The German Recognition Process: Legal Foundations and all Types of Recognition

Professional recognition is the key to working in Germany for many international healthcare professionals. Depending on the profession and qualification, there are different procedures and requirements. This article provides an overview of the recognition system in Germany and shows which paths are available for different professional qualifications.

The Professional Qualifications Assessment Act

Since April 1, 2012, the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (Recognition Act) regulates the recognition of foreign professional qualifications in Germany. The law is the cornerstone of the Recognition Act and creates a legal entitlement to a recognition procedure for the first time – regardless of nationality or place of residence. Until 2012, professionals from third countries had no access to recognition in many professions.

The Recognition Act applies to approximately 330 non-regulated training professions in the dual system. For regulated professions such as most healthcare professions, recognition is regulated directly in the profession-specific laws, for example in the Federal Medical Practitioners’ Ordinance or the Nursing Professions Act. These specialized laws take precedence over the BQFG.

For healthcare professionals, this means: The Recognition Act creates uniform standards for equivalence assessment and facilitates access to the German labor market – regardless of country of origin.

Who needs recognition?

Whether recognition is required depends on the type of qualification obtained abroad and the intended goal in Germany. Recognition may be necessary for university degrees, vocational training, or incomplete degree programs – especially when practicing a regulated profession, applying for a visa, or continuing studies.

In Germany, there are three different types of recognition that are pursued depending on the type of qualification obtained abroad.

Academic recognition

Academic recognition concerns university degrees from abroad. It serves to prove the equivalence of a foreign university degree with a German degree – for example for applications, visa applications, or further studies.

Further information on the academic recognition procedure is available here.

Professional recognition

Professional recognition concerns vocational training from abroad. It serves to prove the equivalence of foreign vocational training with a German reference profession. For regulated professions professional recognition is mandatory in order to be allowed to practice in Germany.

Regulated professions are professions that may only be practiced with state authorization or permission. Without successful professional recognition, practicing these professions is not permitted.

Regulated healthcare professions:

• Human medicine
• Dentistry
• Veterinary medicine
• Pharmacy
• Psychotherapy
• Healthcare and nursing
• Anesthesia technical assistance
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Medical-technical functional diagnostics
• Medical-technical laboratory analytics
• Medical-technical radiology
• Operating technical assistance
• Orthoptists
• Physiotherapy
• Pharmaceutical technical assistance

Non-regulated healthcare professions:

• Alternative medicine practitioner
• Home and family care
• Nursing assistance
• Massage and wellness therapy without training
• Nutritional counseling
• Osteopathy

More information on the professional recognition procedure is available here.

Transfer of credits from incomplete degree programs

Recognition of study achievements concerns degree programs started abroad but not completed. It serves to have already completed study and examination achievements recognized in order to continue studies in Germany without loss of time. A degree program in Germany is only completed when a graduation certificate as well as the associated rights and licenses for professional practice have been obtained.

Detailed information on the recognition of incomplete degree programs is available here.

Decision support for selecting the right recognition procedure

To quickly gain an overview of the three types of recognition and make an informed decision, consulting the overview table on recognition procedures is helpful. It compares, among other things, requirements, responsible authorities, required documents, and possible outcomes of the various recognition procedures. On the official portal for Recognition in Germany, it is possible to determine whether one's profession is regulated or not, which type of recognition is required, and which official authority is responsible for processing the application depending on the profession and federal state.