Professional Qualifications
Who needs recognition of professional qualifications?
The recognition of the professional qualification is one of the basic requirements for the issuance of a residence permit as a specialist, provided that the training was completed abroad.
Whether the equivalence of the qualification can be determined is checked in the recognition procedure. This procedure is applied to all professionals with foreign vocational training and to professionals with academic training in regulated professions.
Whether the equivalence of the qualification can be determined is checked in the recognition procedure. This procedure is applied to all professionals with foreign vocational training and to professionals with academic training in regulated professions.
What is the difference between regulated and non-regulated professions?
Most training occupations and many academic professions are not regulated. This means that they are not legally protected and can therefore be exercised directly after recognition of the qualification. Examples of non-regulated training occupations in the dual system are, for example, automotive mechatronics technician or office management clerk, examples of non-regulated academic professions are, for example, chemist or mathematician.
Regulated professions, however, are legally protected: on the one hand, the taking up and pursuit of such a profession is subject to certain professional qualifications that are laid down by law, regulation or administrative provision.On the other hand, the use of a job title here is limited to persons with this qualification. Regulated training occupations are e.B. in the health sector nurse and geriatric nurse, midwife, physiotherapist or emergency paramedic and in the pedagogical field e.B educator. In the academic professions, above all, medical and therapeutic professions are regulated, such as (specialist) doctor, pharmacist or psychotherapist, but also professions such as engineer, architect, teacher, social pedagogue, lawyer or lawyer.
How does the recognition procedure work?
State-recognised degree
Evidence must be provided to assess and establish equivalence of the qualification. If you have completed an apprenticeship abroad with a state-recognised degree, this usually fulfils this requirement for the recognition procedure.
However, not only training and qualification certificates are considered professional qualifications, but also "relevant professional experience" may meet this requirement (especially for IT specialists). In the case of dual training occupations, a qualification analysis in which the applicant's abilities are tested in practical technical discussions or trial work may lead to full or partial recognition. However, this procedure is only possible if no documents can be submitted through no fault of their own, e.B. by fleeing.
However, not only training and qualification certificates are considered professional qualifications, but also "relevant professional experience" may meet this requirement (especially for IT specialists). In the case of dual training occupations, a qualification analysis in which the applicant's abilities are tested in practical technical discussions or trial work may lead to full or partial recognition. However, this procedure is only possible if no documents can be submitted through no fault of their own, e.B. by fleeing.
Reference profession
Job titles are not always the same in different countries, and their training is certainly not. Therefore, in order to be able to actually assess a professional qualification, a profession that exists in Germany and that is as similar as possible to the profession in the country of origin must be determined.
Application to the competent authority
The application for recognition of the professional qualification must consist of at least the following documents:
- the original application form,
- proof of identity,
- a curriculum vitae in tabular form with all completed training courses and gainful employment in German,
- Evidence of formal qualifications with as precise a description as possible of the content and duration of the training and/or evidence of the relevant professional experience
- and a statement that no application for a declaration of equivalence has been made so far.
- In the case of regulated professions, the certificate of entitlement to practise a profession in the training country must also be submitted (e.B. in the case of health professions: approbation in the country of origin).
State authorities are usually responsible for checking equivalence in other professions, especially in medical and educational professions.
There is an exception for non-regulated professions in Baden-Württemberg, Niedersachsen, Berlin and Saarland, where the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) is responsible for issuing a certificate of equivalence.
There is an exception for non-regulated professions in Baden-Württemberg, Niedersachsen, Berlin and Saarland, where the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) is responsible for issuing a certificate of equivalence.
The recognition finder of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training is particularly helpful in this step.
Equivalence test
Once the application has been submitted, the respective body checks whether the foreign qualification is equivalent to a qualification acquired in Germany. This exam can take 3 to 4 months. No later than one month after receipt of the application, the competent body shall inform whether documents for the examination are still missing. Once all the necessary documents have been obtained, a period of 3 months begins to run, which can be extended once by one month.There is an exception to the accelerated skilled worker procedure, where the procedure should be completed within 2 months.
The costs for this procedure usually amount to 100€ to 600€, depending on the effort of the procedure. The fee for an equivalence certificate at the Central Office for Foreign Education, for example, is €485. In addition, costs for translations and certifications may be incurred. Scholarships or grants through certain programs are possible.
Results
The result of the recognition procedure shall be communicated by the competent authority in a decision. There are 3 possibilities:
- "The professional qualification shall be recognised." (full equivalence)
There are no significant differences between training in the country of origin and the German reference occupation. - "The professional qualification is partially recognised." (partial equivalence)
There are differences in the content or duration of the training or different knowledge and skills are taught. However, these differences can be compensated. A distinction must be made between regulated and non-regulated professions:
- Non-regulated professions: the applicant can complete an adaptation qualification and submit a follow-up application within 5 years in order to receive full recognition.
- regulated professions: the competent body determines a compensatory measure to compensate for the differences, e.B an adaptation period, an aptitude test or a knowledge test. Upon successful completion, equivalence is established. Afterwards, the further requirements for professional admission are examined.
3. "The professional qualification shall not be recognised." (no equivalence)
There are such large differences in training that they can no longer be compensated for by a specific measure.
There are such large differences in training that they can no longer be compensated for by a specific measure.