Erlaubnis zum Führen der Berufsbezeichnung Heilpädagogin oder Heilpädagoge bei Berufsqualifikation aus dem Ausland Erteilung

If you have completed a foreign university degree in the field of curative education, you can apply for state recognition as a curative educator in accordance with § 6 of the Hessian Social Professions Recognition Act.

If you have completed a foreign university degree in the field of curative education, you can apply for state recognition as a curative educator in accordance with § 6 of the Hessian Social Professions Recognition Act.

State recognition can be granted if your university degree is equivalent to a corresponding German university degree and if you are allowed to carry out comparable professional activities in your home country. If equivalence is determined, you will receive state recognition and can work in the corresponding professions in Hesse.

If there are significant differences between your foreign university degree and the corresponding German university degree, compensatory measures will be determined. In order for your degree to be recognised by the state, these compensatory measures must be successfully completed.

• Proof of identity
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• Proof of foreign school and training qualifications
• Subjects and Grade Overview / Diploma Supplement to the University Degree
• If necessary, translations and transliterations of the above-mentioned references
• For third-country nationals (i.e. persons who do not come from the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland): Proof of primary residence in the Federal Republic of Germany or proof of location advice from the Central Office for Professional Recognition or proof of relevant intention to work (e.g. by applying for an entry visa for gainful employment, contacting potential employers, business concept in the case of self-employment)
• If applicable, foreign professional license

• You have obtained a university degree abroad in the field of curative education or a comparable course of study (§ 6 SozAnerkG HE).
• You want to pursue gainful employment in Hesse that corresponds to your professional qualification.
• Proof of German language skills is not yet required for the recognition procedure. However, good language skills are a prerequisite for successful participation in compensatory measures and for taking up professional activity.

If you earn very little or have no income at the moment, you can apply for financial support for the recognition procedure. You must apply for the grant BEFORE applying for recognition. You can find out more about the subsidy here:

You can apply for recognition of your foreign university degree as a state-approved curative educator in writing or online. Within four weeks of receipt of the submitted documents, you will receive a confirmation of receipt and, if applicable, information on missing documents and documents to be submitted.

If your documents are complete, a decision on your application will usually be made within three months. An extension of the deadline is possible in individual cases. The following decisions are possible:

• If there are no significant differences between your university degree and the comparable German university degree, you will receive state recognition immediately.
• If there are significant differences between your university degree and the comparable German university degree, you will receive a notification stating the differences and determining compensatory measures. For final recognition, you must successfully complete these compensatory measures.
• If the differences between your foreign degree and the corresponding German degree are too great, you will be informed in advance about a possible rejection of the application.

If compensatory measures have been specified in your decision and you have successfully completed them, please provide the evidence. After checking the evidence, the decision on state recognition can be issued.

The processing time is between 4 weeks and 3 months.

This processing period may be extended by one month in justified individual cases.

There is no deadline.

Action before the Administrative Court

• State recognition of a foreign university degree in the field of curative education
• It is checked whether the foreign university degree can be recognized as equivalent to a German degree in the field of curative education.
• Applications can be submitted digitally and by post
• responsible: Recognition Office for Foreign Educational Qualifications of the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences on behalf of the Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts (HMWK)

Please contact the Recognition Office for Foreign Educational Qualifications at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences.

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance required: No

Online services available: Yes