Apply for recognition as a social pedagogue or social worker with professional training from abroad 
You would like to work permanently in Germany as a social pedagogue/social worker? Then you need to have your foreign professional qualification recognized.
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Basic information
The profession of social pedagogue or social worker is regulated in Germany. This means that you must have a specific qualification in order to be allowed to work in the profession. If you have a foreign professional qualification as a social pedagogue or social worker, you can work in this profession in your chosen federal state under certain conditions. To do so, you must submit an application with all the necessary documents to the competent authority.
In the recognition procedure, the office compares your professional qualification from abroad with the professional qualification in the selected federal state and makes an equivalence assessment. You will receive feedback after your application has been reviewed. If your professional qualification is equivalent and you meet the other requirements, you will receive state recognition. You may then use the professional title "state-recognized social worker".
If you lack the professional qualifications required for recognition, the notification will state the main differences. You can then take a compensatory measure.
Requirements
- Equivalence of your professional qualification
- You must be authorized to practice the profession in the country in which you trained.
You must also meet the other requirements for state recognition. These are usually
- Personal suitability: You are reliable for work as a social pedagogue or social worker and have no criminal record.
- Health suitability: You are mentally and physically able to work in the profession.
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Procedure
You can submit the application to the responsible office. You must submit copies of all the necessary documents to the competent body. The competent authority will then check:
Is your professional qualification equivalent to the professional qualification in your federal state?
For example, the content of the training and the 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 will then check the other requirements. If your professional qualification is equivalent and you meet all other requirements, you will receive state recognition. You may then use the professional title "state-recognized social worker".
If the competent authority is unable to determine equivalence, you will receive a notification with an explanation of the significant differences. To compensate for significant differences, you can take a compensation measure.
If you successfully complete the compensation measure and meet the other requirements, you will receive state recognition.
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Necessary Documents
- Request
- Tabular list of the training courses completed and the gainful employment pursued
- Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
- Proof of your professional qualification, including the overview of subjects in the original and in German or English translation
- Training certificates
- Proof of professional experience as a social pedagogue or social worker
- Evidence of other qualifications
- Certificate that the profession may be practiced in the country of training
- Information on applications for recognition already submitted
Indicate the office to which you submitted the application.
- You usually hand in these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when you should hand in the documents:
- Proof of your personal suitability: e.g. criminal record or certificate of good conduct
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Competent Department
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Der Senator für Kinder und Bildung | Referat 31 - Qualifizierung, Gewinnung und Sicherung sozialpädagogischer Fachkräfte
- +49 421 361 13222
- Rembertiring 8-12, 28195 Bremen
- Website
- antrag
@kinder. bremen. de
Contact Person
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Frau Ellen Gutschmidt
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Online Services
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Fees / Costs
gebührenfrei
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Deadlines & processing time
What deadlines must be paid attention to?
There are no deadlines.
How long does it take to process
As a rule, the equivalence check takes a maximum of 3 months after receipt of all complete documents.
Delays are possible due to special circumstances or complexity. -
More Information
This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.
The official information in German is complete and correct. 30.10.2025