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Applying for recognition of foreign education and training certificates with vocational and technical school qualifications for non-regulated professions
In principle, you can take up employment in Germany with a professional qualification obtained abroad that corresponds to a non-regulated profession. You can also have the equivalence of your foreign professional qualification established with non-regulated school-based professional qualifications governed by national law.
The notification of equivalence is intended to facilitate your access to the German labour market with your professional qualification. The notification establishes the equivalence or partial equivalence of your professional qualification with a German professional qualification (the so-called reference occupation).
What are non-regulated professions?
In the case of non-regulated professions, access to the profession or the exercise of the profession is not linked to state requirements. This applies in particular to training occupations in the dual system, but also to most school-based vocational and further training programmes regulated by state law. If the profession is not regulated by the state in Germany, you can apply directly to the German labour market with a foreign qualification or set up your own business.
Procedure:
1. Seek advice
Take advantage of the support offered by experienced advice centres. In the More information you will find links to the counselling centres ‘Recognition of professional qualifications Plus’, ‘Counselling and information centre for professional recognition (BibA)’ and ‘La Red Recognition Counselling Plus’.
2. check the reference occupation
The reference occupation is the occupation with which your foreign vocational qualification is to be compared. This reference occupation must be trained in Berlin. In the “'More information”' you will find the following lists for comparison.
Initial training:
Send the completed application together with the required documents as copies either by e-mail or by post (copies only) to the Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family Affairs.
4. confirmation and review
Once your application has been received, you will receive confirmation of receipt within one month. If documents are missing, you will be notified and can submit them later.
5. decision
Processing takes three months once all documents are complete. You will then receive a decision confirming full, partial or no equivalence.
The notification of equivalence is intended to facilitate your access to the German labour market with your professional qualification. The notification establishes the equivalence or partial equivalence of your professional qualification with a German professional qualification (the so-called reference occupation).
What are non-regulated professions?
In the case of non-regulated professions, access to the profession or the exercise of the profession is not linked to state requirements. This applies in particular to training occupations in the dual system, but also to most school-based vocational and further training programmes regulated by state law. If the profession is not regulated by the state in Germany, you can apply directly to the German labour market with a foreign qualification or set up your own business.
Procedure:
1. Seek advice
Take advantage of the support offered by experienced advice centres. In the More information you will find links to the counselling centres ‘Recognition of professional qualifications Plus’, ‘Counselling and information centre for professional recognition (BibA)’ and ‘La Red Recognition Counselling Plus’.
2. check the reference occupation
The reference occupation is the occupation with which your foreign vocational qualification is to be compared. This reference occupation must be trained in Berlin. In the “'More information”' you will find the following lists for comparison.
Initial training:
- List of vocational qualifications regulated by federal state law at vocational colleges to determine the equivalence of initial training
- Comparison of dual vocational qualifications and vocational qualifications regulated by federal state law (list of reference occupations)
- List of vocational qualifications regulated by federal state law at vocational colleges to determine the equivalence of continuing education and training
- Compilation of continuing education and training qualifications regulated by federal state law and continuing education and training qualifications regulated by federal state law (list of reference occupations)
Send the completed application together with the required documents as copies either by e-mail or by post (copies only) to the Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family Affairs.
4. confirmation and review
Once your application has been received, you will receive confirmation of receipt within one month. If documents are missing, you will be notified and can submit them later.
5. decision
Processing takes three months once all documents are complete. You will then receive a decision confirming full, partial or no equivalence.
Prerequisites
- Intention to purchase in Berlin
- Training certificates obtained in a foreign country
- Reference occupation is trained in Berlin according to the school law
Documents required
-
Application for determination of equivalence for a non-regulated state-regulated school-based vocational and further education qualification
Send the completed and signed application together with the required documents as copies either by e-mail or by post (copies only) to the Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family Affairs. -
Proof of identity
- Copy of identity card or passport
- Copy of proof of name change, if applicable
-
Curriculum vitae in tabular form
a tabular list of the training programmes completed and the gainful employment pursued in German -
Foreign educational certificates (final certificates) with overview of subjects (copy)
German translations must also be submitted for all documents that were not issued in German. For all certificates and documents or other official proof of school, university or professional qualifications, the translations must be provided by a sworn interpreter or translator. -
Proof of relevant professional experience or other certificates of competence, if these are required to establish equivalence (copies)
German translations must also be submitted for all documents that were not issued in German. For all certificates and documents or other official proof of school, university or professional qualifications, the translations must be provided by a sworn interpreter or translator. - Declaration as to whether an application for determination of equivalence has already been submitted and, if applicable, to which authority within the Federal Republic of Germany and with what result
- If applicable, notification issued by another federal state or another authority
Fees
EUR 485.00
Legal basis
Average time to process request
3 months
More information
- Counselling centre ‘Anerkennung beruflicher Abschlüsse Plus’ (Club Dialog e.V.)
- Counselling and information centre for professional recognition (BibA)
- Counselling centre ‘La Red Anerkennungsberatung Plus’ (La Red. e.V.)
- Network Integration through Qualification (IQ)
- List of state-regulated vocational qualifications at vocational schools to determine the equivalence of initial training (Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Federal States)
- Comparison of dual and state-regulated vocational training qualifications (list of reference occupations) (Kultusministerkonferenz)
- List of state-regulated professional qualifications at technical colleges to determine the equivalence of further education and training (Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Federal States)
- Compilation of advanced training qualifications regulated by federal law and advanced training qualifications regulated by state law (list of reference occupations) ( Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Federal States)
- Recognition of foreign educational certificates with school-based vocational qualifications (Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family)
Notes on responsibility
Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family - Department IV School Vocational Education; Centrally Administered Schools, European and International Affairs