Your recognition procedure as Teacher (m/f)
in Berlin

This procedure is called: Recognition of foreign training as a teacher. (in German “Anerkennung der ausländischen Ausbildung als Lehrkraft”).

In Berlin the following generally applies: Teacher training consists of two parts:

• A teaching degree including at least two subjects. The degree consists of a bachelor's degree and a master's degree (First State Examination).
• Practical pedagogical training. This training concludes with the Second State Examination. The practical training is also referred to as teaching practice (Vorbereitungsdienst, Referendariat).

This requirement applies to recognition as a teacher in Berlin:

• Equivalence of your professional qualification

Please note, to work as a teacher, you usually need to provide evidence of your knowledge of German, personal aptitude and medical fitness. Your employer will check personal aptitude and medical fitness upon your appointment at the latest.

• You need knowledge of German at least at level C2 of the Common European Reference Framework for languages.
• You are not required to provide a language certificate when applying. You can provide evidence of knowledge of German at a later point in time. This means, before the start of a compensation measure or when being appointed as a teacher.
• You can also sit an examination. The Berlin Senate Department offers a free language examination twice a year. You can apply when you have the detailed notice.

• 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.
• The competent authority will decide on your recognition procedure as quickly as possible. 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: €85 up to €340
• 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)

• Curriculum vitae

• Evidence of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, certificate of entitlement)

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

• Evidence of your general education school leaving certificate

• 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.

• Evidence of the content and duration of your training (e.g. diploma supplement, transcript of records, Study record)
• Evidence of your professional experience as a teacher (e.g. employment references stating duration, scope, subjects taught and year groups)

Usually you do not submit these documents until later (in case of a compensation measure or shortly before being appointed as a teacher):

• Evidence of your knowledge of German
• Evidence of your personal aptitude: written declaration or 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: written declaration or doctor's certificate and proof of your measles protection

• 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)

• Curriculum vitae

• Evidence of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, certificate of entitlement)

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

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

• Evidence of your general education school leaving certificate

• 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.

• Evidence of the content and duration of your training (e.g. diploma supplement, transcript of records, Study record)
• Evidence of your professional experience as a teacher (e.g. employment references stating duration, scope, subjects taught and year groups)

Usually you do not submit these documents until later (in case of a compensation measure or shortly before being appointed as a teacher):

• Evidence of your knowledge of German
• Evidence of your personal aptitude: written declaration or 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: written declaration or doctor's certificate and proof of your measles protection
  

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. The translators must be sworn or authorised in Germany or abroad.

• 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!
  

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!
  

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. Following this, the competent authority will check further requirements for appointment as a teacher to the teaching profession. This includes, e.g. knowledge of German.

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 detailed notice containing the result.

Please note:

• You are also able to apply for a so-called abbreviated notice (Kurzbescheid). For an abbreviated notice, the competent authority checks whether your training constitutes a completed training course as a teacher in your country of training. Abbreviated notice provides you with so-called partial access to a profession. You are only able to apply for certain jobs, e.g. at bilingual schools (State European Schools) in Berlin. Here, for example, you are able to teach in your native language.
• You can also only have your professional qualification compared against the German teaching degree qualification. If your professional qualification is equivalent to the degree (bachelor's or master's), then admission to teaching practice, or lateral entry is possible.
  

Outcome: Recognition

Your professional qualification and the German professional qualification are equivalent. You also meet all further requirements. Your professional is recognised.

You receive the so-called qualified teacher status for the area of the teaching profession you applied for. 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 the other requirements to work as a teacher. You may be required to demonstrate, for example, that you have knowledge of German at language level C2. The competent authority will inform you.

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.

Outcome: Recognition

Your professional qualification and the German professional qualification are equivalent. You also meet all further requirements. Your professional is recognised.

You receive the so-called qualified teacher status for the area of the teaching profession you applied for. 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 the other requirements to work as a teacher. You may be required to demonstrate, for example, that you have knowledge of German at language level C2. The competent authority will inform you.

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 detailed notice.

There are a range of compensation measures:

• Adaptation period: Work as a teacher and perhaps attend teaching courses at the university or institute of higher education
• Aptitude test: Teaching demonstration and an oral examination

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. 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.

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 our 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 detailed notice.

There are a range of compensation measures:

• Adaptation period: Work as a teacher and perhaps attend teaching courses at the university or institute of higher education
• Aptitude test: Teaching demonstration and an oral examination

You can choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test.

Do you need to compensate for a lack of practical professional experience? You may be able to work as a supply teacher and compensate for a lack of professional experience.

Do you lack a second teaching subject for full recognition of your professional qualification? You are able to work as a supply teacher and at the same time complete additional training in a second subject.

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. 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.

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 our 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.

There are various options for working as a teacher without recognition.

There are these alternatives for example for recognition:

Entering the profession laterally (German: “Quereinstieg”)

In Berlin there are particular regulations for entering the profession laterally (German: “Quereinstieg”). These may allow you to work as a teacher without a teaching degree or recognition. Lateral entry to the profession is normally possible if a subject has too few teachers (shortage subjects, German: “Mangelfach”). More information can be obtained directly from the school or from the websites of the ministries of education and cultural affairs. Further information about this opportunity is available here.

