Engineer from abroad Apply for permission to use the professional title

You can hand in the application with the documents to the responsible office or send it by post. Do not send originals. Sometimes you can also send the application electronically. The responsible office will inform you.

The responsible office will receive the application. It will confirm that the application has been received after one month at the latest. Once the competent body has received all the documents from you, it will process your application.

The competent authority will then check: Is your professional qualification equivalent to the professional qualification in your federal state? For example, the content and duration of the training are important for the comparison. The competent body will also take into account your professional experience, other certificates of competence and qualifications.

The competent body often also checks the equivalence assessment:

• Have you completed a degree at a university? Or have you completed training at the same level?
• Did you mainly take examinations in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology (STEM subjects) during your studies?
• Did your studies last at least 3 years?
• Are you allowed to work as an engineer in the country where you studied?

You may need to submit additional documents. The responsible office will inform you.

The competent authority will then check other requirements for using the professional title. These include, for example, your place of residence or your intention to work in the selected federal state.

If your qualification is equivalent and you meet all other requirements, your professional qualification will be recognized. You may use the professional title "engineer". You will receive a certificate to this effect. You then have the same professional rights as a person with the German professional qualification.

Are there significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? Then your professional qualification will not be recognized. In most cases, you can then take a compensation measure. This allows you to compensate for the main differences.

There are various compensation measures:

• Adaptation course: You work as an engineer. You will be supervised by a qualified person. You may have to do additional training.
• Aptitude test: In the aptitude test, only those areas in which significant differences have been identified are tested.

You can often choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test. If you successfully complete the compensation measure, you will receive recognition. You may use the professional title "engineer".

In some federal states, you may not be able to take a compensation measure if you have a qualification from a third country. In this case, you can complete a training measure. For example, you can take part in courses or do further training. You must organize your participation in the courses yourself. You can then submit a new application. The responsible office will inform you about your options.

• There are many advisory services. You can find these on the Recognition in Germany portal.
  
• Ask an IQ advice center for personal advice
  for personal advice on this procedure and your qualification. The advisors will also help you with your documents before you submit your application. The advice is free of charge.
  
• You can also call the hotline of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. The hotline will answer your questions on the subject of "Working and living in Germany".
  Telephone number: +49 30 1815-1111
  Office hours:
  Monday to Friday 08:00 - 18:00 (CET)
  
  If you are abroad: You can also reach the Central Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) via the hotline. This offers you in-depth advice and support in the recognition procedure and provides location advice.

• Advice services on the Recognition in Germany portal
• Advice from an IQ advice center
• Advice from the Central Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA)

Please contact the relevant Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Engineers.

Alternatively, you can contact the Single Point of Contact in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Single Point of Contact is a public body through which you can handle all administrative procedures and formalities required for the commencement and exercise of your service activity and for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification. Further information can be found on the website of the Point of Single Contact.

• Website - Single point of contact Rhineland-Palatinate

• You have a completed professional qualification as an engineer from abroad.
• You have your main place of residence, your place of business or your main place of work in the selected federal state. Or: You want to live or work in the selected federal state soon.
  

You may also need to meet the following requirements:

• Personal suitability: You are reliable and have no criminal record.

• Application form from the competent authority
• Proof of identity (e.g. passport or identity card)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of your professional experience (e.g. job references)
• Proof of your other qualifications (e.g. professional training, seminars)
• Perhaps: Certificate assessment from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)
• Information about an application for recognition that has already been submitted. Then state the office to which you submitted the application.
• Do you come from a third country and do not yet live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? Then you must provide proof: You want to work in the profession in the selected federal state (e.g. applications, entry visa for gainful employment, personal declaration).
• Perhaps: Proof of your personal aptitude: Certificate of good conduct (e.g. criminal record, certificate of good standing)
• If the profession is not regulated in your country of training, you may have to provide proof of: at least one year of professional experience in the profession in the last 10 years.
• If the profession is regulated in your country of training, then you may need to provide evidence: You are allowed to work in the profession in the country of training.
• Perhaps: Certificate of registration of your place of residence in the respective federal state
  

The responsible office will tell you which documents you must present in the original or submit as a copy. Some copies must be officially certified. We recommend that you do not send originals by post.

You must submit your documents in German. The translations must be done by publicly appointed or authorized translators.

Additional costs may also be incurred (e.g. for translations or notarization of your documents or compensation measures). These costs vary from case to case.

None.

Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you must submit the documents.

• Landesgesetz zum Schutz der Berufsbezeichnungen im Ingenieurwesen und über die Ingenieurkammer Rheinland-Pfalz

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. The decision will then be reviewed. Details of this procedure can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first speak to an advice center before appealing or taking legal action.

Forms can be obtained from the responsible office.

Working without recognition

You can also work without recognition, e.g. as an employee in an engineering office.

However, the job title "engineer" is specially protected. You are not allowed to use the professional title. This also applies to a combination of words with the professional title.

Freedom to provide services

Do you only want to offer services in Germany occasionally and for a short time? Then you usually do not need recognition. You must meet these requirements:

• You must be established in another EU or EEA member state or in Switzerland.
• You must provide proof of your professional qualification.
• You must notify or register your activity in writing with the competent authority.
• You may have to provide proof of At least one year of professional experience in the profession in the last 10 years.
• If you are self-employed, the following may also apply: You must have appropriate professional indemnity insurance.

Certificate evaluation of a foreign university qualification

A certificate evaluation can facilitate your access to the German labor market. The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) will assess your certificate. Please note: The certificate evaluation does not replace the recognition of your professional qualification. You can only obtain recognition of your professional qualification from the competent authority.

01.04.2025