approbation then you are permitted to work as a dentist in Germany. You do not need continuing vocational education and training as a dentist.
However, without recognition of your professional qualification, you are not authorised to use the title of the continuing vocational education and training in your specialisation as a specialised dental practitioner.
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.
- Do you have any questions? Do you need help with the application? Seek advice! You will find your counselling centre one step in advance. In the navigation, click "Counselling offers".
- Do you have questions regarding entry or residence? For more information see Working and Living in Germany.
Further information
You are only allowed to use the title of the continuing vocational education and training in your specialisation as a specialised dental practitioner if there is also an equivalent continuing vocational education and training title in Germany.
last update on: 06.02.2024
The competent authority
Bayerische Landeszahnärztekammer
Bayerische Landeszahnärztekammer
- Fallstraße 34
81369 München - View on Google Maps
- +49 89 724-800
- Website
Any 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.