Your procedure as Psychologist (m/f)
in Berlin

This procedure is called: Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications (in German: “Zeugnisbewertung für ausländische Hochschulqualifikationen“)

Please note:

You want to prove: Your higher education qualification is comparable with a German higher education qualification. You can do this with an extract from the anabin database. You can find instructions on how to use the anabin database here. You will then leave our information page. An extract from the anabin database is free of charge.

If your university or your qualification is not sufficiently listed in anabin, you can apply to the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) for an individual Statement of Comparability.

For more information on the procedure for a Statement of Comparability: continue on this page.

• You have successfully completed the course. You have a reference or a certificate.
• You completed the qualification at a government institution or a state-recognised institution, for example at a public university.
• If accreditation of the courses is a requirement in your country of training, then the course must be accredited. This means that the course has been inspected and approved by an official body.

Please note: The job title of “Psychologist” is indirectly protected in Germany. This means, you are only permitted to officially refer to yourself as a “Psychologist” if you meet the additional following requirements.

• You studied psychology as your main subject for at least four or five years. You have completed an academic dissertation.
• Your foreign psychology degree must be equivalent to the German psychology degree: contact, scope and level are comparable
  

You are not required to provide evidence of knowledge of German. However, knowledge of German is important for your job applications and your work.

Following your application, the competent authority will notify you of receipt of the documents. After 3 months at the latest, you will receive the Statement of Comparability.

• Statement of Comparability: €208
  
• Replacement of a Statement of Comparability e.g. if the document is lost: €104
• In the event of cancellation or if assessment is not possible: from €20 to a maximum of €104
• There may be additional costs, e.g. for translations or certifications

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.

• 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)

• Certificate of completion for the higher education qualification in the original language
• Summary of subjects covered in the degree and the grades in the original language
• If available: diploma supplement in the standardised European form (in the original language)

You may require other documents or additional documents. It depends on your place of study. You can get more information about this via the Pre-Check of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). You will then leave our information page: Pre-Check

• 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)

• Certificate of completion for the higher education qualification in the original language
• Summary of subjects covered in the degree and the grades in the original language
• If available: diploma supplement in the standardised European form (in the original language)
• If you apply for a BlueCard: your contract of employment

You may require other documents or additional documents. It depends on your place of study. You can get more information about this via the Pre-Check of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). You will then leave our information page: Pre-Check

For the online application, you need the documents as PDF files. You can scan or photograph your documents for this purpose.

In many cases, you only need to submit your documents in the original language. This applies e.g. to the following languages: Arabic, English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish.

For some languages, you must also submit your documents in German. Sworn or authorised translators must prepare the translations. Contact the competent authority to find out whether they also accept translations from abroad.

• You can submit your application online.You will then leave our information page: To the ZAB
  

• You can submit your application online. You will then leave our information page: To the ZAB
  

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 initially checks these questions when processing the form:

• Is your university degree comparable with a German university degree?
• Did you complete your degree at a government institution or a state-recognised institution?
• Does your course need to be accredited in your country of training? If yes: Is your course accredited? This means: is your course approved?

Outcomes: Statement of Comparability

You receive the Statement of Comparability. The Statement of Comparability is a description of your foreign higher education qualification. The Statement of Comparability contains the following information:

• With which German qualification level is your certificate comparable? A qualification level, for example, is a bachelor's degree or a master's degree.
• Which professional opportunities are open to you with this degree?
• Are you able to continue your degree in Germany?

Outcomes: No comparability

In this case you receive no Statement of Comparability:

• Your qualification is not comparable with any German qualification level.

The reasons for the outcome are included in the letter from the competent authority.

Your profession is not regulated in Germany. You can work in the profession without a Statement of Comparability.

You are also able to start a new degree in Germany. The university may take into account individual courses you have taken. The degree is then shorter.

Your profession is not regulated in Germany. You can work in the profession without a Statement of Comparability. The Statement of Comparability is important, however, for your entry and your residence.

You are also able to start a new degree in Germany. The university may take into account individual courses you have taken. The degree is then shorter.

You can also apply for a certificate from the Association of German Professional Psychologists (BDP). This certificate states whether you meet all the requirements to work as a psychologist.

For this, you apply in writing to the BDP with all your documents. The BDP then checks the scope and content of your degree. You then receive a certificate with the result of the check.

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.

The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) is not in charge of the procedure under section 10 of the Federal Expellees Act. Usually the Ministries of Science in the federal States are in charge of this procedure.

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.
  

• [L ID='5206']Information about Statement of Comparability by the competent authority [/L]
• Database anabin (in German) With the anabin database you get a first overview of the evaluation of foreign university degrees.
• Information about the Certificate of the Association of German Professional Psychologists (BDP) in German 
• Further information from the Association of German Professional Psychologists (BDP)
  

• Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (Lisbon Recognition Convention)
• Berufsqualifikationsprüfungsgebührenverordnung – BQPGebVO