Applying for recognition of professional qualifications from abroad for work as a person responsible for breeding work

Application

You submit an application for equivalence assessment to the competent body.
You can submit the application with the documents to the competent body, send it by post or upload it electronically. The competent body will inform you.

Examination of equivalence

The competent body will then check: Is your professional qualification equivalent to a corresponding German qualification? The competent authority will compare your professional qualification with the German professional qualification. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

Possible results of the examination

If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The competent authority can confirm the result in writing. You must still meet the other requirements. You may then work as a person responsible for breeding work in Germany.

Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? You may be able to compensate for the differences through your professional experience, other knowledge or skills (lifelong learning). You must provide evidence of your professional experience. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority in the country in which you acquired the knowledge or skills.

However, it may be that the significant differences cannot be compensated for by this knowledge. In this case, your foreign professional qualification will not be recognized. You will then not be allowed to work as a person responsible for breeding work. However, the competent authority will tell you the main differences and why you cannot compensate for the main differences with your professional experience.

In most cases, you can take a compensatory measure. This will allow you to compensate for the main differences.

Compensatory measures

There are various compensatory measures:

• Adaptation course: The adaptation course lasts a maximum of three years.
• Aptitude test: The aptitude test examines the areas in which significant differences have been identified.

You can usually choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test. In some cases, the competent body will decide which compensatory measure you need to take. The competent body will advise you on this.

If you successfully complete the compensation measure and meet all other requirements, you will be allowed to work as a person responsible for breeding work in Germany.

More information

• There are many advisory services. You can find these on the Recognition in Germany portal.
  Seek personal advice on this procedure and your qualifications. The advisors will also help you with your documents before you submit your application. The advice is free of charge.
  You can also call the hotline of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. The hotline will answer your questions on the subject of "Working and living in Germany".
  If you are abroad: You can also contact the Central Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) via the hotline. This offers you in-depth advice and support in the recognition procedure and provides location advice.
  
  • You will find the relevant links under "Further information".

• 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 appeal). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. You should first speak to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

• Procedure for late repatriates
  
  • As a late 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.

• Application form from the competent authority
• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• Marriage certificate
  
  • if your name has changed due to marriage
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualification
  
  • for example certificates, professional certificate
• Training certificates
• Proof of your relevant professional experience
• Proof of other relevant knowledge
• Have you ever applied for recognition?
  
  • Then indicate the office to which you have submitted the application.
• Maybe:
  
  • Are you from a third country and do not yet live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? Then you must provide proof: You want to work in the profession in Germany. Proof includes, for example, applications for a job, invitations to job interviews, personal declaration
• If your documents are not in German, you must submit German translations of your documents.
  
  • Translations must be carried out by translators who are publicly appointed or authorized.

The costs generally depend on the time and effort required for processing.
Additional costs may also be incurred (e.g. for translations or notarizations). These costs vary from case to case.

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

There is no deadline.

How long does it take to process

3 months The responsible office will inform you if any documents are missing. The procedure starts when the documents are complete. The procedure takes a maximum of 3 months.

• § 2 Absatz 3 Verordnung zur Durchführung des Tierzuchtgesetzes (Tierzuchtdurchführungsverordnung - TierZDV)
• §§ 9-16 Gesetz über die Feststellung der Gleichwertigkeit von Berufsqualifikationen (Berufsqualifikationsfeststellungsgesetz - BQFG)

• Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen - Informationen und Antrag zur Gleichwertigkeitsprüfung ausländischer Bildungsabschlüsse (BQFG)
• Informationen zur Anerkennung ausländischer Berufsqualifikationen auf dem Portal Anerkennung in Deutschland
• Portal Anerkennung in Deutschland Beratung
• Portal Anerkennung in Deutschland Hotline
• Portal Anerkennung in Deutschland Zentrale Servicestelle Berufsanerkennung
• Finanzielle Hilfen für das Anerkennungsverfahren
• Öffentlich bestellte Übersetzerinnen und Übersetzer in Deutschland
• Verfahren nach dem Bundesvertriebenengesetz
• Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen (GER)