What is professional recognition?

To the glossary

German: staatlich anerkannt (Bezeichnung)
Also: staatliche Anerkennung

In Germany, there are professions with additional qualification designations. These might be, for example, “state-recognised” or “state-certified”. These qualification designations form part of the designation of a vocational qualification or of specific advanced vocational training, For example, “State-recognised social education worker” or “State-certified business specialist”. These designations are legally protected. Only persons who have achieved this qualification may refer to themselves as such.

The designation “state-recognised” does not indicate recognition of a foreign professional qualification!

To the glossary

German: zuständige Stelle

The “competent authority” implements the recognition procedure. The competent authority can be, for example, a government agency, an office or a Chamber. The Recognition Finder can be used to determine the authority responsible for recognition in Germany.

To the glossary

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.

To the glossary

German: Bescheid
See recognition notice.

To the glossary

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.
 

To the glossary

German: Gleichwertigkeit

see recognition

To the glossary

German: Anerkennungsantrag
Also: Antrag auf Anerkennung

The application for recognition is generally made via an application form. This allows individuals to apply for recognition of their foreign professional qualification.

The application for recognition is sent to the competent authority together with the necessary documents. Or it can be submitted in person. The application for recognition can be downloaded from the website of the competent authority.

Occasionally, an application for recognition is not available for download. If so, the person must apply without an application form. In this case the person must write a letter to the competent authority. The person must apply for the recognition procedure in the letter. The competent authority will provide information on how this is done.
 

To the glossary

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.
 

To the glossary

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.

To the glossary

German: Zeugnisbewertung

Auch: Statement of comparability

An statement of comparability for foreign higher education qualifications is a document from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). The document describes a higher-education qualification from abroad.

The recognition procedures are only for higher-education qualifications which lead to a regulated profession. For those higher-education qualifications which lead to a non-regulated profession there is the statement of comparability. An statement of comparability compares the foreign qualifications with the German qualification following a degree. The assessment of higher education certificates gives information about the vocational and academic opportunities provided by the qualification.

The statement of comparability is requested from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

Further information on the statement of comparability

To the glossary

German:  Ausbildungsberuf

An occupation for which training is provided via regulated vocational education and training. There are 2 types of training occupations

• dual training occupations
• school-based training occupations

To the glossary

German: Berufsbezeichnung
Also: Berufsbezeichnung führen

The professional title is the name of a profession. Some professional title may only be used with state authorisation for use of the professional title. These professions include for example:

• Engineer
• Physiotherapist
• and other professions in the healthcare sector.

To the glossary

German: Drittstaat

A description of a country which does not belong to one of the following:

• European Union (EU)
• European Economic Area (EEA)
• Switzerland

For entry to Germany, skilled workers from third countries need a visa.

Immigration

To the glossary

German: nicht reglementierte Berufe

There are no state regulations in terms of authorisation to practice for non-regulated professions. This means that individuals are permitted to work in these professions without authorisation to practice. These professions include for example all professions in dual vocational education and training. People with a foreign professional qualification can work in non-regulated professions without recognition.

To the glossary

German: reglementierte Berufe

There are statutory provisions relating to regulated professions. These professions include for example:

• Medical professions
• Teachers

Individuals in a regulated profession need recognition of their foreign professional qualification. They are then permitted to work in Germany in this profession. The Recognition Finder helps when searching for regulated professions.

To the glossary

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.

To the glossary

German: Verfahrenskosten

The costs of the procedure are the costs of the recognition procedure. This means that individuals going through the recognition procedure must pay money to the competent authority.

The recognition procedure may also involve further costs For example for:
•    Translation of certificates
•    Certification of documents
This is because translations and certifications cost money. However, financial support is available for individuals going through the recognition procedure.
Information regarding this is available under “Financing possibilities”.

Financing possibilities

To the glossary

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

To the glossary

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.

To the glossary

German: Ausgleichsmaßnahme
Also: Anpassungsmaßnahme

A compensation measure allows individuals in a regulated occupation to compensate for substantial differences between a foreign professional qualification and a German reference occupation.

In the process, these individuals learn skills they are still lacking for recognition of a foreign professional qualification or they complete an aptitude or knowledge test. After successfully participating or passing the tests, these individuals then still receive full recognition of their foreign professional qualification.

A range of compensation measures exist. The legal regulation depends on the profession and on the nationality. There are the following, for example:

• Adaptation period
• Aptitude test
• Knowledge test

The knowledge test must be taken, for example, in healthcare occupations if you come from a third country.