Europäischen Berufsausweis beantragen

The European Professional Card (EPC) allows you to have certain professional qualifications recognized within the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) via an online procedure.

The European Professional Card is an electronic proof of recognition of your professional qualification in another country of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). The professional card is issued to you upon application in an online procedure (EBA procedure). The EBA procedure is simple and fast.

You can currently apply for the European Professional Card for the following professional qualifications from the EU and EEA:
Health care worker (nurse for general care)

• Pharmacist
• Physiotherapist
• Mountain guide
• Real estate agent (Immobilienmaklerin or Immobilienmakler)

The European Professional Card offers advantages:

• The competent body in your country of origin will help you with your application and check that it is correctly filled in and complete. The competent body will also check the authenticity and validity of your documents.
• The competent body in the host country then automatically receives all documents and verifies your professional qualification (professional recognition). Through the online procedure, you always know where your documents are being processed.
• Your documents remain in the online system. If you move to another host country, you can submit a new application more quickly.
• If the competent body in the host country does not make a decision within the specified period, you will automatically receive the professional certificate.
• You can obtain a certificate as a PDF file and present it to a potential employer. The employer can check the certificate online.

Note: Even with the European Professional Card, you often still need to apply for a special permit to work in the profession. You will also need to prove your language skills in the language of the host country for some professions.

The points of single contact or the competent authorities of the host country will support you in the procedure.

The documents required depend on the profession for which you are applying for the European Professional Card. The electronic application wizard on the European Commission website will tell you which documents are required.

As a rule, the following documents are required:

• Proof of identity (passport or identity card).
• If your name has changed: Your marriage certificate or an equivalent official document
• Diploma or degree certificate of your professional qualification
• Proof that you are allowed to practice the profession in your country of origin and that you have not been convicted of a criminal offense (Certificate of Good Standing)
• Possibly a certificate of conformity
• Possibly a health certificate

Note: You may need to have the documents translated into the language of the host country. The translations must be done by publicly appointed or authorized translators.

You need one of the following professional qualifications from a country in the EU or EEA:

• Nurse Practitioner (general care nurse).
• Pharmacist
• Physiotherapist
• Mountain guide
• Real estate agent (Immobilienmaklerin or Immobilienmakler)

If you did not obtain your professional qualification in the EU or EEA, you may also be able to apply for a European Professional Card. The following requirements apply:

• Your professional qualification has already been recognized in a country of the EU or EEA, and
• You have practiced your profession in that country for at least three years after your professional qualification was recognized.

Costs may be incurred in the country of origin and the host country for processing your application. The costs differ depending on the country and profession.

You can estimate the costs in advance on the European Commission's website on the European Professional Card.

In addition, there may be other costs (e.g. for translations and certification of your documents). These costs vary individually.

To apply for the European Professional Card, you need an online account with the European Commission.

• The online account at the European Commission is free of charge. You register with the authentication service of the European Commission ("EU Login").
• Then you create your profile with your personal data (identity card or passport number, name, nationality) and your contact data (address, e-mail address, telephone number, etc.). The information about yourself will be in your European Professional Card.
• After you have created your profile, you can apply for the European Professional Card. To do this, go to the European Commission's European Professional Card website and select "Access the EBA procedure".
• When applying, you will find out which documents the host country requires for the recognition of your professional qualification. You can upload the documents directly. Please upload each document as a separate file.
• The responsible office will process your application and possibly send it to the responsible office in the host country for further processing.
• Once you have sent your application, you cannot change the information about yourself. An update can only be made by the competent office that is processing your application. However, you can update your contact information at any time.
• After your application has been approved, you will be able to create an EBA certificate in PDF format. The EBA certificate contains a reference number. With this reference number, your future employer can check the validity of your European Professional Card online.
• If your application is rejected, you will receive a decision. You can take legal action against the decision of the competent body. The decision will then be reviewed. Details on this can be found in the appeal instructions at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

Note: The competent office in your country of origin will confirm within one week that your documents have arrived. It will inform you if any documents are missing.

The processing time depends on your profession and whether you want to work temporarily or permanently in the host country. If your occupation may have public health and safety implications, special screening may be required in the host country.

Temporary occupation (service).

• Maximum of 3 weeks if no special verification is needed in the host country.
• Maximum 4 months if special review is required in host country. The competent body in the country of origin will review your application in a maximum of one month. Subsequently, the competent body in the host country will decide in a maximum of 3 months.

Permanent activity (settlement)

• Maximum 4 months for professions without automatic recognition. The competent body in the country of origin examines your application in a maximum of one month. Subsequently, the competent body in the host country decides in a maximum of 3 months.
• Maximum of 3 months for professions with automatic recognition (pharmacist, health care worker and nurse). The competent body in the country of origin examines your application in a maximum of one month. Subsequently, the competent body in the host country will decide in a maximum of 2 months.

Note: If the competent body in the host country does not make a decision within the above-mentioned time periods, your professional qualification is automatically considered recognized.

Period of validity of the European Professional Card:

• In case of temporary activity (service): 18 months in most cases. if your profession could have an impact on public health and safety and is not automatically recognized (e.g. physiotherapists and mountain guides): 12 months
• in case of permanent activity (establishment): indefinitely

For other professional qualifications, you must go through the regular recognition procedures of the host country. For more information, please contact the relevant Single Point of Contact.

• European Professional Card (EPC)
• English: European Professional Card (EPC)
• The European Professional Card is an online procedure of the European Union (EU)
• With the European Professional Card one can have certain professional qualifications recognized within the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA)
• You can use the European Professional Card if you want to work permanently or temporarily in another country of the EU or the EEA.
• Currently, you can apply for the European Professional Card for the following professional qualifications:
  • Health care worker (nurse for general care)
  • Pharmacist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Mountain guide
  • Real estate agent
• The European Professional Card is not an identity document or card it is an online procedure; the applicant receives a certificate that can be checked online
• Attention: Even with the professional card, you may still have to apply for a professional license or a permit to use the professional title; only then may you work in the profession or use the professional title.
• The competent body and the points of single contact provide support in the procedure
• Responsible: the respective competent bodies in the country of origin and the host country

Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training
Robert-Schuman-Platz 3
53175 Bonn

Internet: www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de
E-mail: beratungszentrum@bibb.de

Telephone: +49 228 107-2527

Call times:
Mon. 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tues. 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Wed. 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Thu. 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Forms: no

Online procedure possible: yes

Written form required: no

Personal appearance required: no