Applying for recognition of foreign professional qualifications (EU/EEA/Switzerland) as a midwife

Midwives provide women and their families with holistic care from family planning to the end of the breastfeeding period.

The midwifery profession is regulated in Germany. This means that you need a state licence to work as a midwife in Germany. With this licence, you can use the professional title of midwife and work in the profession.

If you have a professional qualification from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can also obtain a state licence from the competent authority in Germany. In order to obtain the permit, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognised.

In the recognition procedure, the competent authority compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks the equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of a state licence.
In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must also fulfil other requirements for the licence to be issued. Further requirements are, for example, sufficient German language skills and health suitability.

If your professional qualification does not originate from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply.

You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.

Procedure
1. Application
You submit an application for authorisation to use the professional title of midwife to the competent authority.

2. examination of equivalence
The competent authority will then check whether you fulfil all the requirements. An important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a midwife. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

3. Possible results of the examination
If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognised. The competent authority can confirm the result in writing. You must still fulfil the other requirements. You will then be authorised to use the professional title of midwife.
  • 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 recognised. You will then not be allowed to work as a midwife 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.

4. compensatory measures
There are various equalisation measures:
  • Adaptation course: The adaptation course lasts a maximum of three 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 combined with an interview.
You can choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test.

If you successfully complete the equalisation measure and fulfil all other requirements, you will receive permission to use the professional title of midwife.

You can also access this service online

Online processing

  • Do it online now
    You do not need to register for online processing and can submit the application directly online.

Prerequisites

  • Training in the healthcare profession completed in the EU/EEA/Switzerland that is equivalent to German training or an equivalent level of knowledge
    The equivalence of the level of knowledge may have to be proven by an examination or an adaptation course
  • Health suitability
  • Proof of good repute and authorisation to practise the healthcare profession
  • Sufficient knowledge of German at level B 2
  • Proof of responsibility

Documents required

  • Application for authorisation to use the professional title for training in the European Union (EU)
  • Proof of responsibility for the state of Berlin
    (e.g. confirmation of employment, proof of habitual residence in the state of Berlin / main residence, applications for vacancies in the state of Berlin, invitations to job interviews)
  • Curriculum vitae in tabular form with signature and date
  • Birth certificate and, if applicable, name change certificates
  • Proof of identity (valid identity card or passport)
  • Certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority
    To check personal reliability, information from the Federal Central Criminal Register (certificate of good conduct) is required for submission to an authority (document type O).
    The information must not be older than three months.
  • Certificate of good conduct/certificate of no criminal record
    from the police or judicial authorities of the home country or study country (not older than 3 months on presentation)
  • Certificate of good standing from the country of origin
    the competent authority of the country in which the profession was practised (not older than 3 months on presentation)
  • Medical certificate from a doctor authorised to practice in Germany
    (on presentation not older than 3 months)
  • Proof of completed training
    Proof of training in accordance with Directive 2005/36/EC, which authorises the unrestricted practice of the profession in the country of training or, if applicable, the home country
    (see checklist for the granting of a licence to use the professional title for medical professions for training in an EU Member State)
  • Additional certificate of conformity if the training certificate
    was issued after the date relevant for recognition and only provisional and not yet the final training certificates are available or the professional title deviates from Directive 2005/36/EC (confirmation of fulfilment of the minimum requirements and equivalence with the certificates specified in the Directive)
    was issued before the date relevant for recognition and confirms fulfilment of the minimum requirements or confirms three years of uninterrupted actual and lawful professional activity in the last five years before the certificate was issued
  • Certificate B 2 on knowledge of the German language
    Certificate from the Goethe Institute, telc (telc certificates from Serbian language schools are not recognised), TestDaf or ECL certified language school; not older than 3 years.
    Note: The submitted language certificates will be checked for authenticity and accuracy.
    It is not necessary to submit language certificates at the time of application.
  • Foreign language documents
    Foreign-language documents must be submitted with certified translations by translators who are generally sworn or authorised or publicly appointed in Germany.

Forms

Fees

  • EUR 115.00: for automatic recognition
  • EUR 164.00: without automatic recognition

Legal basis

Average time to process request

approx. 3-4 months if all documents are complete

More information

Notes on responsibility

Authorisation to use the professional title is only granted by the Berlin State Office for Health and Social Affairs.

Your point of contact

Do it online

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