Your recognition procedure as Sworn in Court interpreter (m/f)
in Schreinerbauer, Bavaria

German: Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen (GER)

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a recommendation from the Council of Europe regarding language skills in a foreign language. The CEFR divides foreign language skills into various competence levels and levels of language. This makes language skills more comparable. The CEFR is also used as a standard for acquisition of language skills.

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Self-assessment grid from Europass

German: Sprachzertifikat
Also: Sprachdiplom, Sprachtest, Sprachnachweis, Deutschzertifikat

Evidence of German language skills is required for many regulated professions. This evidence is provided by a so-called language certificate or language diploma. The person must pass a language test successfully and will then receive a language certificate or a language diploma. A language certificate certifies the level of German language skills. The level is determined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (GER) There are different language levels. Each profession requires a specific level of language. The competent authority provides information about the level of language required for the specific profession and about the language certificate.

Language certificates for German include:

• The language diploma from the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs
• Goethe Institut German language certificate
• The European Language Certificate (TELC)
• German as a foreign language test (TestDaF)

German: zuständige Stelle

The “competent authority” implements the recognition procedure. The competent authority can be, for example, a government agency, an office or a Chamber. The recognition.

German: zuständige Stelle

The “competent authority” implements the recognition procedure. The competent authority can be, for example, a government agency, an office or a Chamber. The recognition.

German: Anerkennungsbescheid
Also: Gleichwertigkeitsbescheid, Bescheid über Gleichwertigkeit, Bescheid zur Gleichwertigkeitsfeststellung, Anerkennungsurkunde

A recognition notice is a document from the competent authority relating to an application for recognition. It contains the result of the recognition procedure. A recognition notice is legally binding.

In the case of full recognition, authorisation to practice a professional activity may be combined with the recognition notice, for example:

• Approbation (licence to practise medicine in Germany)
• Authorisation to practise a profession
• Authorisation to use the designation of occupation
• Certificate of state recognition

Official certification is an attestation from an authority or a notary. An authority or notary uses this is to certify that a document is genuine. Official certification also certifies that a copy or a signature is genuine.

German: Anpassungsqualifizierung

Refresher training allows individuals in non-regulated occupations to compensate for substantial differences between their foreign professional qualification and the German reference occupation. They are then still able to receive full recognition of their foreign professional qualification. For this, however, they must first submit a follow-up application to the competent authority.

German: Anerkennungsbescheid
Also: Gleichwertigkeitsbescheid, Bescheid über Gleichwertigkeit, Bescheid zur Gleichwertigkeitsfeststellung, Anerkennungsurkunde

A recognition notice is a document from the competent authority relating to an application for recognition. It contains the result of the recognition procedure. A recognition notice is legally binding.

In the case of full recognition, authorisation to practice a professional activity may be combined with the recognition notice, for example:

• Approbation (licence to practise medicine in Germany)
• Authorisation to practise a profession
• Authorisation to use the designation of occupation
• Certificate of state recognition

German: Gleichwertigkeit

see recognition

German:  Professional qualification

Professional qualifications are qualifications for which evidence of training is provided by means of evidence of formal qualifications or qualification certificates These lead to a clearly defined profession. Evidence of a professional qualification may also be provided by professional experience gained in Germany or abroad.

These are examples of professional qualifications:

• Vocational qualification
• Advanced vocational education and training
• Approbation or authorisation to practise a profession
• Authorisation to use the designation of occupation

The recognition procedure exists for professional qualifications from abroad. This checks the equivalence of the vocational qualification.
Recognition procedures for higher education qualifications exist only for higher education qualifications leading to a regulated profession. For example: Dentist
There is no recognition procedure for higher education qualifications which do not lead to a regulated profession. The statement of comparability exists for these higher education qualifications. This is the case, for example, for geologists.

German: Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen (GER)

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a recommendation from the Council of Europe regarding language skills in a foreign language. The CEFR divides foreign language skills into various competence levels and levels of language. This makes language skills more comparable. The CEFR is also used as a standard for acquisition of language skills.

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Self-assessment grid from Europass

German: Absicht der Arbeitsaufnahme
Also: Erwerbstätigkeitsabsicht, Arbeitsabsicht; Nachweis, Darlegung, Glaubhaftmachung der Arbeitsabsicht

Persons seeking to work in Germany can apply for recognition of their professional qualification from abroad. Persons from third countries must provide proof of their intention to seek work in Germany.

The competent authority may demand proof of the intention to work. A competent authority will then also know the location or federal state in which the person is seeking to work.

The proof of the intention to work includes, for example,: 

• The location note of the Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA)
• Contact with an employer in Germany: e.g. contract of employment, confirmation of employment, applications, invitations to interviews
• Business idea for self-employed work
• Application for entry visa to work in Germany

Exceptions: Persons from the EU/EEA/Switzerland do not need to provide proof. They simply need to declare the location in which they are seeking to work in Germany. Persons coming from a third country and who already live in the EU/EEA/Switzerland are also not required to provide proof. However, the location note can be helpful. It confirms to the competent authority that the person wants to work in the named federal state. E.g. if the person has still not found an employer in Germany.

Documents for the application

Service Center for Professional Recognition

German: Führungszeugnis
Also: polizeiliches Führungszeugnis

A certificate of good conduct is a document from an authority. it contains all of an individual's registered previous convictions.

From the age of 14, all individuals are able to apply for a certificate of good conduct. The application is submitted as follows:

• In Germany: To the municipal administration of the individual’s primary residence.
• Abroad: To the German diplomatic mission.

Most countries have a document which is comparable to the German certificate of good conduct.

