Ingenieurin und Ingenieur mit ausländischer Berufsqualifikation, Erlaubnis zum Führen der Berufsbezeichnung „Ingenieurin“ oder „Ingenieur“ beantragen

In order to use the professional title "engineer" in Germany, you need a permit. For the permit, you need recognition of your foreign professional qualification as an engineer.

The profession of engineer is regulated in Germany. The job title is specially protected. This means that you must provide proof of a specific qualification in order to use the professional title "engineer". You can apply for recognition of your professional qualification as proof of a foreign qualification. You can also submit the application for the recognition procedure from abroad.

In the recognition procedure, the competent authority compares your professional qualification from abroad with the professional qualification in the selected federal state. The procedure is called: equivalence assessment. You will receive a notification of the result of the equivalence assessment. The notification will state your professional qualifications. If you lack professional qualifications for recognition, the notification will also state the main differences.

In order to use the professional title "engineer", you must meet further requirements in addition to the equivalence of professional qualifications. You may have to prove these requirements at a later date:

• Main residence, establishment or predominant work in the chosen federal state. Or: You want to live or work in the chosen federal state soon.
• Personal suitability

If your qualification is equivalent and you meet all other requirements, you may use the professional title of "engineer".

• Application form from the competent authority
• Proof of identity (e.g. passport or identity card)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of your professional experience (e.g. job references)
• Proof of your other qualifications (e.g. professional training, seminars)
• Perhaps: Certificate assessment from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)
• Information about an application for recognition that has already been submitted. Then state the office to which you submitted the application.
• Do 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 the selected federal state (e.g. applications, entry visa for gainful employment, personal declaration).
• Perhaps: Proof of your personal aptitude: Certificate of good conduct (e.g. criminal record, certificate of good standing)
• If the profession is not regulated in your country of training, you may have to provide proof of: at least one year of professional experience in the profession in the last 10 years.
• If the profession is regulated in your country of training, then you may need to provide evidence: You are allowed to work in the profession in the country of training.
• Perhaps: Registration certificate of your residence in the respective federal state

The responsible office will tell you which documents you must present in the original or submit as a copy. Some copies must be officially certified. We recommend that you do not send originals by post.

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

• You have a completed professional qualification as an engineer from abroad.
• You have your main place of residence, your place of business or your main place of work in the selected federal state. Or: You want to live or work in the selected federal state soon.

You may also need to meet the following requirements:

• Personal suitability: You are reliable and have no criminal record.

Additional costs may also be incurred (e.g. for translations or notarization of your documents or compensation measures). These costs vary from case to case.

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the costs are based on the scale of fees of the M-V Chamber of Engineers.

You can hand in the application with the documents to the responsible office or send it by post. Do not send originals. Sometimes you can also send the application electronically. The responsible office will inform you.

The responsible office will receive the application. It will confirm that the application has been received after one month at the latest. Once the competent office has received all the documents from you, it will process your application.

The competent authority will then check: Is your professional qualification equivalent to the professional qualification in your federal state? For example, the content and duration of the training are important for the comparison. The competent body will also take into account your professional experience, other certificates of competence and qualifications.

The competent body often also checks the equivalence assessment:

• Have you completed a degree at a university? Or have you completed training at the same level?
• Did you mainly take examinations in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology (STEM subjects) during your studies?
• Did your studies last at least 3 years?
• Are you allowed to work as an engineer in the country where you studied?

You may need to submit additional documents. The responsible office will inform you.

The competent authority will then check other requirements for using the professional title. These include, for example, your place of residence or your intention to work in the selected federal state.

If your qualification is equivalent and you meet all other requirements, your professional qualification will be recognized. You may use the professional title "engineer". You will receive a certificate to this effect. You then have the same professional rights as a person with the German professional qualification.

Are there significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? Then your professional qualification will not be recognized. In most cases, you can then take a compensatory measure. This allows you to compensate for the main differences.

There are various compensation measures:

• Adaptation course: You work as an engineer. You will be supervised by a qualified person. You may have to do additional training.
• Aptitude test: In the aptitude test, only those areas in which significant differences have been identified are tested.

You can often choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test. If you successfully complete the compensation measure, you will receive recognition. You may use the professional title "engineer".

In some federal states, you may not be able to take a compensation measure if you have a qualification from a third country. In this case, you can complete a training measure. For example, you can take part in courses or do further training. You must organize your participation in the courses yourself. You can then submit a new application. The responsible office will inform you about your options.

The procedure must be completed within the shortest possible time, but no later than three months after submission of the complete dossier.
However, this period may be extended by one month in cases falling under Chapters II and III of Title III of Directive 2005/36/EC.

None.

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

Further information on recognition in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can be found on the website of the MV Chamber of Engineers.

Working without recognition

You can also work without recognition, e.g. as an employee in an engineering office.

However, the job title "engineer" is specially protected. You are not allowed to use the professional title. This also applies to a word combination with the professional title.

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 recognition. You must meet 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 or register your activity in writing with the competent authority.
• You may have to provide proof of At least one year of professional experience in the profession in the last 10 years.
• If you are self-employed, the following may also apply: You must have appropriate professional indemnity insurance.

Certificate evaluation of a foreign university qualification

A certificate evaluation can facilitate your access to the German labor market. The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) will assess your certificate. Please note: The certificate evaluation does not replace the recognition of your professional qualification. You can only obtain recognition of your professional qualification from the competent authority.

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. The decision will then be reviewed. Details of this procedure can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first speak to an advice center before appealing or taking legal action.

• Engineers with foreign professional qualifications, apply for recognition
• Application for authorization to use the professional title "engineer"
• In order to be allowed to work as an engineer without restrictions, the foreign professional qualification must be recognized.
• Recognition is necessary in order to apply for permission to use the professional title "engineer"
• The recognition procedure checks whether the foreign professional qualification is equivalent to the German professional qualification.
• If there are significant differences, compensatory measures or training measures can usually be taken.
• The application for recognition can also be submitted from abroad.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Chamber of Engineers

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Chamber of Engineers

Forms can be obtained from the responsible office.