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mixins.searchInfo_searchTermRecognition of foreign professional qualifications

Recognition of foreign professional qualifications

Source: BUS Rheinland-Pfalz

Recognition of a professional qualification

You have not acquired your professional qualification in Germany?

Do you want to work in Germany on a long-term basis and possibly independently in your profession?

  • Depending on your profession, you can or must apply for recognition of your professional qualification.
  • For so-called regulated professions you always need the recognition .
  • Examples of regulated professions are doctors, pharmacists, midwives, nurses and teachers.
  • For non-regulated professions you only need the recognition only if you apply for a apply for a residence permit to work in Germany .
  • Examples of non-regulated professions are computer scientist, bank clerk and business economist.

However, you always have a legal entitlement to a procedure for recognition. It does not matter what nationality you have or where you live. Even if you are not in Germany, you can apply for recognition of your professional qualification.

Recognition procedure

The competent authority in Germany will check your qualification for recognition:

  • Does your foreign qualification a German qualification?
  • This check is based on the documents relating to your training and is carried out according to fixed formal criteria .
  • Criteria include, for example, the content and duration of your training. Your professional experience is also taken into account.

The recognition procedure differs depending on the profession . Different procedures and different applications are therefore required for different professions. Different authorities are responsible for the procedure in each case.

The application for the procedure can be submitted directly to the responsible office. You can find the contact details of the responsible office on the website " Recognition in Germany ".
You can also submit the application to a single point of contact contact person. The single point of contact will forward your documents to the responsible office and supports you in the procedure .

Please note: Before you submit an application, you must have your reference occupation in Germany identify it. In the recognition procedure, your professional qualification is compared with the reference profession .
There are many advisory services in Germany. For example, you can get advice from an IQ advice centers for personal advice on which reference occupation is suitable for your qualification.

You can find all the information you need on the website " Recognition in Germany ". There you will find quick and easy answers to your questions about recognition in 11 languages:

  • Do I have to have my professional qualification recognized?
  • Is recognition worthwhile for me?
  • Can I submit the application? Am I entitled to it?
  • Which authority do I need to contact?
  • What does the procedure look like?
  • What documents are required?
  • What form must the documents take?
  • How long does the procedure take?
  • What does the procedure cost?
  • Which laws are relevant to my case?

"Recognition in Germany" is also a German advice center (in accordance with Article 57b of EU Directive 2005/36/EC). This means that citizens from a member state of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland can receive individual advice on recognition issues if required.

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