Gleichwertigkeit von ausländischen Berufsqualifikationen im zulassungsfreien Handwerk oder handwerksähnlichen Gewerbe (Meisterprüfung) Feststellung

Would you like to work permanently in Germany in a craft or similar trade that does not require a license at master craftsman level? Then you can have your foreign professional qualification officially recognized in the skilled crafts sector.

There are around 200 different trades in Germany. Of these, 53 professions require a license. This means that you may only work independently in these professions on a permanent basis if you have the necessary professional qualifications. Special regulations apply to these 53 regulated professions. All other professions in the skilled trades are not regulated. This means that if you want to work permanently on a self-employed basis in these professions, you do not need a specific professional qualification.

Note : You must register with the competent authority in order to work on a self-employed basis. This is a different procedure.

However, you have the right to a recognition procedure. The procedure is called "equivalence assessment".

You will receive a decision on the outcome of the procedure. The decision will state any existing and any missing professional qualifications.

The decision enables employers to better assess your professional qualifications. For skilled workers from third countries, a recognition procedure is usually a prerequisite for the issue of a visa. Third countries are all countries outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

The regional chambers of skilled crafts are responsible for determining equivalence in the skilled crafts sector. In some cases, the Chambers of Industry and Commerce are also responsible. The competent bodies will advise you before you submit your application and identify the appropriate occupation in the skilled crafts sector for you.

You can also apply for equivalence assessment from abroad.

The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally

• Proof of identity (passport or identity card)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of training
• Certificate of the type and duration of relevant professional experience
• Have you ever applied for an equivalence assessment? If so, please state the body to which you submitted the application.
• Perhaps: You come from a third country and do not yet live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? Then you must provide proof: You want to work in the profession in Germany. Proof can be, for example, applications for a job, invitations to job interviews or a location note from the Central Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA).
  

The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit as a simple copy, as a certified copy or as an original.

You must submit your documents in German and the translations must be carried out by publicly appointed or authorized translators.

You may have to submit further documents during the recognition procedure. The responsible office will inform you.

• You have a state-recognized professional qualification in a trade from abroad.
• You would like to work in this profession in Germany.

The costs generally depend on the time and effort required for processing.

Additional costs may also be incurred (e.g. for translations or notarization of your documents). These costs vary from case to case.

Application

You submit an application for equivalence assessment to the competent authority.
You may be able to send the application electronically. The competent body will inform you. You can also hand in the application with the documents to the competent body or send it by post. Do not send any originals.

Examination of equivalence

The competent authority will then check: Is your professional qualification equivalent to the German professional qualification? The competent authority compares the qualifications using certain criteria. Important criteria are the content and duration of the training. The competent body will also take your professional experience, your other certificates of competence and qualifications into account in the equivalence check.

Possible results of the examination

You will receive a notification with the result of the procedure. You will receive recognition if your professional qualification and the German professional qualification are equivalent.

Sometimes there are significant differences between the professional qualifications. The differences are listed in your notification. You can use this decision to gain further qualifications and later submit a new application for equivalence assessment.

If your professional qualification is not equivalent at all, you will not receive recognition.

There is no deadline.

Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you must submit the documents.

Qualification analysis

Have you completed formal training but no longer have all the documents required for the application? Then you may be able to prove your professional qualification through a qualification analysis. This means that you can provide practical proof of your professional skills. The responsible office will inform you.

Procedure for ethnic German repatriates

As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either according to the laws mentioned here or according to the Federal Expellee Act. You can decide for yourself. The responsible office will advise you which procedure is right for you.

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (for example, by lodging an objection). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. You should first speak to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

• Equivalence of foreign professional qualifications in trades not requiring a license or similar trades (master craftsman examination) Determination
• No specific professional qualification is required for professions in trades that do not require a license. However, you have the right to a recognition procedure.
• For skilled workers abroad, a recognized professional qualification is usually a prerequisite for obtaining a visa.
• The procedure is called "equivalence assessment".
• The regional chambers of skilled crafts are responsible for determining equivalence in the skilled crafts sector. In some cases, the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) are also responsible.