Quick check
Guess first, no penalty. Which job needs official recognition of your foreign qualification before you can do it in Germany?
Recognition means an official decision that your foreign qualification is equivalent to a German one. The portal Anerkennung in Deutschland (German for "recognition in Germany") explains when you need it:
- Regulated professions: it is required. These are mostly in health, safety and social services, and include doctors and teachers.
- Non-regulated professions, such as office manager: you can work without it. If you come from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, it may still be needed to enter Germany for work.
- Some university degrees: the portal describes a separate assessment of your higher education qualification instead of recognition.
Put it in order
Put the official recognition steps in order.
The Recognition Finder is the portal's search tool, and the competent authority is the office in charge of your profession. Costs vary a lot by profession. The portal says the procedure can cost several hundred euros, plus translations, certified copies and any training you need afterward. The authority tells you the exact cost.
Your CV and cover letter (your application documents) should say honestly where you are in this process. This is a true line:
Recognition as [German occupation] applied for in [month year]"Recognized in Germany" before the notice arrives is not.
Fill the gaps
Fill the gaps so this CV line is true before the notice arrives.
CV line
Recognition as
Try it
Your steps, about 2 minutes
- 1.Open the Recognition Finder, search for your profession, and note whether it is regulated. If you have applied, add a status line like the one above to your CV.2 min