Recognition process in Germany
If you have completed vocational training or graduate studies outside Germany, your qualifications must be officially recognized in order to be allowed to work in allied occupations in Germany. It depends on your job and your country of origin.
Regulated professions require official recognition
You can only work in regulated professions in Germany, if you have certain qualifications. This applies, for example, to too many occupations in the health service, legal advice, teaching in state schools, and engineering. Some master craft workers who run a business also have restrictions.
If you want to work in one of these restricted professions, you will always need a certificate of official recognition of your foreign qualifications, regardless of your country of origin. In the case of regulated occupations, the decision regarding official recognition is usually made in accordance with the procedure required for granting a license to practice employment.
Non-regulated professions may require official recognition
Most jobs in Germany are not regulated. This includes jobs that require qualifications achieved in the dual system of vocational training, for example, several jobs that require a university degree. To be allowed to work as a business economist, computer scientist, or baker in Germany, for example, you do not have to accept your foreign qualifications. Recognition of foreign professional qualifications or comparison of a university degree is usually a prerequisite for issuing a visa to citizens of third countries. Third countries are countries outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland.
There is no accreditation procedure for higher education qualifications that do not lead to a restricted occupation, such as a biologist, physician, or linguist, as there are for regulated professions or qualifications in dual vocational training. In order for people from a third country with such higher education qualifications to obtain a residence permit, they must prove that their foreign academic qualifications are comparable to those in Germany.
