Recognition of foreign professional qualifications

You have acquired your professional qualification abroad and want to work permanently in your profession in Germany? Here you can find information on the recognition of your foreign qualification.

Recognition of a professional qualification

You did not acquire your professional qualification in Germany?

Do you want to work in Germany long-term and possibly be self-employed in your profession?

• Depending on your profession, you can or must apply for the recognition of your professional qualification.
• For so-called regulated professions do you always need the Recognition.
• Examples of regulated professions are doctors, pharmacists, midwives, nurses, and teachers.
• For unregulated professions do you need the Recognition only, if you a Apply for a residence permit for work in Germany.
• Examples of non-regulated professions are computer scientist, bank clerk, and business economist.

You always have a legal entitlement to a recognition procedure. It doesn't matter which Nationality You own or where you are staying. Even if you are not in Germany, you can apply for recognition of your professional qualification.

Recognition procedure

For recognition, the competent authority in Germany checks: 

• Does your foreign qualification a German qualification?
• This review is based on the documents regarding your education and is conducted according to fixed formal criteria.
• Criteria are, for example, the content and duration of your training. Your Professional experience is also taken into account.

The recognition procedure differs depending on the profession. Therefore, different procedures and different applications are required for various professions. Different authorities are responsible for each procedure.

Den Application For the procedure, you can submit directly to the competent authority. You can find the contact details of the competent authority on the website„Recognition in Germany“.
You can also submit the application to a single point of contact authority. The Point of Single Contact will forward your documents to the competent authority and supports you in the proceedings.

Note: Before submitting an application, you must your reference occupation in Germany identify. In the recognition procedure, your professional qualification is compared with the Reference occupation compared.
There are many consulting services in Germany. For example, let yourself be advised by a IQ counseling centers receive personal advice on which reference occupation suits your qualification.

You can find all necessary information on the website„Recognition in Germany“. There you will find quick and easy answers to your questions about recognition in 11 languages:

• Do I need to have my professional qualification recognized?   
• Is recognition worth it for me?
• May I submit the application? Am I entitled to it?
• Who should I contact?
• What does the procedure look like?
• Which documents are required?
• What format do the documents need to be in?
• How long does the procedure take?
• How much does the procedure cost? 
• Which laws are relevant to my case?

„Anerkennung in Deutschland“ is also a German advisory center (in accordance with Article 57b of EU Directive 2005/36/EC). This means that citizens from a member state of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland will receive individual advice on recognition issues if needed.

• Recognition in Germany
• German Consulting Center
• IQ counseling centers
• Single Points of Contact in Germany
• You can also Hotline Call us. The hotline will answer your questions about the topic „Working and Living in Germany“.

These support services assist you in exercising your rights and fulfilling your obligations in the European Single Market.

• EURES: European network of employment services
• Equal Treatment Office for EU Workers