Anerkennung als Veterinärmedizinisch-technische Assistenzkraft mit Berufsqualifikation aus EU/EWR/Schweiz beantragen

§ Section 75 of the Medical Technology Professions Act (MT-Berufe-Gesetz - MTBG)

• i.V.m. § Section 1 (1) no. 4, Section 2 (1-4) of the Act on Technical Assistants in Medicine in the version valid on December 31, 2022
• in conjunction with §§ Sections 25, 25a, 25c of the Training and Examination Ordinance for Technical Assistants in Medicine in the version valid on December 31, 2022

Would you like to work in Germany as a veterinary medical-technical assistant? Then you need a state permit. You can have your foreign professional qualification recognized for this.

The profession of veterinary medical-technical assistant is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to work as a veterinary medical-technical assistant in Germany, you need a state license. With this permit, you can use the job title "veterinary medical technical assistant" and work in the profession.

If you have a professional qualification from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can also obtain a state permit from the competent authority in Germany.

In order to obtain the permit, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognized.

On January 1, 2023, the training of professions in medical technology was reformed in Germany. The new law on professions in medical technology applies. The profession on this basis is called medical technologist for veterinary medicine or medical technologist for veterinary medicine. There is a transitional period for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications on the basis of the old law on technical assistants in medicine. Until 31.12.2026, foreign professional qualifications may still be recognized as veterinary medical technical assistants on a transitional basis. The competent authority will advise you.

In the recognition procedure, the competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks the equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of the state permit.

In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must also meet other requirements for the permit to be issued. Further requirements include, for example, sufficient German language skills and health suitability.

If your professional qualification does not originate from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply.

You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.

Anyone wishing to use the professional title of veterinary medical technical assistant requires a separate permit in accordance with the Act on Technical Assistants in Medicine (MTA Act - MTAG). According to § 9 and § 10 of the MTA Act, certain activities may only be carried out by certain persons (reserved activities). The requirements for the granting of permission to use the professional title are set out in the MTA Act. The basis for practising the profession of veterinary medical technical assistant is the completion of the prescribed training and passing the state examination (examination in accordance with the Training and Examination Ordinance for Technical Assistants in Medicine - MTA-APrV) or a professional qualification recognized as equivalent.

The equivalence of the level of training is recognized if

• the applicants submit proof of training which shows that they have already been recognized as a veterinary medical technical assistant in another contracting state of the European Economic Area,
• they have three years' professional experience as a veterinary technical assistant in the territory of the Member State which recognized the evidence of formal qualifications, and
• the Member State that recognized the training certifies this professional experience or if the applicant's training does not differ significantly from the training regulated in this Act and in the Training and Examination Ordinance for Technical Assistants in Medicine (Section 2 (2) MTAG).

The equivalence of the level of training is deemed to be fulfilled if a European Professional Card or a diploma obtained in another contracting state of the European Economic Area shows that the holder has acquired training that is required in that state for direct access to a profession corresponding to the profession of veterinary medical technical assistant.

An aptitude test or the completion of a training course lasting a maximum of three years is required for applicants with proof of training from a contracting state of the European Economic Area if

• the training differs significantly from the training prescribed in the Training and Examination Ordinance for Technical Assistants in Medicine or
• the profession of veterinary technical assistant includes one or more regulated activities that are not part of the profession corresponding to that of veterinary technical assistant in the applicant's country of origin, and if the training for these activities relates to subjects or areas of practical training in accordance with this Act and the Training and Examination Ordinance for Technical Assistants in Medicine that differ significantly from those covered by the applicant's training.

Significant differences can be compensated for by professional experience or lifelong learning (Section 2 (3) MTAG, Section 25a MTA-APrV).
If the submitted training certificate, which was obtained in a third country, shows significant differences to the German training that cannot be compensated for by the knowledge and skills acquired in professional practice, a knowledge test must be taken or an adaptation course with examination must be completed in accordance with the MTA-APrV (Section 25b MTA-APrV).

For persons from member states of the European Union, another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or Switzerland who have completed training in the field of veterinary technical assistance, partial access to the profession of veterinary technical assistant can also be confirmed upon application (Section 2 para. 3b MTAG).

Service providers within the meaning of Article 50 of the EC Treaty may temporarily and occasionally exercise their profession within the scope of the MTA Act if they fulfill the requirements described in the MTA Act. The competent authority must be notified in advance.

• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of training
• Proof of your relevant professional experience as a veterinary technical assistant
• Proof of other relevant knowledge for working as a veterinary technical assistant
• Perhaps: You come from a third country and do not yet live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? Then you must provide proof: You want to work in the profession in Germany. Proof includes, for example, applying for an entry visa for employment, job applications, invitations to job interviews, a business concept or a location note from the Central Service Agency for Professional Recognition (ZSBA).

You usually submit these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when you should submit the documents:

• Proof of your personal suitability: criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
• Proof of your health suitability: Medical certificate. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
• Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate

The responsible office will let you know which documents you need to submit as a simple copy, a certified copy or the original.

