Recognition of Professional Qualifications Acquired Abroad

Have you learned a trade abroad and would like to work in Germany? A formal recognition procedure is necessary for a large number of so-called regulated professions.

What are regulated professions?

Regulated professions are for example doctor, nurse, lawyer, architect, teacher, baker or metalworker. The use of such a professional title is restricted by legal or administrative regulations to persons who have certain professional qualifications. In regulated professions, recognition is a prerequisite for practising the profession in Germany. The examination is carried out by the professional association or Senate Department responsible for the professional field.

• To the List of regulated professions

What are non-regulated professions?

Access to or the practise of the profession is not linked to state requirements for non-regulated professions. This applies in particular to training occupations in the dual system. If the profession in Germany is not regulated by the state, you can apply directly to the German job market with a foreign qualification or you can become self-employed.

• To the List of recognised training occupations

On 1 April 2012 the Law to improve the identification and recognition of professional qualifications acquired abroad entered into force. According to this, all persons with a professional qualification acquired abroad have a legal right to an examination of the equivalence of their professional qualification acquired abroad to a corresponding German reference occupation. The law creates procedures that are as uniform and transparent as possible for all professions regulated by federal law.

• Further information on the Recognition Act and an initial assessment can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research

• www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de is the official information portal on the Federal Recognition Act. With the recognition finder, you can find the office that is responsible for your concern with just a few clicks. You will also receive all the important information about the procedure.

Hotline of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees

The telephone hotline of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) will answer your questions about professional recognition in German and English.

The hotline can be reached Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at:
Tel: +49 30 1815-1111

Integration through qualification network (IQ)

The contact points for the “Integration through Qualification (IQ)” funding program provide information on the professional recognition procedures and refer those interested in recognition to the office responsible for their concerns.

Senatsverwaltung für Arbeit, Integration und Frauen
Oranienstraße 106
10969 Berlin

• For the equivalence of qualifications of late repatriates by the Senate Department for Labour, Integration and Women
• For the equivalence of skilled worker and master craftsman qualifications from the GDR by the Senate Department for Labour, Integration and Women