Apply for state recognition as an elementary school teacher from abroad 
Would you like to apply for recognition of your foreign qualification as an elementary educator or childhood educator? Then contact the Senatorial Authority for Children and Education - Department 31 - for a consultation.
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Basic information
The profession of early childhood educator is regulated in Germany. This means that you must have a specific qualification in order to work in the profession. If you have a foreign professional qualification as an elementary pedagogue or childhood educator, you can work in this profession in your chosen federal state under certain conditions.
profession in the chosen federal state. To do this, you must submit an application with all the necessary documents to the Senatorial Authority for Children and Education - Department 31.
In the recognition procedure, the office compares your professional qualification from abroad with the professional qualification in the selected federal state and issues 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 elementary teacher" or "state-recognized elementary teacher".
If you do not have the professional qualifications required for recognition, the essential differences will be listed in the notification. You can then take a compensatory measure.
Please note that in the federal state of Bremen, equivalence is only possible with the qualification "state-recognized elementary teacher" or "state-recognized elementary teacher".
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 aptitude: you are reliable to work as a childhood educator and have no criminal record.
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Procedure
You can submit the application to the competent state authority. You must submit copies of all the necessary documents to the competent authority.
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 childhood educator" or "state-recognized childhood educator".
If the competent authority is unable to determine equivalence, you will receive a notification with an explanation of the main differences. In order 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.
More information
The application must be denied if the applicant has been convicted of an intentional criminal offense and this results in unsuitability to practice the profession. State recognition must be revoked if the reason for refusal arises subsequently. State recognition must be withdrawn if it subsequently becomes known that the requirements for granting it were not met.
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Necessary Documents
- Documents required for recognition as an elementary teacher
- application
- Tabular list of training courses completed and 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
- Proof of training
- Proof of professional experience as an elementary school teacher
- Proof of other qualifications
- Certificate that the profession may be practiced in the country of training
- Information on applications for recognition that have already been submitted. Then state the body to which you have submitted the application.
You usually submit these documents later. The competent authority will inform you when you should submit the documents:
- Proof of your personal suitability: e.g. criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct
- Documents required for recognition as an elementary teacher
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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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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.
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. 03.11.2025