In principle, the applicant must provide evidence of having completed professional training or a degree abroad. Proof of relevant professional experience or training alone is not sufficient to determine the equivalence of the professional qualification. Additionally, the professional training completed abroad must be comparable to the corresponding domestic training in Germany.
There is a distinction between regulated professions (E.g. doctors, healthcare workers, nurses or teachers) and non-regulated professions (E.g. mechatronics technicians, chefs or bakers).
The recognition process and the assessment of equivalence differ between regulated and non-regulated professions, and they have different legal consequences.
For a regulated profession, proof of a specific qualifications is required. This means either having completed the corresponding training in Germany or possessing a foreign qualification recognized in Germany.
For non-regulated professions, in some cases, you can work in Germany without a recognition procedure.
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As a third-country national, it is particularly important that you always need recognition of your professional, academic or school qualifications for a visa.
The responsibility for recognition lies with the authorities of the respective federal states in Germany when it comes to regulated professions.
In the field of non-regulated professions, chambers are responsible for conducting the equivalence test. However, the organization varies depending on the chamber’s jurisdiction. At the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK), examinations are primarily conducted centrally by IHK FOSA (Foreign Skills Approval) in Nuremberg. In the skilled crafts sector, on the other hand, recognition is organized in a decentralized manner, with each Chamber of Crafts (HWK) in Germany accepting applications and making recognition decisions. For regulated professions where access to the profession is controlled by the state, responsibility is determined by the relevant specialized laws and the regulations of the federal states.
There are various recognition bodies that are responsible for the procedure. Examples of this are ZAB, Anabin , school information centres , ZAA, social welfare authorities and medical associations.
If, after examining the evidence submitted, the competent authority determines that there are significant differences between your foreign and German professional qualifications (deficit notice), it is possible to compensate for these differences by participating in adaptation measures.
A positive assessment of your application for equivalence means that your qualification has been fully recognised and no further action is required.,
In the case of partial recognition, you should know that your foreign professional qualification is comparable to the German professional qualification in some aspects, while there are differences in other areas ., To achieve full equivalence, you may need to participate in adaptation qualifications.
A negative assessment of equivalence means that your foreign qualification is not comparable to the German qualification and your application will be rejected.
There are three types of school-leaving qualifications that can be recognised:
1. First general education certificate (ESA)
2.Intermediate School Leaving Certificate (MSA)
3. Entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences, subject-related higher education entrance qualification and general higher education entrance qualification
In order to receive equivalent recognition of school certificates obtained abroad as an ESA, you must prove that you have successfully attended a general education school for at least nine years. In some countries of origin, this duration can also be ten or eleven years.
In addition, you must demonstrate successful participation in the following subjects:
⦁ Languages, including the mother tongue and, where appropriate, a foreign language
⦁ Mathematics
⦁ A scientific subject such as biology, physics or chemistry
⦁ A social studies subject such as history, politics or social studies
In order to receive equivalent recognition of school certificates obtained abroad with regard to the intermediate school leaving certificate, you must prove that you have successfully attended a general education school for at least ten years. . In some countries of origin, this duration can also be eleven or twelve years.
In addition, you must demonstrate successful participation in the following subjects:
⦁ Languages, including the mother tongue and, where appropriate, a foreign language
⦁ Mathematics
⦁A scientific subject such as biology, physics or chemistry
⦁ A social studies subject such as history, politics or social studies
When it comes to the recognition of university degrees, a fundamental distinction must be made: If you want to work in a regulated profession (e.g. doctor or lawyer), the recognition of your university degree is a prerequisite in any case. If you want to work as an academic in a non-regulated profession (e.g. as a computer scientist or mathematician), you do not necessarily need this recognition.
However, if you want to immigrate to Germany from a non-EU country and need a visa for the purpose of taking up employment, recognition becomes relevant again. Here you have to prove that your foreign university degree can be compared with a German one.
The “anabin” database, which is operated by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB), provides important information for the evaluation of foreign educational certificates. This information is an important decision-making basis for authorities and universities that are responsible for the recognition of foreign educational certificates in Germany. employees as well as for the public. It offers in-depth knowledge and gives everyone the opportunity to assess their foreign qualifications.
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The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) is the authoritative institution in Germany for the assessment of foreign qualifications, including school, vocational and university degrees