Gleichwertigkeit von ausländischen Berufsqualifikationen im zulassungspflichtigen Handwerk (Meisterprüfung) Feststellung

Would you like to work permanently in Germany as a self-employed person in a craft subject to licensing? Then you must be registered in the register of craftsmen. For this, you will need a specific professional qualification. You must have your foreign professional qualification recognised.

There are about 200 professions in the skilled trades in Germany. 53 of these professions are subject to licensing. These include, for example, the professions of baker, hairdresser and tiler.

The professions in the skilled trades subject to approval are also called: master craftsman professions. The master craftsman professions are regulated. This means that you are only allowed to work independently in these professions on a permanent basis if you are registered in the register of craftsmen. In order to be entered in the register of craftsmen, you must provide proof of a certain qualification in the respective craft profession (master craftsman's title).

Even with a professional qualification from abroad, you can be entered in the register of craftsmen. To do this, you must have your professional qualification recognised by the Chamber of Crafts. In the recognition procedure, the Chamber of Crafts compares your professional qualification with the German professional qualification.
The recognition procedure is called "equivalence determination".

If your professional qualification is equivalent, you can apply for registration in the register of craftsmen. However, they do not receive a championship title. The Chambers of Crafts and Crafts are responsible for determining equivalence in crafts subject to licensing. The Chambers of Crafts and Crafts will advise you before you submit your application and identify the right profession in the skilled trades for you.

Note: For citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, there is another recognition procedure: the granting of an exemption (§ 9 HwO). The Chambers of Crafts and Crafts will advise you on which recognition procedure is right for you.

The responsible Chamber of Crafts will tell you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are in general:

• Proof of identity (passport or identity card)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed as a result of marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of education
• Evidence of the type and duration of relevant professional experience
• If the profession is regulated in your country of training: a certificate stating that you are allowed to practice the profession in your country of training. The certificate must be from the competent authority of your country of training.
• Have you ever submitted an application for equivalence? Then indicate to which office you submitted the application.
• Perhaps: You come from a third country and do not yet live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? Then you have to prove that you want to work in the profession in Germany. Evidence includes, for example, applications for a job, invitations to job interviews or a location note from the Central Service Centre for Professional Recognition (ZSBA).
   

The Chamber of Crafts will tell you which documents you need to submit as a simple copy, as a certified copy or in the original.

You must submit your documents in German. Translations must be carried out by publicly appointed or authorised translators.

You may need to submit further documents during the recognition process. The Chamber of Crafts will inform you.

• You have a state-recognised professional qualification in a craft from abroad.
• Your professional qualification is equivalent to the German professional qualification.
• You want to work independently in Germany in this skilled trade, which is subject to licensing.

The costs generally depend on the amount of work involved.

In addition, there may be additional costs (e.g. for translations or certification of your documents). These costs vary from person to person.

Application

You submit an application for a determination of equivalence to the responsible Chamber of Crafts.
You may be able to send the application electronically. The responsible Chamber of Crafts will inform you. You can also submit the application with the documents to the competent authority or send it by post. Do not ship originals.
 

Equivalence test

The Chamber of Crafts will then compare your professional qualification with the German professional qualification and check its equivalence. If your professional qualification is equivalent, it will be recognised. You will then receive the notification of equivalence (notification of recognition).

Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? In this case, your professional qualification will not be recognised. You will then receive a notification of the differences in your professional qualifications. In most cases, you can take a compensatory action. This allows you to compensate for the essential differences.

Compensatory measures

There are various compensatory measures:

• Adaptation period
• Suitability test

The Chamber of Crafts decides which compensatory measure you have to take. That's what your notice says.

If you successfully complete the compensatory measure, you will receive the certificate of equivalence. With the notice of equivalence, you can be entered in the register of craftsmen. To do this, you must submit an application for registration in the register of craftsmen. That's a different procedure.

There is no deadline.

Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The Chamber of Crafts will then inform you by when you have to submit the documents.

Freedom to provide services

Do you only want to offer services in Germany sometimes and for a short time? In this case, you usually do not have to be entered in the register of craftsmen. So you don't need recognition. For citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, there is another recognition procedure: the granting of an exemption (§ 9 of the Crafts Code). The Chambers of Crafts will advise you on the procedure that is suitable for you.

Skills analysis

Have you completed formal training but no longer have all the necessary documents for the application? Then you may be able to prove your professional qualification through a skills analysis. This means that you can prove your professional skills in practice. The competent authority will inform you.
 

Procedure for ethnic German repatriates

As a late repatriate, you can either go through the recognition procedure in accordance with the laws mentioned here or in accordance with the Federal Expellees Act. This is up to you. The Chamber of Crafts will advise you on which procedure is right for you.

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (e.g. lodge an appeal). The decision will then be reviewed. Details on this can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. You should first talk to the relevant body before taking legal action against the decision.

• Equivalence of foreign professional qualifications in crafts subject to authorisation (master craftsman's examination) Determination
• In order to work permanently as a freelancer in a craft profession that requires a licence, you must be registered in the register of craftsmen.
• In order to be registered in the register of craftsmen, it is necessary to provide proof of a certain professional qualification in the craft profession.
• Even with a professional qualification from abroad, you can be entered in the register of craftsmen. For this, the professional qualification must be recognised.
• The recognition procedure is called "equivalence determination".
• The regional chambers of crafts are responsible for the procedure.

The Chamber of Crafts in Hesse in whose district the main commercial establishment is located is responsible. You are planning to set up a business or you are already working or living.