Recognition of qualifications from abroad (info in English) - German Education Server

In 2012, the Federal Republic of Germany took considerable measures to improve access to the labour market by foreign skilled and qualified workers, due to high demand. You will find background information, reports, legal frameworks but also links to practical guidance here.

The Act intends to improve the comparison of professional qualifications obtained abroad with recognised German qualifications, for the purpose of improved integration into the labour market in Germany. The English language Translation is not legally binding -- for the convenience of non-German readers.

document from: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) provides information for non-EU members interested in taking up work in Germany, including details about recognition procedures, contact details for consultancy, and a leaflet that is available for download in English, Arabic, French, Spanish.

The portal targets chambers and professional associations in charge of assessing foreign qualifications (assessment authorities), companies looking for information about foreign professional qualifications to help them assess the qualifications of job candidates, and advisory centres which advise and support qualified professionals with foreign qualifications in having their qualifications recognized. [...]

The Central Office for Foreign Education at the Standing Conference of Ministers of Cultural Affairs is a central body of the Länder states. ZAB can, for instance, issue certificates of equivalence for individual vocational qualifications which enable applicants to seek jobs in recognised professions in Germany.

document from: Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (KMK)

Database of regulated professions in the EU Member States, EEA countries and Switzerland. The professions listed on this site are covered by Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications which entered into force on 20 October 2007.

Information by the Federal Employment Agency concerning admission to the German labour market, including English language sheets for professionals from outside Germany.

The Statement of Comparability is an official document issued by the ";Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen" (Central Office for Foreign Education – ZAB) that describes the foreign higher education qualification, its professional and academic usage. The ZAB Statement of Comparability can facilitate access to the German labour market for holders of foreign higher education [...]

document from: Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (KMK)

The BKE project at DIPF was initially part of the structure project "MYSKILLS – Recognising Professional Competencies" of the Federal Employment Agency in cooperation with the Research Institute for Company-Based Training (f-bb) and the Bertelsmann Foundation. The project aimed at the development and quality assurance of instruments for valid assessments of professional competencies of people [...]

BIBB Reports on the Recognition Act

The Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training has been commissioned to publish an annual monitoring report on the Recognition Act, which came into force in 2012. Thereby, the Federal government intends to improve the implementation of the regulations on the assessment and recognition of professional qualifications obtained abroad. The annual reports are published in German and English.

document from: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)

In 2012, the Federal Government implemented the Recognition Act for an improved recognition of professional qualifications obtained abroad and subsequent integration of foreign applicants to the German labour market. The Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training has since issued annual monitoring reports. In 2017, the monitoring report presented figures regarding the first five years, e.g. the [...]

document from: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)

Following the enactment of the Recognition Act in Germany in 2012, the Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) was commissioned with an annual monitoring report to track the implementation. Its objective is to assess existing measures concerning the recognition of professional qualifications obtained abroad, and improvement of respective legislation.

document from: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)