Foreign professional qualification Recognition as a childhood educator
Important note: For a university degree in the field of working with children from 0-6 years or 0-10 years, no application for state recognition as an educator can be made, since the training as an educator is a broad-based technical college education, which also enables to work with adolescents and partly young adults and thus not only focuses on the age group 0-14 years, but extends to the age group 0-27 years. It is therefore not to be equated with a university degree.
Childhood educators work in many areas of work with children from 0 to 12/14 years and their families. State recognition is required for work in child and youth welfare, especially in day-care centres. If you have completed a degree abroad in the field of early education or in early childhood or primary education (kindergarten, primary school), you can apply for state recognition in Germany with this degree. This recognition entitles you to use the professional title "State-approved childhood educator (B.A.)" or "State-approved childhood educator (B.A.)". This also makes it possible, for example, to work in day-care centres for children and, in addition, state recognition opens up access to management positions in these fields of activity.
Process flow
For recognition, the competent authority checks on the basis of your certificates whether or to what extent your foreign qualification of a German qualification for the profession of childhood educator (B.A.) /of the childhood educator (B.A.). This review is based on defined formal and content-related criteria, such as the duration and content of the university studies. Your relevant professional experience will be taken into account as well as other relevant qualifications.
For recognition, the competent authority checks on the basis of your certificates whether or to what extent your foreign qualification of a German qualification for the profession of childhood educator (B.A.) /of the childhood educator (B.A.). This review is based on defined formal and content-related criteria, such as the duration and content of the university studies. Your relevant professional experience will be taken into account as well as other relevant qualifications.
Important note: For academic qualifications, you can apply for a basic evaluation of your university degree by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). The evaluation by the ZAB does not replace the procedure for state recognition to be applied for here (content examination by a responsible university).
Further information can be found on the portal "Recognition in Germany". This internet portal provides quick and easy answers to questions about recognition, for example:
- Do I have to have my professional qualification recognised?
- Is the recognition worthwhile for me?
- Can I apply? Do I have a formal right to it?
- Where should I contact?
- What is the procedure?
- Which documents are required? What form must the documents take?
- How long does the procedure take?
- How much does the procedure cost?
- Which laws are relevant to my case?
Portal "Recognition in Germany"
Who should I contact?
University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer
University of Applied Sciences HAWK Hildesheim
Competent authority
The responsibility lies with the universities in Lower Saxony, which offer the bachelor's degree programs in childhood education and grant state recognition of childhood educators.
Requirements
Please use the individual consultation request according to § 22 SozHeilKindVO before applying. In this way, it can be clarified at an early stage whether an application for recognition makes sense at all.
Which documents are required?
You will need the following documents:
- Tabular list of your completed training and study courses and gainful employment
- Indication of your contact details (address of current place of residence / e-mail)
- Proof of identity
- Certified university degree or Bachelor's degree including overviews of subjects and grades or other evidence of competence and training / transcript of records / Diploma Supplement on studying abroad
- Certificate of entitlement to practise a profession
- Proof of work experience: traineeship contracts and / or employment contracts including the assessments with information on the practice facilities, which show the activities / tasks completed, the respective period and, if applicable, the evaluations of the activity.
- Explanation of whether and to which body you have already submitted an application for a determination of equivalence and, if applicable, notification of the determination of equivalence
All documents must be submitted in the original or as a certified copy and in German. If the documents are written in another language, you may also need a translation from a publicly appointed translator.
Additional documentation may be required.
At the time of application, knowledge of the German language at least at level B2 is recommended.
For state recognition in Lower Saxony, at least 900 hours of practical activity in pedagogical work with children aged 0-10 years must be proven.
What are the fees?
Fees may apply. Contact the appropriate authority.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
There are no deadlines to be observed. The deadline for submitting the application begins with the confirmation of the competent authority that the required documents are complete.
Processing duration
A maximum of three months.
Appeal
The decision is subject to appeal
What else should I know?
The service points of the network "Integration through Qualification" (IQ Network) will be happy to advise and accompany you before, during and after the recognition procedure.
Technically approved by
Ministry of Science and Culture of the State of Lower Saxony and Recognition Finder Germany
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
