Erlaubnis zum Führen der Berufsbezeichnung Erteilung Medizinisch-technische Laboratoriumsassistentin oder Medizinisch-technischer Laboratoriumsassistent aus EU/EWR/Schweiz

If you would like to work as a medical laboratory assistant in Germany, you will need a state permit.

Working as a medical-technical laboratory assistant is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to work as a medical-technical laboratory assistant in Germany, you need a state license. With this permit, you can use the job title "medical-technical laboratory assistant" and work in the profession.

If you have a professional qualification from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, you can also obtain a state permit from the competent authority in Germany.

In order to obtain the permit, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognized. In the recognition procedure, the competent authority compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks the equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of a state license.

In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must also meet other requirements for full recognition of your professional qualification. Further requirements are, for example, sufficient German language skills and health suitability.

If your professional qualification does not originate from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply.

You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.

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

• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• German-language CV in tabular form with your education and professional activities
• Officially certified copy of your training certificate
• Proof of your relevant professional experience as a medical-technical laboratory assistant
• Proof of other relevant knowledge for working as a medical laboratory assistant
• Criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin as proof of your reliability (this proof must not be older than 3 months at the time of application)
• Medical certificate of good health (The certificate can be from an authority in your country of training. This certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application).

The competent authority will inform you which documents you must submit in the original or as a copy.

If your documents are not in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or authorized.

• You have a professional qualification as a medical-technical laboratory assistant from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
• You are in good health. (This means that you are mentally and physically able to work as a medical laboratory assistant).
• You are reliable for working as a medical laboratory assistant and have no criminal record.
• You have the German language skills required for the job. This is normally language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The procedure costs money. The responsible office will inform you of the costs. The costs generally depend on the time and effort required for processing.

Additional costs may also be incurred (e.g. for translations, certifications or compensatory measures). These costs vary from case to case.

Examination of equivalence

You submit an application to the competent authority for permission to use the professional title "medical-technical laboratory assistant". The competent authority will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important requirement is the professional qualification. The competent authority will compare your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a medical-technical laboratory assistant. The competent authority will check whether your professional qualification is equivalent. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

Possible results of the examination

If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The authority can confirm the result in writing. You must still meet the other requirements and provide proof of your language skills. You will then receive permission to use the professional title of "medical-technical laboratory assistant".

If the competent authority identifies significant differences, you can compensate for the differences through your professional experience and other knowledge and skills (lifelong learning). You must provide evidence of your professional experience. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority in your country of origin.

However, this knowledge may not be sufficient. You will then not be able to compensate for the major differences. Your foreign professional qualification will then not be recognized.

However, the competent authority will tell you the main differences and why you cannot compensate for the main differences with your professional experience. You will then not be allowed to work as a medical-technical laboratory assistant. However, the competent authority will offer you the opportunity to complete an adaptation period or take an aptitude test. If you successfully complete this measure, you will be allowed to work in the profession.

Adaptation course or aptitude test

If your professional qualification is not equivalent, you can choose between an aptitude test and an adaptation period of up to three years. The aptitude test relates to the main differences in your professional qualification. The aptitude test is an interview. The content and exact procedure of the examination are regulated by law. If you complete the adaptation period or pass the aptitude test (and meet all other requirements), you will receive permission to use the professional title of "medical-technical laboratory assistant".

Partial access to the profession

In some countries, the training does not correspond to the German training. For certain activities, however, your training must be equivalent to the German training. These are "reserved activities". If you have been trained for these activities, you can obtain partial access to the profession. The competent authority will inform you.

Legal remedy

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first speak to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

The responsible office will confirm that your documents have arrived after a maximum of one month. The competent office will inform you if any documents are missing.

If the documents are complete, the procedure will take a maximum of 4 months.

There are no deadlines to be observed.

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

• Freedom to provide services
  If you only want to work temporarily and occasionally as a self-employed service provider in Germany, you do not need a state license to use the professional title. However, special requirements apply: You must notify the competent authority of your work before you start working for the first time. The competent authority will inform you in detail about the procedure.
  
• Notification of equivalence
  The equivalence check (recognition procedure) also takes place during the permit procedure. You can apply for a separate decision on the result of the assessment.
  
• Electronic application
  You can also submit your application electronically. The application can be submitted directly to the competent authority. You can also submit the application to the Single Point of Contact. The Single Point of Contact will help you and forward the application to the competent body that will carry out the recognition procedure.
  
• Procedure for ethnic German repatriates
  As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either in accordance with the law mentioned here or in accordance with the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide for yourself. Your responsible office will advise you on this.

• To work as a medical-technical laboratory assistant in Germany, you need a state permit.
• With this permit, you can officially call yourself a "medical-technical laboratory assistant" and work in the profession.
• Professional qualifications from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland can also be used to obtain a state license in Germany.
• The Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP) is responsible for this.

Please contact the Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP).

The Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP) has been responsible since 01.01.2023.