Eintragung in die Handwerksrolle mit ausländischer Berufsqualifikation auf Grundlage einer Gleichwertigkeitsfeststellung

§ Section 6 of the Crafts Code (HwO)

§ Section 7 of the Crafts Code (HwO)

§ Section 50c of the Crafts Code (HwO)

If you would like to practice a craft requiring a license on your own, you can determine the equivalence of your professional qualification acquired abroad with a domestic master craftsman qualification and then have yourself entered in the register of craftsmen.

You must be registered in the Register of Craftsmen if you wish to operate a craft requiring a license in Germany.
This also applies if

• you wish to carry out a significant part of a craft requiring a license on a self-employed basis.
• you want to carry out several trades requiring a license on a self-employed basis. In this case, you need to be entered in the register of craftsmen for each craft requiring a license.

Registration in the Register of Craftsmen is possible for

• natural or legal persons and
• partnerships with legal capacity.

In addition to the business, the management of the business is also entered in the register. The management of a skilled crafts business must meet the professional requirements for practising the skilled crafts requiring a license. Both the owner or proprietor of a skilled crafts business and employed persons are eligible as management. Proof of qualification can be a master craftsman's certificate for the respective trade, but also an equivalent domestic or foreign professional qualification. In this respect, it is possible to have the equivalence of a professional qualification acquired abroad established with a domestic master craftsman qualification:

• You will receive the determination of equivalence if you have acquired proof of training abroad which - taking into account other proof of qualification - is equivalent to the master craftsman's examination in the craft to be practiced.
• This procedure applies regardless of nationality and for all professional qualifications, regardless of where they were acquired.

Once equivalence has been determined, you must be entered in the Register of Craftsmen.

1. Sole proprietorship:

• Copy of identity card or comparable identification document
• Presentation of the notice of equivalence assessment
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted after entry in the register of craftsmen)

1. Companies under civil law (GbR):

• Copies of the identity card or comparable identification documents of the partners or authorized representatives
• Copy of the articles of association (if not concluded informally)
• Presentation of the notice of equivalence assessment
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted after entry in the register of craftsmen)

1. Commercial partnerships with legal capacity - general partnership (OHG), limited partnership (KG) and corresponding foreign company forms:

• Copies of the identity cards or comparable identification documents of the shareholders or persons authorized to represent the company
• for proof of the company's legal form if the company is based in Germany:
  • for companies entered in the commercial register: extract from the register, for OHGs additionally a copy of the articles of association
  • if no entry has been made in the register: copy of the articles of association
• for proof of the legal form of the company in the case of foreign legal forms:
  • Extract from the relevant foreign register for companies entered in registers, otherwise - copy of the articles of association
• Presentation of the notice of equivalence determination
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted after entry in the register of craftsmen)

1. Legal entities - limited liability company (GmbH), limited liability entrepreneurial company (UG), public limited company (AG), registered cooperative (eG):

• Copies of the identity cards or comparable identification documents of the persons authorized to represent the company
• for proof of the company's legal form:
• for companies based in Germany: extract from the commercial or cooperative register
• for foreign legal forms: Extract from the relevant foreign register
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted subsequently after entry in the register of craftsmen)
• Details of the company management

1. If a manager is employed, the following documents must also be submitted:

• Declaration of management
• Proof of management activity (copy of employment contract)
• Proof of social insurance for the plant manager
• Submission of the notice of equivalence assessment

• As part of the equivalence assessment, it is checked whether the training certificate acquired abroad - taking into account other certificates of competence - is equivalent to the domestic master craftsman's examination in the desired craft.
• If necessary, the applicant's knowledge and skills can be verified by means of suitable procedures such as work samples, technical interviews and practical and theoretical examinations.
• If the proven professional qualifications are not equivalent, participation in an adaptation period or taking an aptitude test may be considered in order to compensate for the deficits identified.

The specific fee can be found in the Chamber of Crafts' schedule of fees, which is available on the Chamber's website.which is available on the Chamber's website.

• The competent authority must confirm receipt of the documents within 2 weeks and inform you whether any documents are missing.
• If the documents are complete, a decision on your application should be made within 2 months.
• The deadline can be extended once if this is justified due to the special nature of the matter.

In addition, the deadline may be extended if additional information on the content and duration of the submitted training certificate is required.

You can only practice a craft requiring a license if you are entered in the register of craftsmen. The determination of equivalence prior to the actual entry in the Register of Craftsmen is time-consuming and should therefore be applied for in good time.

In Lower Saxony, the legal remedy is to take legal action before the competent administrative court, as there is no longer any provision for preliminary proceedings under administrative law.

• Register of skilled craftsmen Registration of persons with professional qualifications acquired abroad on the basis of an equivalence assessment
• there is a legal obligation to be entered in the register of craftsmen in order to exercise a craft requiring a license
• Entry in the Register of Craftsmen is possible for
• natural persons or legal entities
• and partnerships with legal capacity
• For entry in the register of craftsmen, a successfully completed master craftsman's examination is generally required
• Determination of equivalence possible for nationals of other countries: Possibility to have the equivalence of a professional qualification acquired abroad determined with a domestic master craftsman qualification in a craft requiring a license
• Entry in the Register of Craftsmen must also be available for the management of the company
• Application form to download from the website of the relevant Chamber of Crafts or online application via administrative portals
• Fees are based on the fee schedule of the respective Chamber of Skilled Crafts, which can be viewed on the Chamber's website

Responsible: Chamber of Skilled Crafts in whose district the commercial establishment is located

Responsibility lies with the Chamber of Crafts in whose district the commercial establishment is located.