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German: Berufsausbildung

Vocational education and training is training in a specific regulated profession. In vocational education and training, trainees learn all of the vocational knowledge and skills required.
There are 2 types of vocational education and training:

• Dual vocational education and training
• School-based vocational education and training

In each case the vocational education and training is governed by a training and examination regulation.

Dual vocational education and training takes place in a training company and in vocational school. Dual training occupations include for example:

• Vehicle mechatronics technician
• Management assistant for retail services
• Carpenter

The school-based vocational education and training takes place in a full-time vocational school or an alternative type of vocational school. School-based training occupations exist in the areas of technology, health and nursery education. Such occupations include, for example:

• Registered general nurse
• Nursery teacher
• State-certified IT technical engineer

Vocational education and training in Germany takes 2 to 3.5 years. This depends on the occupation but also on the school leaving certificate. The duration of training is often shorter in the case of the upper secondary school-leaving certificate.

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German: Anerkennung
Also: Anerkennung der Berufsqualifikation, Gleichwertigkeitsfeststellung, Gleichwertigkeit

In this case recognition means that a foreign professional qualification is legally equivalent to a German professional qualification. This means that the foreign professional qualification is recognised in Germany. The equivalence is valid for a specific German reference occupation.

There are different types of recognition:

Full recognition

A foreign professional qualification is legally equivalent to the German reference occupation.

Partial recognition

A foreign professional qualification is only partially equivalent to the German reference occupation. The reason for this is that there are substantial differences between the foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

In this case, there are two options in order to still achieve full recognition:

• Successful participation in refresher training
• Successful participation in a compensation measure

No recognition

A foreign professional qualification is not equivalent to the German reference occupation. The reason for this is that the differences between the foreign professional qualification and the German reference occupation are too great.

Recognition must be requested by means of an application for recognition. This then begins the recognition procedure.
 

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German: Anerkennungsgesetz

The Recognition Act regulates the recognition of foreign professional qualifications. The Recognition Act states that individuals with a foreign professional qualification in Germany have the right to a recognition procedure.

The official name of the act is: Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications Act
There is the Recognition Act of the Federal Government and the Recognition Acts of the 16 Federal States. Important parts of the Recognition Act are the Law for the Amendment of the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (BQFG) and the adaptations to special laws and regulations relating to occupations.

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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.

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German: Berufsqualifikationsfeststellungsgesetz (BQFG)

The Professional Qualifications Assessment Act is an important element of the Recognition Act. The Professional Qualifications Assessment Act exists in Germany at federal level and in the 16 federal states. It is always Article 1 of the Recognition Act for the Recognition of Professional qualifications. It regulates the recognition procedure.