Anerkennung als Innenarchitektin und Innenarchitekt mit Berufsqualifikation aus dem Ausland beantragen

Have you obtained a degree in interior design abroad and gained professional experience? If you would like to practice your profession in Germany, you can apply for registration in the list of architects in your federal state.

The profession of interior designer is regulated in Germany. The job title is specially protected. This means that you need to be registered in the list of architects if you wish to use the professional title "interior designer" in Germany.

You can also apply for jobs on the job market and work as an interior designer without being entered in the relevant list of architects. However, you may not then use the legally protected professional title "interior designer" and "interior architect" and are not authorized to submit building plans.

If you are entered in the list of architects, you are, for example, also entitled to make a specialist building submission. This means that you may sign building plans for changes to buildings as the person responsible. You can also apply for entry in the list of architects in Germany with a qualification obtained abroad. This will be arranged by the relevant State Chamber of Architects after your documents have been checked.

The responsible State Chamber of Architects will compare your professional qualification from abroad with the professional qualification in the selected federal state. The procedure is called: equivalence assessment.

• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• Proof of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of the content and duration of your training (e.g. diploma supplement, transcript of records)
• Proof of further training and certificates of professional experience
• Additional evidence of professional experience and other qualifications
• Declaration as to whether an application for determination of equivalence has already been submitted
• Certificate of establishment or registration certificate of residence in the respective federal state
• If applicable: proof of your personal suitability (e.g. certificate of good conduct, criminal record, certificate of good standing)
• Perhaps: Certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)

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.

• Equivalence of your professional qualification
• You must have at least 2 years of professional experience as an interior designer.

In order to use the professional title "interior designer", you must meet further requirements in addition to the equivalence of your professional qualification. You may have to prove these requirements at a later date:

• Your place of business or main residence must be in the respective federal state or your predominant work must take place there. Or: You want to live or work in the federal state soon.
• Personal suitability: You are reliable to work as an interior designer and have no criminal record.

You apply for entry in the list of architects at the respective Chamber of Architects:

• First submit your application and the required documents to the Chamber of Architects of the federal state in which you wish to work.
• If necessary, you will be asked to submit any missing documents.
• The competent body will carry out an equivalence check. The competent body will check whether your foreign professional qualification is equivalent to the German professional qualification as an interior designer.
• If your professional qualification is recognized and you meet the other requirements, you will be registered with the Chamber of Architects. You can then use the professional title "interior designer" in Germany. You will receive a certificate for this.

If significant differences are found, the equivalence of your professional qualification as an interior designer will not be certified. Then the following happens:

• You will receive a statement of reasons.
• You can take a compensatory measure to prove the missing knowledge. You can often choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test.

If you successfully complete the compensation measure and meet the other requirements, you will be entered in the list of architects. You may then use the professional title "interior architect".

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (for example, by lodging an appeal). 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.

• Appeal
• You will find further information on how to lodge an objection in the notification of your application

• Interior designer with professional qualification from abroad List of architects (specializing in interior design) Registration
• Registration in the list of architects is required to use the professional title.
• The competent authority checks whether there is equivalence between the foreign and domestic qualifications.
• Requirements: Equivalence of the professional qualification, personal suitability, at least 2 years of professional experience as an interior designer, residence or establishment in the respective federal state.
• Processing time: within 3 months of receipt of the complete documents
• If equivalence is not established, an aptitude test or participation in an adaptation period will be offered.
• Responsible: State Chambers of Architects

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Chamber of Architects