Official certification is an attestation from an authority or a notary. An authority or notary uses this is to certify that a document is genuine. Official certification also certifies that a copy or a signature is genuine.

German: Übersetzerin oder Übersetzer (öffentlich bestellt/ermächtigt)
Also:
ermächtigte Übersetzerin/ ermächtigter Übersetzer
vereidigte Übersetzerin/vereidigter Übersetzer
beeidigte Übersetzerin/beeidigter Übersetzer

Translators translate one language into another. Sometimes a translation of official documents requires confirmation of the accuracy of the translation. If so, an official attestation clause and signature are then added to the document. Only authorized translators are permitted to issue this confirmation in Germany. They have been authorised by a court to do this. In Germany translators have a range of different titles They can be

• publicly appointed ("öffentlich bestellt")
• court appointed ("gerichtlich bestellt")
• (generally) authorized ("(allgemein) ermächtigt")
• (generally) sworn) ("(allgemein) vereidigt/beeidigt")

In most cases an application for recognition includes documents which need to be translated. A list of translators is available online in the federal state administration of justice department's database of interpreters and translators.

Sometimes competent authorities do not allow translations from a translator who has been publicly appointed abroad. It is therefore important to ask the competent authority about this before a translation: Can I have my documents translated in my country of origin?
The German embassies in other countries provide information about the contact details of publicly appointed or authorized translators abroad.

Database of interpreters and translators

German embassies in other countries

German:  EU/EWR/Schweiz

EU/EEA/Switzerland is the abbreviation for: European Union/European Economic Area/Switzerland.

The member states of the European Union (EU) include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

The European Economic Area (EEA) includes: All EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway.

Switzerland has entered into a treaty with the European Union. This states that Switzerland participates in the European system of professional recognition.

German: zuständige Stelle

The “competent authority” implements the recognition procedure. The competent authority can be, for example, a government agency, an office or a Chamber. The recognition.

German: Bescheid
See recognition notice.

German: Ausgleichsmaßnahme
Also: Anpassungsmaßnahme

A compensation measure allows individuals in a regulated occupation to compensate for substantial differences between a foreign professional qualification and a German reference occupation.

In the process, these individuals learn skills they are still lacking for recognition of a foreign professional qualification or they complete an aptitude or knowledge test. After successfully participating or passing the tests, these individuals then still receive full recognition of their foreign professional qualification.

A range of compensation measures exist. The legal regulation depends on the profession and on the nationality. There are the following, for example:

• Adaptation period
• Aptitude test
• Knowledge test

The knowledge test must be taken, for example, in healthcare occupations if you come from a third country.

German: Anpassungslehrgang

An adaptation period is a compensation measure for regulated professions. An individual trains in the areas they are lacking for recognition of a foreign professional qualification. Successful participation enables the individual to compensate for the substantial differences compared to the German reference occupation. The individual is then still able to receive full recognition of their foreign professional qualification.

During an adaptation period, the individual works in the relevant regulated profession. They are supervised by a person qualified in this profession. For example by someone who is a registered general nurse in a hospital.

The adaptation period is sometimes also additional training. An adaptation period lasts for a maximum of three years. The duration depends on which differences are specified in the recognition notice and on what the individual still has to learn.

German:  Eignungsprüfung
Also: Defizitprüfung

An aptitude test as a compensation measure for individuals involved in a recognition procedure.

An aptitude test allows individuals in a regulated profession to compensate for substantial differences between a foreign professional qualification and a German reference occupation.

The following is examined in an aptitude test: Knowledge and skills which are important in the German reference occupation and for which no evidence is provided by documents.
The aptitude test takes into account the professional qualification in the country of origin. An aptitude test is not a new final examination. In an aptitude test, only those areas are tested in which substantial differences have been established.

German: zuständige Stelle

The “competent authority” implements the recognition procedure. The competent authority can be, for example, a government agency, an office or a Chamber. The recognition.

German:  Professional qualification

Professional qualifications are qualifications for which evidence of training is provided by means of evidence of formal qualifications or qualification certificates These lead to a clearly defined profession. Evidence of a professional qualification may also be provided by professional experience gained in Germany or abroad.

These are examples of professional qualifications:

• Vocational qualification
• Advanced vocational education and training
• Approbation or authorisation to practise a profession
• Authorisation to use the designation of occupation

The recognition procedure exists for professional qualifications from abroad. This checks the equivalence of the vocational qualification.
Recognition procedures for higher education qualifications exist only for higher education qualifications leading to a regulated profession. For example: Dentist
There is no recognition procedure for higher education qualifications which do not lead to a regulated profession. The statement of comparability exists for these higher education qualifications. This is the case, for example, for geologists.

German: Anerkennungspartnerschaft

A recognition partnership is a type of residence permit for people from third countries. The purpose of the residence in this case is to do the recognition procedure in Germany and to conclude the process with full recognition after a maximum period of three years.

A recognition partnership enables people from third countries to enter Germany without prior recognition of their foreign professional or vocational qualification. Once a person from abroad has found a job, they conclude an agreement with the employer. In this agreement, a commitment is made to apply for recognition immediately upon entry to Germany. The prospective skilled worker is able to enter the country and start employment at once. Certain tasks are not permitted if the profession is regulated. The employer supports the skilled worker with recognition. The employer must also allow any training which is necessary for recognition.

More information on recognition partnerships and their requirements is available here:

How does a recognition partnership work?

Advantages of recognition

German: Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen (GER)

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a recommendation from the Council of Europe regarding language skills in a foreign language. The CEFR divides foreign language skills into various competence levels and levels of language. This makes language skills more comparable. The CEFR is also used as a standard for acquisition of language skills.

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Self-assessment grid from Europass