Apply for recognition as a midwife with a professional qualification that is automatically recognized

Procedure

Application
You submit an application to the competent authority for permission to use the professional title "midwife".
You submit the application online or with the scanned documents in pdf format to the competent authority by e-mail.
You can submit an application if you do not yet live in Germany.

Examination of the application by the competent authority
The competent authority will check whether you meet all the requirements for being granted permission to use the professional title "midwife". One requirement is that your professional qualification is recognized.

Automatic recognition
There are various cases in which a professional qualification can be automatically recognized. As a rule, this applies if you have acquired your professional qualification in a member state of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland. The competent authority will inform you about the possibilities for automatic recognition. In the case of automatic recognition, the equivalence of your professional qualification is not checked individually. This means that if you also meet all other requirements (reliability, health suitability, German language skills), you will receive permission to use the professional title "midwife".

Certificate of conformity for professional qualifications acquired before the country of training joined the EU/EEA:
Professional qualifications from the EU or EEA can also be automatically recognized if they were started before the EU/EEA accession of your country of training (or do not correspond to the legal designations). To do this, you must submit a certificate from the competent authority in your country of training stating that your professional qualification meets the minimum EU standards ("certificate of conformity"). If your professional qualification does not meet the minimum standards, you must provide proof of your professional experience. You must have worked as a midwife in your country of origin for 3 consecutive years in the 5 years prior to submitting your application. This must be confirmed by the authorities in your country of origin.

If your professional qualification is automatically recognized, you must meet the other requirements. You will then receive permission to use the professional title "midwife".

Legal bases

• §§ 5, 43 ff. Gesetz über das Studium und den Beruf von Hebammen (Hebammengesetz - HebG)
• §§ 43-47, 55, 56 Studien- und Prüfungsverordnung für Hebammen (HebStPrV)

More information

Partial access to the profession for professional qualifications from the EU, EEA or Switzerland
Your professional qualification is not equivalent and the differences are too great? Then you may be able to work in the profession with partial access to the profession. With partial access to the profession, you can also work as a midwife without recognition. There are certain requirements for this. Your professional qualification must include at least one so-called reserved activity of the German professional qualification of a midwife. Only specially trained persons may carry out reserved activities.
You must also provide proof: You are personally suitable, in good health and have the required knowledge of German.

With partial access to the profession, you may only carry out certain tasks as a midwife. You apply for partial access to the profession at the competent authority.

Freedom to provide services
Do you only want to provide services in Germany occasionally and for a short period of time? Then you do not usually 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 provide proof of German language skills at the required level.
• You must prove your personal suitability.
• You must notify the competent authority of your activity in writing.

The competent authority will inform you.

Notice of equivalence
The equivalence assessment (recognition procedure) is also carried out during the permit procedure. You can apply for a separate decision on the result of the assessment.

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

Using the (male) professional title "maternity nurse"
Until the end of 2024, you can also apply for the (male) professional title "maternity nurse". The regulations of the Midwives Act as amended until December 31, 2019 will then apply. Your competent authority will inform you about the details.

Legal remedy
You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (for example, by lodging 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 competent authority before taking legal action against the decision.