Apply for recognition as a surgical assistant with a professional qualification from the EU/EEA/Switzerland

Application

You submit an application for permission to use the professional title "surgical assistant" to the competent authority.

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

Examination of equivalence

The competent authority will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent body will compare your professional qualification with the German professional qualification as a surgical assistant. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

Possible results of the examination

If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The competent authority can confirm the result in writing. You must still meet the other requirements. You will then receive permission to use the professional title "surgical assistant".

Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? You may be able to compensate for the differences through your professional experience, other knowledge or skills (lifelong learning). You must provide evidence of your professional experience. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority in the country in which you acquired the knowledge or skills.

However, it may be that the significant differences cannot be compensated for by this knowledge. In this case, your foreign professional qualification will not be recognized. You will then not be allowed to work as a surgical assistant in Germany.

However, the competent authority will tell you the main differences and why you cannot compensate for the main differences with your professional experience.

In most cases, you can take a compensatory measure. This will allow you to compensate for the main differences.

Compensatory measures

There are various compensatory measures:

• Adaptation course: The adaptation course lasts a maximum of three years.

• Aptitude test: In the aptitude test, only those areas in which significant differences have been identified are tested. The aptitude test consists of a practical examination.

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

If you successfully complete the compensation measure and meet all other requirements, you will receive permission to use the job title "surgical assistant".

Please contact the State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Supply.

• There are many advisory services. These can be found on the portal Recognition in Germany
• Get personal advice from an IQ counselling centre on this procedure and your qualifications. The advisors will also help you with your documents before applying. The consultation is free of charge
• You can also call the hotline of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. The hotline answers your questions about "Working and living in Germany".
  

  Remark: Phone number: +49 30 1815-1111 Hours: Monday to Friday 08:00 – 18:00 (CET)

• If you are abroad: You can also reach the Central Service Centre for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) via the hotline. This offers you in-depth advice and support in the recognition procedure and carries out location consulting.

State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Supply

• You have a professional qualification as a surgical assistant from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
• You want to work in Germany as a surgical assistant.
• Personal suitability: You are reliable for working as a surgical assistant and have no criminal record.
• Health suitability: You are mentally and physically able to work as a surgical assistant.
• You have German language skills at the required level. This is normally language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally

• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of training
• Proof of your relevant professional experience as a surgical assistant
• Proof of other relevant knowledge for working as a surgical assistant
• You do not yet live or work in Germany? Then you may need to provide proof: You want to work in the profession in Germany. Proof includes, for example, job applications, invitations to job interviews or a business concept.
  

You usually submit these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when you should submit the documents:

• Proof of your personal suitability: criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
• Proof of your health suitability: Medical certificate. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
• Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate at language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
  

The responsible office will let you know which documents you need to submit as a simple copy, a certified copy or the original.

The responsible office will inform you of the costs. The costs generally depend on the time and effort required for processing.

Additional costs may also be incurred (e.g. for translations, certifications or compensatory measures). These costs vary from case to case.

There is no deadline.

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

• § 2, § 38, § 41 Anästhesietechnische- und Operationstechnische-Assistenten-Gesetz
• §§ 51 ff. Anästhesietechnische- und Operationstechnische-Assistenten-Ausbildungs- und -Prüfungsverordnung

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (e.g. lodge an objection). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first speak to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

• Forms: Forms can be obtained from the responsible office.
• Online procedure possible: Ask the responsible office whether you can submit the application online.
• Personal appearance necessary: no

• 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 a state permit. You must fulfill 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 not have been guilty of conduct that makes you unreliable to practice your profession.
• You must be in good health.
• You must register your activity in writing with the competent authority.
  The competent authority will inform you whether you are permitted to provide services or whether you need to take an aptitude test.
  

• Notification of equivalence
  The equivalence assessment (recognition procedure) also takes place during the licensing procedure. You can apply for a separate decision on the result of the examination.
  

• Procedure for ethnic German repatriates
  As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either in accordance with the laws mentioned here or in accordance with the Federal Expellee Act. You can decide for yourself. The responsible office will advise you on which procedure is right for you.

07.03.2023

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.