Podiatrist with training from EU/EEA/Switzerland, recognize professional qualification

Application

You submit an application for permission to use the professional title "podiatrist" or "podiatrist" to the competent authority. You can submit the application with the documents to the competent authority or send it by post. Do not send any originals.

You can submit an application if you do not yet live in Germany.

Examination of equivalence

The competent authority will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent body will compare your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a podiatrist. 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 will then receive permission to use the professional title "podiatrist".

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 podiatrist in Germany.

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 allows you to compensate for the main differences.

Compensatory measures

There are various compensatory measures:

• Adaptation course: The adaptation course lasts a maximum of 3 years.
• Aptitude test: In the aptitude test, only those areas in which significant differences have been identified are tested. The aptitude test consists of a practical examination.

You can choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test.

If you successfully complete the compensation measure and meet all other requirements, you will receive permission to use the professional title of "podiatrist".

More 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 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 responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

• The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally
• 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 as a podiatrist
• Proof of other relevant knowledge for working as a podiatrist
• You do not yet live or work in Germany? Then you may have to provide proof:
  

  You want to work in the profession in Germany. Evidence includes, for example, applications for a job, invitations to interviews, personal statement.

• 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: criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
  • Proof of your health suitability: Medical certificate. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
  • Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate
• The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit as a simple copy, a certified copy or the original.

The responsible office will inform you of the costs. The costs generally depend on the time and effort required for processing.

Additional costs may be incurred (e.g. for translations, certifications or compensatory measures). These costs vary from case to case.

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you must submit the documents.

How long does it take to process

The processing time varies. The responsible office will inform you if any documents are missing.

• § 1 Abs. 1 Podologengesetz (PodG)
• § 2 Abs. 2-4 Podologengesetz (PodG)
• § 16 Ausbildungs- und Prüfungsverordnung für Podologinnen und Podologen (PodAPrV)
• § 16a Ausbildungs- und Prüfungsverordnung für Podologinnen und Podologen (PodAPrV)
• § 16c Ausbildungs- und Prüfungsverordnung für Podologinnen und Podologen (PodAPrV)

• Informationen zur Anerkennung ausländischer Berufsqualifikationen auf dem Portal Anerkennung in Deutschland
• Finanzielle Hilfen für das Anerkennungsverfahren
• Öffentlich bestellte Übersetzerinnen und Übersetzer in Deutschland
• Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen (GER)
• Verfahren nach dem Bundesvertriebenengesetz