Recognition of Vocational and Academic Qualifications
Have you completed vocational training or academic studies outside Germany? Whether your foreign qualification needs to be recognised in Germany depends on the profession in which you wish to work. Find out here what applies to you and how to go about the process.
What does recognition mean?
The proof of qualification called recognition ("Anerkennung") is an official confirmation of your foreign qualification issued by the relevant authority in Germany. Recognition is required if you wish to work in regulated professions in Germany. In addition, there are other procedures for verifying your foreign qualification, such as an individual Statement of Comparability. The type of verification you require for your qualification depends on the following factors:
- the type of profession you are aiming for (regulated vs. non-regulated);
- the type of qualification (academic vs. vocational);
- your nationality;
- the visa type
This is how the recognition procedure works
The recognition procedure is divided into several stages. How long it takes and which documents you need depend on your profession and the relevant authority.
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1 Identify the relevant authority
Depending on the profession and the federal state, a different authority or professional body is responsible for recognition.
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2 Gather your documents
You will typically need your qualification certificate (certified and, if necessary, officially translated), proof of identity (passport and, if appplicable, your residence title), proof of professional experience and a brief CV. You can obtain the exact list of required documents from the relevant authority.
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3 Submit the application
Once your documents are complete, submit your application to the relevant authority. In many cases, this can be done online.
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4 Received a recognition notice
The authority will review your documents and determine whether your qualification is equivalent. These are the possible results: full recognition, recognition following successful completion of a compensation measure, partial recognition or no recognition
FAQs on the recognition of qualifications
Do I need to have my foreign qualification recognised in Germany?
Whether your qualification needs to be recognised depends on the profession you wish to pursue and the country you come from.
For example, you will always need recognition if you want to work in a regulated profession in Germany.
Regardless of your profession, recognition may also be necessary if you wish to enter Germany with a specific visa (e.g., the visa for qualified professionals).
Find out about the exact regulations in the “Who needs recognition?” section.
What are regulated professions?
Some professions in Germany are subject to special regulations by federal or state laws. People of all nationalities may only work in these regulated professions if they have a specific qualification. This applies, for example, to many professions in the fields of health, legal advice and teaching at state schools. For persons with non-German qualifications, this means that in order to work in such a profession in Germany, you generally need recognition of your foreign qualification and a licence to practise your profession. The licence to practise your profession includes the legal authorisation to practise your profession and the granting of permission to use your professional title.
Please refer to the “Recognition” section for more information on the topic.
How can I have my non-academic vocational qualification recognised?
In order to prove that your foreign, non-academic vocational qualification is equivalent to a German qualification, it must be assessed by the relevant recognition authority in Germany. The competent authority is determined by the desired profession and place of work in Germany. The specialist portal “Anerkennung in Deutschland (External link) ” can help you with this matter.
You will also find detailed information on the procedure, costs and advisory services for recognition in the “Recognition procedure” section.
How can I prove that my academic degree is comparable to a German degree?
To prove the comparability of your foreign academic degree, it is important to know whether you wish to work in a regulated or non-regulated profession. Different procedures are required in each case:
Non-regulated professions: first, check whether your foreign academic degree is listed in the anabin database. In anabin, you can check how a foreign academic degree and the foreign university are assessed from a German perspective – free of charge. Both assessments are important for determining comparability. If your academic degree is not listed in anabin or the result is not clearly indicated as “comparable” (vergleichbar), you must request a Statement of Comparability from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).
In the section “Academic qualifications”, you will find detailed information on how to prove the comparability of your academic degree.
- Regulated professions: in order to work in a regulated academic profession in Germany, you need recognition of your foreign degree and a licence to practise your profession. In this case, as with non-academic vocational qualifications, a recognition procedure is necessary.
You can find further information in the “Recognition procedure” section.
My foreign non-academic vocational qualification has only been recognised partially. Can I still work in Germany?
If you have received partial recognition of your foreign qualification, you can apply for a visa for the recognition of foreign qualifications or a visa for a recognition partnership as a third-country national. With these visas, you can acquire the missing theoretical and/or practical skills in Germany and have the option of working as a skilled worker either during or subsequently after some potential qualification measures.
Do you already have relevant professional experience in the profession you would like to pursue in Germany? In this case, the visa for professionally experienced workers may also be an option for you.
In addition, with a partial recognition notice, you can enter Germany with the job search opportunity card once you have achieved 6 points in the points system and look for a job or further training.
