Erlaubnis zum Führen der Berufsbezeichnung Operationstechnische Assistentin oder Assistent bei Berufsqualifikation aus EU/EWR/Schweiz Erteilung

§ 1 et seq. Anesthesia Technical and Surgical Technical Assistants Act
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/ata-ota-g/__1.html

Would you like to work as a surgical assistant in Germany? Then you need a state permit. You can have your foreign professional qualification recognised.

The profession of operating room assistant is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to work as an operating room assistant in Germany, you need a state permit. With the permit, you can use the job title “operating room assistant” and work in the profession. Even if you have a professional qualification from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can obtain state permission from the responsible authority in Germany. To obtain the permit, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognized.
In the recognition process, the responsible body compares your professional qualification 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 granting of the permit. Other requirements include, for example, sufficient German language skills and medical suitability.
If your professional qualification does not come from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, different rules apply.
You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.

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

• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• CV
• Evidence of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional certificates)
• Training certificates
• Evidence of your relevant professional experience as a surgical assistant
• Evidence of other relevant knowledge for working as a surgical assistant
• You don't live or work in Germany yet? Then you may need to prove that you want to work in Germany in this profession. Evidence could include applications for a job, invitations to interviews or a business concept.

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

• Proof of your personal suitability: Criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin. The proof must be no more than 3 months old when the application is submitted.
• Proof of your health suitability: Medical certificate. The proof must be no more than 3 months old when you submit your application.
• Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate at language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

The competent authority will inform you which documents you must submit as a simple copy, a certified copy or the original.

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

at least EUR 225, depending on the effort up to EUR 450 plus EUR 42 for the certificate

application
You submit an application to the responsible authority for permission to use the professional title “Surgical Technical Assistant”.
You can submit 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.

Verification of equivalence
The responsible body will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The responsible body will compare your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a surgical 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 test
If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The responsible body can confirm the result in writing. You must still meet the other requirements. You will then be permitted to use the professional title “Surgical Technical Assistant” or “Surgical Technical Assistant”.
Are there significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? Perhaps you can 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 state in which you acquired the knowledge or skills.
However, it may be that the essential 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 surgical assistant in Germany.
However, the responsible body will tell you the essential differences and why you cannot compensate for the essential differences through your professional practice.
In most cases, you can take compensatory measures to balance out the significant differences.

Compensatory measures
There are various compensatory measures:

• Adaptation period: The adaptation period lasts a maximum of three years.
• Aptitude test: In the aptitude test, only those areas in which significant differences were identified are examined. The aptitude test consists of a practical test.

You can choose between an adaptation course or an aptitude test.
If you successfully complete the compensatory measure and meet all other requirements, you will be permitted to use the professional title “Surgical Technical Assistant” or “Surgical Technical Assistant”.

There is no deadline.
Sometimes documents are missing in the process. The responsible authority will then inform you by when you have to submit the documents.

You can take legal action against the decision of the responsible authority within a certain period of time (e.g. lodge an objection). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the legal remedy instructions at the end of your decision. We recommend that you speak to the responsible authority first before taking legal action against the decision.

• Apply for recognition as a surgical technical assistant with professional qualifications from the EU/EEA/Switzerland.
• To work as a surgical technical assistant in Germany, you need a government permit.
• With this permission, you can officially call yourself an “operating room technician” and work in this profession.
• You can also obtain state permission in Germany if you have professional qualifications from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

Authority for Labor, Health, Social Affairs, Family and Integration