Foreign professional qualification Recognition as a midwife

I submit an application to the competent authority. How does that work?

You can also submit an application if you do not yet live in Germany.

• You can send the application by post to the competent authority. Do not send originals!
• Perhaps you can send the application as an e-mail. Ask your local authority beforehand. At a later stage in the recognition process, you may need to provide the original documents or the certified copies.
• Sometimes you can apply online. At a later stage in the recognition process, you may need to provide the original documents or the certified copies. For the online application, use the Internet portal of the federal state in which you would like to work.

The competent authority will process my application. What does that mean?

• The competent authority receives the application. It will confirm to you after one month at the latest that the application has arrived. When the competent authority has received all the documents from you, it will process your application.
• The competent authority carries out an equivalence test: it compares your professional qualification with the German professional qualification. In doing so, the competent authority shall take into account your professional experience, other qualifications and qualifications.
• The recognition procedure takes a maximum of 4 months. At the end, the competent authority will send you a notification with the result.

The competent authority informs me of the result in a notice. What results are possible?

• Result: Recognition
  • Your professional qualification and the German professional qualification are equivalent. They also meet all other requirements. Your professional qualification will be recognised. You have the same professional rights as a person with a German professional qualification.
• Result: No recognition
  • There are significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification. You cannot compensate for these differences with your work experience and other knowledge in the profession. Therefore, your professional qualification is not equivalent to the German professional qualification. They don't get any recognition.
  • In most cases, you can make a compensatory measure. This allows you to compensate for the significant differences.
  • You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. Details on this procedure can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to a counselling centre before you object or complain.

I don't get any recognition. What can I do?

Compensatory measures

• If your professional qualification is not equivalent, you can take a compensatory measure. With a compensatory measure, you can compensate for significant differences. Significant differences are listed in your notification.
• There are various compensatory measures:
  • Adaptation period
  • Suitability test
• The competent authority will decide which compensatory measure you need to take. That's in your notice.
• If you successfully complete the compensatory measure, you will receive a certificate. You submit this certificate to the competent authority. The competent authority shall check the certificate. If you then meet all the requirements, your professional qualification will be recognized. Then you have the same professional rights as a person with the German professional qualification.

The responsibility lies with the Lower Saxony State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Family.

• Equivalence of your professional qualification
• German language proficiency at level B2
• Personal suitability
• Health suitability

• Application form from the competent authority
• If there is no application form: an informal application
• Proof of identity (e.g. passport or ID card)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of content and duration of your education (e.g. Diploma Supplement, Transcript of Records)
• Proof of professional experience in your profession (e.g. job references)
• Information about an application for recognition that has already been submitted. Then indicate to which office you submitted the application.

• You don't live or work in Germany yet? Then you may have to prove that you want to work in the profession in Germany. Evidence is, for example, applications for a job, invitations to interviews, personal declaration about your project.

You usually hand in these documents later. The competent authority will inform you when you should hand in the documents.

• Proof of your personal suitability: Certificate of good conduct from Germany or from your country of origin (e.g. extract from the criminal record, Certificate of Good Standing). The documents must not be more than 3 months old at the time of application.
• Proof of your health suitability: medical certificate from Germany and from your country of origin. The documents must not be more than 3 months old at the time of application.
• Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate

You will have to pay money for the procedure. The competent authority will inform you of the exact costs.

• No later than one month after receipt of your application by the competent authority: The competent authority will inform you of the receipt of the documents. It will let you know if any documents are missing. The procedure starts when the documents are complete.
• After 4 months at the latest: You will receive a notification with the result. In certain cases, the competent authority may prolong the procedure.

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. Details on this procedure can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision.

Freedom to provide services

Would you like to offer services only sometimes and for a short time in Germany?

Then you usually don't need recognition. You must meet these requirements:

• You must be established in another state of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
• You will need to prove your professional qualification.
• You must notify or register your activity in writing with the competent authority.

Procedure for ethnic German repatriates

As a ethnic German repatriate, you can choose between 2 procedures for professional recognition:

• You submit an application for the procedure described here.
• You submit an application for the procedure under the Federal Expellees Act (§ 10 BVFG).

That's up to you. Your competent authority will advise you.

www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de

11.08.2021

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.