Anerkennung als Sozialpädagogin oder Sozialarbeiterin und Sozialpädagoge oder Sozialarbeiter mit Berufsausbildung aus dem Ausland beantragen

Would you like to work permanently in Germany as a social pedagogue or social pedagogue? Then you must have your foreign professional qualification recognised.

The profession of social pedagogue or social worker is regulated in Germany. This means that you must prove a certain qualification in order to be allowed to work in the profession. If you have a foreign professional qualification as a social pedagogue, you can work in this profession in the selected federal state under certain conditions.

To do this, you must submit an application with all the necessary documents to the competent state authority.

In the recognition procedure, the body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the professional qualification in the selected federal state and makes an equivalence determination.

You will receive feedback after your application has been reviewed. If your professional qualification is equivalent and you meet the other requirements, you will receive state recognition. Then you may use the professional title "state-approved social pedagogue" or "state-approved social worker".
 

If you lack professional qualifications for recognition, the notification will state the main differences. You can then make a compensatory measure.

• Application
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• Proof of your professional qualification
• Evidence of formal qualifications
• Proof of professional experience as a social pedagogue or social worker
• Proof of other qualifications
• Certificate that the profession may be practised in the country of training
• Information on applications for recognition that have already been submitted. Then indicate to which body you have submitted the application.

You usually hand in these documents later. The competent authority will inform you when to hand in the documents:

• Proof of your personal suitability: for example, extract from the criminal record or certificate of good conduct
• Proof of your medical fitness: medical certificate
• Proof of your German language skills: language certificate

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

• Equivalence of your professional qualification
• They must be entitled to practise the profession in the country of training.

For state recognition, you must meet the other requirements. These are usually:
 

• Personal suitability: You are reliable for work as a social pedagogue or social worker and social pedagogue or social worker and have no criminal record.
• Health suitability: You can work mentally and physically in the profession.
• You have German language skills at the required language level.

between EUR 20 and EUR 182

You can submit the application to the competent Land authority. You must submit all necessary documents in the original or in the form of certified copies to the competent authority.

The competent authority then checks: Is your professional qualification with the professional qualification in Equivalent to your federal state? For example, the content of the training and the duration of the training are important for the comparison. The competent body shall also take into account your professional experience, other qualifications and qualifications.

The competent authority shall then examine the further requirements. If your professional qualification is equivalent and you meet all other requirements, you will receive state recognition. They may then use the professional title "state-approved social pedagogue" or "state-approved social worker".

If the competent authority is unable to establish equivalence, you will receive a notification explaining the main differences. To compensate for significant differences, you can make a compensatory measure.

If you successfully complete the compensatory measure and meet the other requirements, you will receive state recognition.

There is no deadline.

The application will be rejected if you have been convicted of an intentionally committed criminal offence and this results in unfitness for vocational training.

State recognition is revoked if the reason for refusal occurs subsequently.

State recognition shall be withdrawn if it subsequently becomes known that the conditions for granting the grant have not been met.

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (for example, file an objection). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on the right of appeal at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to the competent authority before taking legal action against the decision.

• Permission to use the professional title Social pedagogue or social pedagogue with professional qualifications from abroad
• The profession is regulated. This means that you have to prove a certain qualification in order to be allowed to work in the profession.
• The competent body will check the equivalence of your professional qualification.
• Documents to be submitted: curriculum vitae, proof of identity, proof of training, professional experience as a social pedagogue, other qualifications, information on applications already submitted
• The acknowledgement of receipt of the application shall be made one month after the application has been submitted. Any missing documents will be requested.
• Processing time: 3 months from receipt of all necessary documents. In certain cases, the competent body may prolong the procedure.
• If substantial differences are found, a compensatory measure may be taken.
• responsible: Landesverwaltungsamt Sachsen-Anhalt - Landesprüfungsamt für Gesundheitsberufe

Landesverwaltungsamt Sachsen-Anhalt - Landesprüfungsamt für Gesundheitsberufe

The application shall be submitted in writing. It may be placed informally.

Online service available: no