Anerkennung einer ausländischen Berufsqualifikation in einem zulassungsfreien Handwerksberuf oder handwerksähnlichen Gewerbe (Meisterprüfung) beantragen

Would you like to work permanently in Germany in an unlicensed craft or craft-like trade at master craftsman level? Then you can have your foreign professional qualification officially recognized in the skilled crafts sector.

There are around 200 different professions in the skilled trades in Germany. Of these, 53 professions are subject to licensing. This means that you may only work independently in these professions on a permanent basis if you have the necessary professional qualifications. Special regulations apply to these 53 regulated professions. All other professions in the skilled trades are not regulated. This means: If you want to work permanently self-employed in these professions, you do not need a specific professional qualification.

Note: For self-employed work, you must register with the competent body. This is a different procedure.

However, you have the right to a recognition procedure. The procedure is called "equivalence determination".

You will receive a notice about the result of the procedure. The notice will list your existing professional qualifications and any qualifications you may still lack.

The notification enables employers to better assess your professional qualifications. For specialists from third countries, a recognition procedure is usually a prerequisite for the issuance of a visa. Third countries are all countries outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

The regional chambers of skilled crafts are responsible for determining equivalence in the skilled crafts sector. In some cases, the chambers of industry and commerce are also responsible. The responsible offices will advise you before you apply and identify the appropriate occupation in the skilled crafts for you.

You can also apply for an equivalence assessment from abroad.

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

• Proof of identity (passport or identity card)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualification (for example, certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of education
• Certificate of the type and duration of relevant professional experience
• Have you ever applied for an equivalence assessment? If so, please indicate the office to which you submitted the application.
• Perhaps: You come from a third country and do not yet live or work in the EU, EEA or Switzerland? Then you must prove: You want to work in Germany in the profession. Evidence includes, for example, applications for a job, invitations to interviews or a location note from the Central Service Office for Professional Recognition (ZSBA).
  

The competent office will tell you which documents you need to submit as a simple copy, as a certified copy or as an original.

You must submit your documents in German, and the translations must be done by publicly appointed or authorized translators.

You may need to submit additional documents in the course of the recognition procedure. The responsible office will inform you.

• You have a state-recognized professional qualification in a craft from abroad.
• You would like to work in the profession in Germany.

The costs generally depend on the effort required for processing.

In addition, further costs may be incurred (for example, for translations or certifications of your documents). These costs vary individually.

Application

You submit an application for equivalency determination to the responsible office.
You may be able to send the application electronically. The competent office will inform you. You can also hand in the application with the documents to the competent body or send it by mail. Do not send originals.

Checking the equivalence

The competent body will then check: Is your professional qualification equivalent to the German professional qualification? In doing so, the competent body compares the qualifications with the help of certain criteria. Important criteria are the content and duration of the training. The competent body also takes into account your professional experience, your other certificates of competence and qualifications when carrying out the equivalence test.

Possible results of the examination

You will receive a notice with the result of the procedure. You will receive recognition if your professional qualification and the German professional qualification are equivalent.

Sometimes there are significant differences between the professional qualifications. The differences are listed in your notification. You can use this decision to obtain further qualifications and later submit a new application for equivalence.

If your professional qualification is not equivalent at all, you will not receive recognition.

There is no deadline.

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

Qualification analysis

You have completed a formal education, but you no longer have all the necessary documents for the application? Then you may be able to prove your professional qualification through a qualification analysis. This means: you can practically prove your professional competences. The responsible office will inform you.

Procedure for late repatriates

As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either according to the laws mentioned here or according to the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide this yourself. The competent office will advise you which procedure suits you.

You can take legal action (for example, file an appeal) against the decision of the responsible office within a certain period of time. The decision will then be reviewed. Details on this can be found in the appeal instructions at the end of your decision. You should first talk to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

• Equivalence of foreign professional qualifications in crafts that are not subject to registration or in crafts similar to crafts (master craftsman's examination) Determination
• You do not need a specific professional qualification for professions in the unregulated skilled crafts sector. However, one has the right to a recognition procedure.
• For skilled workers abroad, a recognized professional qualification is usually a prerequisite for the issuance of a visa.
• The procedure is called "equivalence determination".
• The regional chambers of skilled crafts are responsible for determining equivalence in the skilled crafts sector. In some cases, the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) are also responsible.