Glossary - R

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.
 

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.

German: Anerkennungs-Finder

The Recognition Finder is a specific tool at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de which is used to search for information about recognition.
This allows individuals to easily find information on this website. For example, on the following topics:

• Competent authority
• Recognition procedure
• Occupational profile
• Specifics of the occupation
• Reference occupation
• Costs of the procedure
• Key documents

The Recognition Finder can be found here.

German: Anerkennungszuschuss
Also: Anerkennungszuschuss des Bundes, „Zuschuss“

The recognition grant provides financial support for the recognition procedures of foreign professional qualifications or higher education degrees.

Financing

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: 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: Anerkennungsverfahren
Also: Gleichwertigkeitsfeststellungsverfahren, Gleichwertigkeitsfeststellung, Gleichwertigkeitsprüfung

The competent authority in Germany checks the professional qualification in the recognition procedure. The competent authority checks whether the foreign professional qualification is equivalent to the German reference occupation.

For the recognition procedure, the competent authority requires certificates and other documents relating to the content and duration of the professional qualification. Certificates and other documents relating to professional experience are also important.
 

German: Referenzberuf
Also: Referenzqualifikation

The reference occupation is a German professional qualification. In the recognition procedure the competent authority compares a foreign professional qualification to the German reference occupation.

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: Handwerksrolle

List kept by Chambers of Crafts and Trades of the owners of businesses in the crafts or trades which require a license.

In Germany, individuals in the crafts and trades sector are able to start a business. In the crafts or trades which require a license they must have specific advanced vocational education and training qualification to do this. This training is called Master craftsman training. Master craftsmen must be entered in the Register of Craftsmen. They then receive the craftsman's card.

Individuals with foreign advanced vocational education and training as a master craftsperson in the crafts and trades sector are able to submit an application for recognition for this professional qualification. The recognition allows them also to be entered in the Register of Craftsmen. However, this does not confer the title of master craftsperson!

German: Gewerbeanmeldung

In Germany, a trade or business must be registered with the trade office. The official certification for a trade or business is referred to as: Trading licence.

German: reglementierte Berufe

Regulated professions are protected by statutory provisions. This means that anybody seeking to practise a regulated profession requires a specific professional qualification. This also means that anybody wanting to practise a regulated profession in Germany, and who has a foreign professional qualification, needs recognition!

The person concerned must also meet further requirements in order to be allowed to work in the profession. The further requirements may differ depending on the profession. For example, proof of personal aptitude, medical fitness or German language skills may be necessary. Many professions are regulated in the areas of health, security and social welfare in particular.

There are different forms of regulation:

• In the case of academic medical professions, approbation (licence to practise medicine in Germany) is required in order to be allowed to practice the profession without restriction. This applies to the professions of doctor of medicine, veterinary surgeon, dentist and psychotherapist.
• In some professions, the professional title is protected. In these cases, an individual is not permitted to use the professional title without official authorisation. This applies, for example, to physiotherapist, midwife and speech therapist.
• In the crafts and trades sector, there are a number of regulated professions at master craftsman level. Anybody seeking to be self-employed in these professions must get themselves entered in the Register of Craftsmen. The regulated craft trade professions include, for example, master baker, master hairdresser and master dental technician.
• A certificate or certificate of competence is required for some independent activities and trades or businesses. The applies, for example, to security guards, insurance advisers and driving instructors.

Many professions are regulated at federal level. The same provisions apply nationally to these professions, e.g. to doctor of medicine, general nurse and master craftsperson in the crafts and trades sector.

Other professions are regulated at federal state level. Slightly different provisions apply to these professions in each federal state, for example to nursery school teacher, teacher or engineer. There are also professions which are not regulated in all federal states.

Please also note that a large number of German professions are not regulated. This applies, for example, to all dual training occupations such as office manager or motor vehicle mechatronics technician.

Skilled workers can find out whether a profession is regulated or not by visiting the Recognition Finder.

Note for advisors: The Profi-Filter provides you with a quick overview of occupations, competent authorities and regulations.

German: Aufenthaltstitel

Individuals from third countries require state authorisation if they are seeking to enter Germany and wish to stay here. This authorisation is called a residence permit.

There are 3 temporary residence permits:

• Residence permit
• EU Blue Card
• Visa

There are 2 permanent residence permits:

• EU permanent residence
• Settlement permit

In Germany applications for a residence permit are submitted to the Immigration Office. When abroad, applications for a residence permit are submitted to the German diplomatic mission.
Further information is available from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

Informationen zur Einreise für Personen aus Drittstaaten

Information relating to entry requirements and right of residence

EU and the EEA citizens do not require a residence permit. Swiss citizens must register their residency in Germany.

Information is available here for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens