Gleichwertigkeit Feststellung Berufe im Handwerk mit Berufsqualifikation aus dem Ausland

There are around 200 different professions in the skilled trades in Germany.

For 41 professions in the skilled trades, you need a specific professional qualification. These are the "trades requiring a license". Only with the necessary professional qualification may you work independently in these professions on a permanent basis. Further regulations apply to these 41 regulated professions.

All other trades are not regulated. This means that if you want to work in these professions on a permanent basis, you do not need a specific professional qualification.
You do not have to have your foreign professional qualification recognized. However, you do have the right to a recognition procedure. The procedure is called "equivalence assessment". An equivalence assessment has advantages for you:

• At the end of the procedure, you will receive a notice of equivalence. The notification is proof of your professional qualification.
• The decision is an official and legally binding document. You and your employer can rely on its contents.
• The certificate increases your chances on the job market. Employers can better assess your professional qualification with the certificate.

The relevant offices will advise you before you submit your application

The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally

• Proof of identity (passport or identity card)
• List in tabular form of your training and professional experience (curriculum vitae)
• Proof of training
• Certificate of the type and duration of relevant professional experience
• a declaration that you have not yet submitted an application for equivalence assessment
• Possibly proof that you wish to work in Germany

The competent authority will inform you which documents you must submit in the original or as a certified copy.
You must submit your documents in German. The translations must be made by publicly appointed or authorized translators.

• You have formal training in the skilled trades from abroad.
• Sou would like to work in Germany in the profession in question.

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 or notarizations). These costs vary from case to case.

• You submit a written "Application for equivalence assessment" with the necessary documents to the competent body.
• For professional qualifications from the EU/EEA/Switzerland: You can submit the application and the documents directly to the competent body or to the Single Point of Contact. You can also submit the application electronically via the Point of Single Contact.
• The competent body will then compare your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and check the equivalence. If your professional qualification is equivalent, it will be recognized. You will receive the notification of equivalence (notification of recognition) in the post.
• If your professional qualification is not equivalent, it will not be recognized. You will receive notification of the differences in your foreign professional qualification. You can use this decision to gain further qualifications and later submit a new application for equivalence assessment.
• You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. The decision will then be reviewed. We recommend that you talk to the competent authority first before taking legal action against the decision.

No deadlines need to be observed.

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. You should first speak to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

• Determining the equivalence of professions in the skilled crafts sector with professional qualifications from abroad
• The equivalence of foreign professional qualifications in the skilled crafts sector can be determined as part of a recognition procedure.
• The responsibility lies with the regional chambers of skilled crafts.

The responsibility lies with the regional chambers of crafts and trades.

The responsibility lies with the regional chambers of crafts and trades.

Forms can be obtained from the responsible office. Online procedure: Ask the responsible office whether you can submit the application online.

You do not need to appear in person.