Bundesportal | Social pedagogical and social care professions; applying for recognition of a foreign qualification

Certain socio-educational and social care professions are regulated by the state in Bavaria. This means that you must have your foreign qualification recognized if you wish to work permanently in this profession in Bavaria. Other socio-educational and social care professions are not regulated. Recognition of your qualification is not mandatory for taking up employment, but can be useful. You can apply for recognition from the Bavarian State Office for Schools.

The following professions are state-regulated in Bavaria:

State-approved educator (Bachelor Professional in Social Work)
State-certified curative education nurse (Bachelor Professional in Social Work)
State-certified remedial teacher (Bachelor Professional in Social Work)

In order to practice one of these professions permanently in Bavaria, you must apply for recognition of your foreign qualification.

In accordance with the Bavarian Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (BayBQFG), you can apply for an equivalence assessment if you have successfully completed vocational training abroad and are authorized to practice the profession in the country in which you trained.

It may also be possible to take up employment, e.g. within the framework of temporary contracts or temporary contracts, without formal recognition of your foreign qualification. In these cases, the respective employer or institution or the responsible supervisory authority will decide whether to hire you.

The following professions are not state-regulated in Bavaria:

State-recognized family caregiver (Bachelor Professional in Social Work)
State-certified childcare worker
State-recognized curative education care assistant
State-certified social care worker

In order to work in one of these professions in Bavaria, recognition of your foreign qualification is not mandatory.

It is often possible to take up employment without formal recognition of your foreign qualification. The employer or the institution or the responsible supervisory authority will generally decide whether to employ you.

A recognition procedure can be useful to make your foreign qualification more transparent and easier for the employer to assess.

In accordance with the Bavarian Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (BayBQFG), you can apply for an equivalence assessment if you have successfully completed vocational training abroad.

The following documents must be submitted:
- Signed application form
- If applicable: Decision on professional recognition (by another competent body).
- For persons who are not citizens of the EU/EEA/Switzerland or whose place of residence is outside these states: Declaration of intention to work (e.g. proof of application for an entry visa for gainful employment, proof of contact with employer).
- Proof of identity (ID card or passport, photo page only - serial numbers and photo may be redacted).
- If applicable: Proof of name change (marriage certificate).
- if applicable: Spätaussiedlerbescheinigung or Vertriebenenbescheinigung (certificate of expellees)
- Curriculum vitae in tabular form with detailed information on school education, vocational training, further training and work experience
- School-leaving certificate from the last general school attended (before entering vocational school) - with translation*.
- Evidence of foreign professional qualification (diploma, certificate, diploma, etc.) - with translation*.
- Supplementary documents on professional qualification (e.g. scope and main contents of theoretical subjects taught / scope and main contents of practical training / overview of subjects taught and number of lessons at school (time table)) - with translation*
- if applicable: Diploma Supplement - with translation*
- if applicable: Evidence of relevant work experience in the learned profession (e.g. work certificates, work books, letters of reference)
- if applicable: other proof of qualifications (e.g. additional qualifications acquired, further education/training, retraining)
*Transcripts:

All the above-mentioned educational certificates (including proof of professional experience and certificates of competence) must be submitted in the original language as well as in translation into German by a publicly appointed or sworn translator.

In principle, the submission of the above documents in the form of photocopies or in electronic form (pdf files) is sufficient; in certain cases, the submission of officially certified photocopies or originals is additionally required. You will be notified separately about this if required.

Procedure

You can apply for recognition of your foreign qualification in writing or electronically via the platform for secure communication at the Certificate Recognition Office of the Bavarian State Office for Schools.

The first step is to check whether your foreign qualification can be assigned to the reference occupation you have specified. If necessary, the State Office for Schools will inform you which other office is responsible for you. In this case, you can withdraw your application free of charge.

As part of the equivalence assessment of your foreign qualification, the State Office for Schools will check in particular whether you are authorized to practice the profession in the country of training and whether there are any significant differences between the foreign qualification and the corresponding Bavarian vocational training.

Proof of relevant professional experience (from abroad or from Germany) and other certificates of competence (e.g. additional qualifications or further education and training) will also be taken into account.

The following applies to state-regulated professions in the Free State of Bavaria (see description):

If there are significant differences and at the same time comparable qualification contents, the significant differences can be compensated for as part of a compensation measure. You can choose between an adaptation period and an aptitude test.
If no significant differences are found or if the compensation measure has been completed in full, the full equivalence of your foreign qualification can be determined.

The following applies to professions that are not state-regulated in the Free State of Bavaria (see description):

If no significant differences are found, the full equivalence of your foreign qualification can be established.
If there are significant differences and at the same time comparable qualification contents, the existing qualifications and the differences to the Bavarian qualification are described in the notification.

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none

Processing time

The State Office for Schools will confirm receipt of your application within one month and, if necessary, inform you which documents need to be supplemented. If the documents are complete, a decision will be made within three months. In justified cases, this period can be extended appropriately.

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