Your recognition procedure as Occupational therapist (m/f)
in München, Bavaria

This procedure is called: Issuing of authorisation to use the professional title (in German: Erteilung der Erlaubnis zum Führen der Berufsbezeichnung).

• Equivalence of your professional qualification
• Personal aptitude
  
• Medical fitness
  
• Knowledge of German
  

You require specialized knowledge of German at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

In order to prove your specialized German language skills you mostly are required to complete the specialist language examination.

In some cases you are not required to take a specialist language examination:

• German is your first language
• You have completed your vocational education and training in German.

You do not have to register for the specialist language examination. If you are required to take the specialist language examination, the competent authority will contact you.

• 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: €40 to €70
• Costs of a certificate: €40
  
• There may be additional costs for Specialist language examination: €350
• There may be additional costs, e.g. for certifications or compensation measures.

It may be possible for costs to be paid via financial support. Here you can find more information. You can apply for financial support if you live in Germany. Important note: You must first apply for financial support and then apply for recognition.

• Recognition procedure: €40 to €70
• Costs of a certificate: €40
  
• There may be additional costs for Specialist language examination: €350
• There may be additional costs, e.g. for certifications or compensation measures.

It may be possible for costs to be paid via financial support. Here you can find more information. You can apply for financial support if you live in Germany. Important note: You must first apply for financial support and then apply for recognition.

• Application form from the competent authority

• Proof of identity (e.g. passport or personal identification)

• Evidence of the change of name (e.g. marriage certificate, if your name has changed through marriage)

• Lebenslauf auf Deutsch

• Evidence of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, certificate of entitlement) and a German translation

• Evidence of the content and duration of your training (e.g. diploma supplement, transcript of records) and a German translation

• If applicable: evidence of your practical training. You also need a German translation.

• Evidence of your professional experience in this profession (e.g. employment references) and a German translation

• Evidence of your other qualifications (e.g. continuing vocational training, seminars) and a German translation

• Application form from the competent authority

• Proof of identity (e.g. passport or personal identification)

• Evidence of the change of name (e.g. marriage certificate, if your name has changed through marriage)

• Lebenslauf auf Deutsch

• Evidence of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, certificate of entitlement) and a German translation

• Evidence of the content and duration of your training (e.g. diploma supplement, transcript of records) and a German translation

• If applicable: evidence of your practical training. You also need a German translation.

• Evidence of your professional experience in this profession (e.g. employment references) and a German translation

• Evidence of your other qualifications (e.g. continuing vocational training, seminars) and a German translation

• 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 the original language and in German. Sworn or authorised translators must prepare the translations.
• Note: Are your diploma and certificate of entitlement in English? If so, you do not need to have these documents translated into German.
  

• You can submit your application online. You will then leave our information page. For your application, you need to upload your documents. A tip: Collect your documents first. Then start the application.
• You can also hand in the application with the documents to the competent authority. You can also send the application to the competent authority by post. Do not send originals! In this case,use the application form. You can find the application form here.
  

You may also apply if you are not yet living in Germany.

• You can submit your application online. You will then leave our information page. For your application, you need to upload your documents. A tip: Collect your documents first. Then start the application.
• You can also hand in the application with the documents to the competent authority. You can also send the application to the competent authority by post. Do not send originals! In this case,use the application form. You can find the application form here.
  

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 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 use of the professional title. This includes, e.g. your personal aptitude, your medical fitness and your knowledge of German. 

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. You receive authorisation to use the professional title. You receive a certificate for this. You also meet all further requirements. Your professional qualification is recognised. 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. Your professional qualification is not recognised.

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 to use the professional title. 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:

• Adaptation period
  
• 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 medical fitness). If you meet all requirements, your professional qualification is recognised. You receive authorisation to use the professional title. Professionally, you then have the same rights as a person with the German professional qualification.

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.

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 knowledge of German? The competent authority can help you with this.

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:

• Adaptation period
  
• Knowledge 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 medical fitness). If you meet all requirements, your professional qualification is recognised. You receive authorisation to use the professional title. Professionally, you then have the same rights as a person with the German professional qualification.

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.

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 knowledge of German? The competent authority can help you with this.

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.

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 only wish to offer services in Germany occasionally and for short period? In this case you do not generally require recognition. You must meet these requirements:

• You must be resident of another country of the EU, the EEA or in Switzerland.
• You must provide evidence of your professional qualification.
• You must inform or register your activity in writing with the competent authority.

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 advise! You will find your councelling centre one step back under Counselling offers.

• Do you have any questions? Do you need help with the application? Seek advice! You will find your councelling centre one step back under Counselling offers.
• Do you have questions regarding entry or residence? For more information see Make-it-in-Germany.com.
  

• Specialist language examination in Bavaria (in German)
  

In German:

• Ergotherapeutengesetz (ErgThG)
• Ergotherapeuten-Ausbildungs- und Prüfungsverordnung (ErgThAPrV)