Documents are required to prove that the requirements for the granting of a license in accordance with Section 2 of the MTA Act have been met:

• Certificate of successful completion of the examination in accordance with the MTA-APrV or proof of training recognized as equivalent to the examination in accordance with the MTA-APrV,
• Official certificate of good conduct or corresponding certificate from the home member state, not older than three months,
• own declaration that no criminal proceedings under professional law and no investigation proceedings by the public prosecutor are pending against the applicant,
• Medical certificate stating that the applicant is not unfit to practise the profession from a health point of view or corresponding proof from the home Member State, not older than three months,
• Proof that the applicant has the necessary knowledge of the German language to exercise the profession*.

In addition, the following documents may be required:

• Identity card or passport with current registration confirmation,
• short curriculum vitae,
• for applicants whose training certificate is not recognized as equivalent to the MTA-APrV examination:
  • For training certificates from the EU or EEA: certificate of successful completion of the aptitude test or certificate of completion of the adaptation period
  • For training certificates from third countries: Certificate of successful completion of the knowledge test or certificate of successful completion of the adaptation period

The required documents/evidence must be submitted as originals, officially certified copies or officially certified photocopies. If the documents/evidence are not issued in German, they must also be submitted in an officially recognized translation.

*In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, proof of the language skills required to carry out the professional activity must be provided in a personal interview or by submitting a corresponding language certificate.

• You have a professional qualification as a veterinary medical-technical assistant from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
• You want to work in Germany as a veterinary medical-technical assistant.
• Personal suitability: You are reliable for work as a veterinary medical technical assistant and have no criminal record.
• Health suitability: You are mentally and physically fit to work as a veterinary medical technical assistant.
• You have German language skills at the required level. This is normally language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The responsible office will inform you of the costs. The costs generally depend on the time and effort required for processing.

Additional costs may be incurred (e.g. for translations, certifications or compensatory measures). These costs vary from case to case.

Application

You submit an application to the competent authority for permission to use the professional title "veterinary medical technical assistant". You can submit the application with the documents to the competent authority or send it by post. Do not send originals. Sometimes you can also send the application electronically. The responsible office will inform you.

Examination of equivalence

The competent body will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent body will compare your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a veterinary medical-technical assistant. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

Possible results of the examination

If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The competent authority can confirm the result in writing. You must still meet the other requirements. You will then receive permission to use the professional title "Veterinary medical technical assistant".

Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? You may be able to compensate for the differences through your professional experience, other knowledge or skills (lifelong learning). You must provide evidence of your professional experience. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority in the country in which you acquired the knowledge or skills.

However, it may be that the significant differences cannot be compensated for by this knowledge. In this case, your foreign professional qualification will not be recognized. You will then not be allowed to work as a veterinary medical-technical assistant in Germany.

However, the competent authority will tell you the main differences and why you cannot compensate for the main differences with your professional experience.

In most cases, you can take a compensatory measure. This allows you to compensate for the main differences.

Compensatory measures

There are various compensatory measures:

• Adaptation course: The adaptation course lasts a maximum of three years.
• Aptitude test: In the aptitude test, only those areas in which significant differences have been identified are tested. The aptitude test is an interview.

You can choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test.

If you successfully complete the compensation measure and meet all other requirements, you will receive permission to use the job title "veterinary medical-technical assistant".

Depending on the individual case and the completeness of the application documents, several weeks.

none

Freedom to provide services

Do you only want to offer services in Germany occasionally and for a short time? Then you usually do not need a state permit. You must fulfill these requirements:

• You must be established in another EU or EEA member state or in Switzerland.
• You must provide proof of your professional qualification.
• You must notify the competent authority of your activity in writing.

The competent authority will inform you whether you are permitted to provide services or whether you need to take an aptitude test.

Notification of equivalence

The equivalence assessment (recognition procedure) also takes place during the authorization procedure. You can apply for a separate decision on the result of the examination.

Procedure for ethnic German repatriates

As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either in accordance with the laws mentioned here or in accordance with the Federal Expellee Act. You can decide for yourself. The responsible office 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 (for example, by lodging an objection). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first speak to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

• Permission to use the professional title of veterinary medical-technical assistant with professional qualification from the EU/EEA/Switzerland Issue
• A state permit is required in Germany to work as a veterinary medical-technical assistant.
• With this permit, you can officially call yourself a "veterinary medical technical assistant" and work in the profession.
• Professional qualifications from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland can also be used to obtain a state license in Germany.
• On January 1, 2023, the training for medical technology professions in Germany was reformed. The new law on professions in medical technology applies. The profession on this basis is called medical technologist for veterinary medicine or medical technologist for veterinary medicine. There is a transitional period for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications on the basis of the old law on technical assistants in medicine. Until 31.12.2026, foreign professional qualifications may still be recognized as veterinary medical technical assistants on a transitional basis.

Ministry for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas and the Environment M-V
Department 5, Division 520

Ministry for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas and the Environment M-V
Department 5, Division 520

Forms available: No
Written form required: Yes
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance necessary: No
Online services available: No