Working at private schools

You may be able to work as a teacher at a private school without recognition. You can apply directly to a private school.

Working as a supply teacher

In Berlin you may be able to work in schools as cover for a teacher. In most cases this is only possible if another teacher is absent at a school. This means, there is a staff shortage at school. In this case, you must have studied the relevant teaching subject. Further information about this opportunity is available here.

Working at international schools

You can teach at bilingual schools or State European Schools in your native language. For this you need the necessary subject knowledge and language skills.

Working in preparatory course classes and in learning support classes

Have you studied, e.g. German language and literature, or have a qualification in German as a foreign language (GFL) or in German as a second language (GSL)? If so, you may be able to teach in preparatory course classes and in learning support classes for students with insufficient knowledge of German. You may also be able to work in adult education. A range of institutions offer courses in German as a foreign language (GFL) or in German as a second language (GSL).

Working outside of school

With your teaching qualification you can also work outside schools. This is possible in particular in educational sectors, e.g. in adult education, in consultancy or as a research assistant at an institute of higher education.

There are various options for working as a teacher without recognition. For this, it is important that you are permitted to live and work in Germany.

You can find out more about entry, residence and work via the hotline Working and Living in Germany.

There are these alternatives for example for recognition:

Entering the profession laterally (German: “Quereinstieg”)

In Berlin there are particular regulations for entering the profession laterally (German: “Quereinstieg”). These may allow you to work as a teacher without a teaching degree or recognition. Lateral entry to the profession is normally possible if a subject has too few teachers (shortage subjects, German: “Mangelfach”). More information can be obtained directly from the school or from the websites of the ministries of education and cultural affairs. Further information about this opportunity is available here.

Working at private schools

You may be able to work as a teacher at a private school without recognition. You can apply directly to a private school.

Working as a supply teacher

In Berlin you may be able to work in schools as cover for a teacher. In most cases this is only possible if another teacher is absent at a school. This means, there is a staff shortage at school. In this case, you must have studied the relevant teaching subject. Further information about this opportunity is available here.

Working at international schools

You can teach at bilingual schools or State European Schools in your native language. For this you need the necessary subject knowledge and language skills.

Working in preparatory course classes and in learning support classes

Have you studied, e.g. German language and literature, or have a qualification in German as a foreign language (GFL) or in German as a second language (GSL)? If so, you may be able to teach in preparatory course classes and in learning support classes for students with insufficient knowledge of German. You may also be able to work in adult education. A range of institutions offer courses in German as a foreign language (GFL) or in German as a second language (GSL).

Working outside of school

With your teaching qualification you can also work outside schools. This is possible in particular in educational sectors, e.g. in adult education, in consultancy or as a research assistant at an institute of higher education.

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.

As a refugee, you may be able to participate in a simplified procedure for professional recognition.

Note: Foreign professional qualification recognition under the simplified procedure is generally valid for three years. Once validity has expired, you may have to go through the regular procedure.

• The procedure involves a fee.
• The processing time is shorter.
• You can provide evidence of the documents for your application ( e.g. employment reference) as a photo, copy or scan.
• However, you must confirm the accuracy and authenticity of your documents in a statement.
• You may not have to submit your documents in German.
• Your employment reference does not have to be translated by a publicly appointed and authorised translator.
• You can provide evidence of your German language skills by means of a language test or by participating in a language course.

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 back under Counselling offers.
• Would you like to work in Germany in a day nursery or at a primary school with all-day supervision for children? The “Beratungsstelle Fachkräfte für Kitas und Ganztag an Grundschulen” hotline can advise you on how to go straight into the job or start training.
  

• Do you have any questions? Do you need help with the application? Seek advice! You will find your counselling centre one step back under Counselling offers.
• Would you like to work in Germany in a day nursery or at a primary school with all-day supervision for children? The “ Beratungsstelle Fachkräfte für Kitas und Ganztag an Grundschulen” hotline can advise you on how to go straight into the job or start training.
  
• Do you have questions regarding entry or residence? For more information see Make-it-in-Germany.com.
  

Training to become a teacher in Berlin consists of two parts:

• a teacher training degree and
• practical pedagogical training: Teaching practice (Second State Examination).

Teachers are able to work at different schools. In Berlin there are the following teaching roles (types of qualified teacher status):

• Primary school teacher
• Teacher at integrated secondary schools (lower, intermediate, and comprehensive) and at grammar schools
• Vocational school teacher

There is also a focus on special needs education for all three teaching posts. Then a general education subject is replaced by 2 special education subjects.

Your professional qualification must be checked for teaching in state schools in Berlin. Recognition is necessary in order to be able to work in the profession in Germany.

• Information about lateral entry as a teacher in Berlin
• Information about working as a supply teacher in Berlin
  

• Lehrkräftequalifikationsfeststellungsgesetz Berlin (LQFG)
• Lehrkräftebildungsgesetz (LBiG)
• Lehramtszugangsverordnung (LZVO)
  

• Lehrkräftequalifikationsfeststellungsgesetz Berlin (LQFG)
• Lehrkräftebildungsgesetz (LBiG)
• Lehramtszugangsverordnung (LZVO)