Erlaubnis zum Führen der Berufsbezeichnung Sozialpädagogin/Sozialarbeiterin oder Sozialpädagoge/Sozialarbeiter bei Berufsqualifikation aus dem Ausland Erteilung

You would like to work permanently in Germany as a social pedagogue/social worker? Then you need to have your foreign professional qualification recognized.

The profession of social pedagogue or social worker is regulated in Germany. This means: You have to prove a certain qualification to be allowed to work in the profession. If you have a foreign professional qualification as a social pedagogue or social worker, you can work in this profession in the chosen federal state under certain conditions. To do this, you must submit an application with all the necessary documents to the Senatorische Behörde für Kinder und Bildung- Referat 31.

In the recognition procedure, the office compares your professional qualification from abroad with the professional qualification in the chosen federal state and makes an equivalence determination. You will receive feedback after your application has been reviewed. If your professional qualification is equivalent and you meet the other requirements, you will receive state recognition. Then you may use the professional title "state-approved social worker".

If you lack professional qualifications for recognition, the notice will state the essential differences. You can then take a compensatory measure.

• Request
• Evidence of other qualifications
• Certificate that the profession may be practiced in the country of training
• Information on applications for recognition already submitted

  Indicate the office to which you submitted the application.

• Tabular list of the training courses completed and the gainful employment pursued
• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• Training certificates
• Proof of your professional qualification, including the overview of subjects in the original and in German or English translation
• Proof of professional experience as a social pedagogue or social worker
• 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: e.g. criminal record or certificate of good conduct

• Equivalence of your professional qualification
• You must be authorized to practice the profession in the country in which you trained.

You must also meet the other requirements for state recognition. These are usually

• Personal suitability: You are reliable for work as a social pedagogue or social worker and have no criminal record.
• Health suitability: You are mentally and physically able to work in the profession.

You can submit the application to the Senatorial Authority for Children and Education - Department 31. You must submit copies of all the necessary documents to the responsible office. The competent authority will then check:

Is your professional qualification equivalent to the professional qualification in your federal state?

For example, the content of the training and the 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 will then check the other requirements. If your professional qualification is equivalent and you meet all other requirements, you will receive state recognition. You may then use the professional title "state-recognized social worker".

If the competent authority is unable to determine equivalence, you will receive a notification with an explanation of the significant differences. To compensate for significant differences, you can take a compensation measure.

If you successfully complete the compensation measure and meet the other requirements, you will receive state recognition.