Applying for recognition of vocational and technical school qualifications with a foreign professional qualification

You submit an application for recognition to the competent authority. You can submit the application online, by post, electronically or in person. You can also submit the application from abroad.

The competent body receives the application. After a maximum of one month, it will confirm that the application has been received. Once the competent office has received all the documents from you, it will process your application. The competent authority will then check: Is your professional qualification equivalent to a specific professional qualification in the selected federal state? The competent body will compare the qualifications using certain criteria. Important criteria are the content and duration of the training. The competent body will also take your professional experience, your other certificates of competence and qualifications into account when assessing equivalence.

You will receive a notification with the result of the procedure. You will receive recognition if your professional qualification and the German professional qualification are equivalent.

Sometimes there are significant differences between the professional qualifications. The differences are listed in your notification. You can use this decision to gain further qualifications and later submit a new application for equivalence assessment.

If your professional qualification is not equivalent at all, you will not receive recognition.

More information

Further advisory services

There are many other advisory services. You can find these on the Recognition in Germany portal.

Ask an IQ advice center for personal advice on this procedure and your qualification. 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".

Telephone number: +49 30 1815-1111 Office hours: Monday to Friday 08:00 - 18:00 (CET)

If you are abroad: You can also reach 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.

• Online application
  

  or completed and signed application form

• Proof of identity
  

  e.g. identity card or passport

• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Information on applications for recognition already submitted
  

  Indicate the office to which you submitted the application.

• Perhaps: information about an already submitted application for recognition.
  

  Then indicate the office to which you submitted the application.

• Notes on the documents
  

  If your documents are not in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or authorized.

  You can submit the documents in written form (mail or e-mail) or in person.

  We advise against sending original documents by mail.

• Proof of work experience
  

  Translations and certified copies of any relevant professional experience as a teacher

• Curriculum vitae including details of education and employment history
• Evidence of your professional qualifications
  

  For example, school reports, certificates and vocational qualifications.

• Evidence of the content and duration of your training,
  

  For example, subject timetables and marksheets.

• Recognition of vocational and technical school qualifications with a foreign professional qualification
  

• Application for assessment of foreign professional qualifications
  

free of charge

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.

• Bremisches Berufsqualifikationsfeststellungsgesetz (BremBQFG)
• Verordnung über die Berufsfachschule für sozialpädagogische Assistenz
• Verordnung über die Berufsfachschule für Pflegeassistenz
• Verordnung über die Berufsfachschule für Assistenten
• Verordnung über die Berufsfachschule für Fremdsprachen in Wirtschaft und Verwaltung
• Verordnung über die Berufsfachschule für Hauswirtschaft und Familienpflege
• Verordnung über die Berufsfachschule für Kinderpflege
• Verordnung über die Fachschule für Technik
• Verordnung über die Fachschule für Personenbezogene Dienstleistungen
• Regulations governing the vocational college for social care assistants
• Regulations Governing the Vocational School for Nursing Assistants
• Regulations Governing the Vocational School for Assistants
• Regulations governing the Vocational School for Foreign Languages in Business and Administration
• Regulations governing the Vocational School for Home Economics and Family Care
• Regulations governing the vocational college for childcare
• Regulations Governing the Technical College
• Regulations governing the Vocational College for Personal Services
• Bremen Act on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (BremBQFG)

• Zentrale Servicestelle Berufsanerkennung (ZSBA)
• IQ-Beratungsstellen des Netzwerks Integration durch Qualifikation
• Hotline Arbeiten und Leben in Deutschland des Bundesamts für Migration und Flüchtlinge
• Öffentlich bestellte Übersetzerinnen und Übersetzer in Deutschland
• Digitale Auskunft zur Berufsqualifikation
• Informationen zur Anerkennung ausländischer Berufsqualifikationen auf dem Portal Anerkennung in Deutschland
• Finanzielle Hilfen für das Anerkennungsverfahren
• Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen (GER)
• IQ advice centres within the ‘Integration through Qualification’ network
• Digital information on vocational qualifications
• Central Service Centre for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (ZSBA)
• Sworn translators in Germany
• The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees’ ‘Working and Living in Germany’ helpline
• Information on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications on the ‘Recognition in Germany’ portal
• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
• Financial assistance for the recognition process