Anerkennung einer ausländischen Berufsqualifikation als Laufbahnbefähigung für eine Tätigkeit als Landesbeamtin oder Landesbeamter beantragen

If you would like to become a civil servant in Lower Saxony and have acquired a professional qualification abroad, you can have this recognized under certain conditions.

In Germany, the exercise of sovereign powers and the fulfillment of state tasks are carried out by persons who are employed as civil servants in a special public service and fiduciary relationship.

In the state of Lower Saxony, employment as a civil servant is subject to certain professional qualifications. If you have acquired professional qualifications abroad that qualify you to work in the public service there, you must have these qualifications recognized in Lower Saxony (as a career qualification) in order to be employed in the state of Lower Saxony in a civil service position corresponding to your previous profession. To do this, the equivalence of your professional qualification with a career qualification in the state of Lower Saxony must be established.

Recognition will be granted by the competent authority after reviewing your application and documents.

• Application for recognition
• Proof of citizenship
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of qualification or training (e.g. training certificates, diplomas, degree certificates)
• Certificate of authorization to practice the profession (certificate from the home country or country of qualification stating which profession the professional qualifications entitle the holder to practice there)
• Proof of personal aptitude (certificate or document from the home country or country of qualification stating that no criminal offenses, serious professional misconduct or other circumstances calling into question the qualification are known)
• A statement as to whether recognition has been applied for from another authority in the Federal Republic of Germany and how the decision was reached
• If applicable, proof of activities carried out
• If applicable, proof of skills acquired through lifelong learning
• Special features of the fire department:
  • Proof that the applicant meets the physical and health requirements of the fire department
  • Proof of practical firefighting activities and their duration
  • Proof of rescue service training and activities, if applicable
  • Proof of driving license

Further documents on request from the authorities

• You must have EU/EEA/CH citizenship or citizenship of a country to which Germany and the European Union are obliged under treaty law to treat its nationals equally with regard to the recognition of professional qualifications.
• You must not have any serious professional misconduct, criminal offenses or comparable weighty reasons.
• Your professional qualification must not differ significantly (deficit) from the requirements in Lower Saxony.

If there is a deficit, this must be compensated for by an adaptation period and/or an aptitude test.

If you wish to have your professional qualification recognized, you must do the following:

• You submit an application for recognition of the foreign professional qualification as a career qualification in the state service.
• The competent authority will check whether your nationality allows recognition and whether your qualification can be assigned to a career in a specific field of the state.
• If there is a qualification deficit that cannot be compensated for, an aptitude test or an adaptation period must be completed.
• The decision on the application is made in writing. Upon successful completion of the recognition procedure, the career qualification for the respective entry level of the career group is acquired. It is possible for the career qualification to be recognized only for certain tasks of a career and for the transfer of certain promotion offices to be excluded (partial access). Partial access is not possible for careers in the police specialization.
• If the requirements are not met, you will receive a decision with instructions on how to appeal against the decision.

You can apply for an advertised position with the notice of recognition.

A confirmation of receipt will be issued within two weeks. The time it takes for the application to be finally processed depends on the amount of checking required in each individual case.

You can take legal action before the competent administrative court.

• Foreign professional qualification as a career qualification in the state service Recognition
• Professional qualifications acquired abroad can be recognized for a career qualification
• Prerequisites:
  • EU/EEA/CH citizenship or citizenship of a country to which Germany and the European Union are obliged under treaty law to treat its nationals equally with regard to the recognition of professional qualifications
  • No serious professional misconduct, criminal offenses or comparable weighty reasons that justify a lack of suitability for civil servant status
  • Equivalence of qualification: Qualification that does not show a deficit compared to German training or
  • Deficit compensation through adaptation course and/or aptitude test
• Application online or in writing
• Responsible in Lower Saxony: Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior and Sport

Responsible:Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior and Sport