Apply for recognition as a Medical Laboratory Assistant with professional qualification from EU/EEA/Switzerland.
The profession of medical-technical laboratory assistant is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to work as a medical-technical laboratory assistant in Germany, you need a state permit. With the permit, you are allowed to use the job title "medical-technical laboratory assistant" and work in the profession.
Even with a professional qualification from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can obtain the state permit from the competent body in Germany.
To obtain the permit, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognized.
On January 1, 2023, the training of professions in medical technology was reformed in Germany. The new law on professions in medical technology applies. The profession on this basis is called medical technologist for laboratory analysis. There is a transitional period for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications on the basis of the old Act on Technical Assistants in Medicine. Until December 31, 2026, foreign professional qualifications may still be recognized as Medical Technical Laboratory Assistant or Medical Technical Laboratory Assistant on a transitional basis under certain circumstances. The responsible office will advise you.
In the recognition procedure, the competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks the equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of the state permit.
In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must fulfill other requirements for the issuance of the permit. Further requirements are, for example, sufficient German language skills and health suitability.
If your professional qualification does not originate from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply.
You can also submit the application for the procedure from abroad.
Who should I contact?
- Es gibt viele Beratungsangebote. Diese finden Sie auf dem Portal Anerkennung in Deutschland.
- Lassen Sie sich von einer IQ-Beratungsstelle persönlich zu diesem Verfahren und Ihrer Qualifikation beraten. Die Beraterinnen und Berater helfen Ihnen auch vor der Antragstellung mit Ihren Unterlagen. Die Beratung ist kostenlos.
- Sie können auch die Hotline „Arbeiten und Leben in Deutschland“ anrufen.
Remark: Telefonnummer: +49 30 1815-1111
- Wenn Sie im Ausland sind: Über die Hotline erreichen Sie auch die Zentrale Servicestelle Berufsanerkennung (ZSBA). Dies bietet Ihnen vertiefte Beratung und Unterstützung im Anerkennungsverfahren und führt eine Standortberatung durch.
Responsible authorities
Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Soziales, Jugend und Familie
Timetable
Timetable
Competent authority
Lower Saxony State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Family - Lüneburg Branch Office
Requirements
- You have a professional qualification as a medical-technical laboratory assistant from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
- You want to work in Germany as a medical-technical laboratory assistant.
- Personal suitability: You are reliable for work as a medical-technical laboratory assistant and have no criminal record.
- Health suitability: you are mentally and physically able to work as a medical-technical laboratory assistant.
- You have German language skills at the required level. This is normally language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Which documents are required?
- Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
- Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
- Curriculum vitae
- Proof of your professional qualification (for example, certificates, professional certificate)
- Proof of education
- Evidence of your relevant work experience as a medical laboratory technician
- Proof of further relevant knowledge for the work as a medical-technical laboratory assistant
- Maybe: You come from a third country and do not yet live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? Then you have to prove: You want to work in Germany in the profession. Proofs are, for example, the application for an entry visa for gainful employment, applications for a job, invitations to job interviews, a business concept or a location note from the Central Service Office for Professional Recognition (ZSBA).
You usually hand in these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when to hand in the documents:
- Proof of your personal suitability: criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin. The proof must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
- Proof of your health suitability: Medical certificate. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
- Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate
The responsible office will inform you which documents you have to submit as a simple copy, as a certified copy or as an original.
What are the fees?
The responsible office will inform you about the costs. The costs generally depend on the effort required for processing.
Additional costs may arise (for example, for translations, certifications or compensatory measures). These costs vary individually.
Process flow
Application
You submit an application for permission to use the occupational title "medical-technical laboratory assistant" to the competent office. You can hand in the application with the documents to the competent office or send it by mail. Do not send originals. Sometimes you can also send the application electronically. The competent office will inform you.
Checking the equivalence
The competent body will then check whether you meet all the requirements. One important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a medical-technical laboratory assistant. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.
Possible results of the examination
If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The authority can confirm the result to you in writing. You still have to fulfill the other requirements. Then you will receive permission to use the occupational title "medical-technical laboratory assistant" or "medical-technical laboratory assistant".
Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? You may be able to compensate for the differences through your professional practice, other knowledge or skills (lifelong learning). You have to prove the professional practice. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority of the state in which you acquired the knowledge or skills.
However, it may be that the essential differences cannot be compensated by this knowledge. In this case, your foreign professional qualification will not be recognized. You will then not be allowed to work as a medical-technical laboratory assistant in Germany.
However, the responsible office will tell you the essential differences and why you cannot compensate for the essential differences through your professional practice.
In most cases, you can make a compensatory measure. This will allow you to compensate for the substantial differences.
Compensatory measures
There are several compensatory measures:
- Adaptation course: the adaptation course lasts a maximum of three years.
- Aptitude test: In the aptitude test, only the areas in which significant differences have been identified are tested. The aptitude test is an examination interview.
You can choose between an adaptation course or a proficiency test.
If you successfully complete the compensatory measure and meet all other requirements, you will be granted permission to use the occupational title "medical-technical laboratory assistant".
Processing duration
Processing Time: 4 MonthsThe responsible office will inform you if any documents are missing. If the documents are complete, the procedure takes a maximum of 4 months.
What else should I know?
Freedom to provide services
You would like to offer services in Germany only sometimes and for a short time? Then you usually do not need the state permission. You must meet these requirements:
- You must be established in another state of the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
- You must prove your professional qualification.
- You must notify the competent body of your activity in writing.
The competent body will inform you whether you are allowed to provide services or whether you have to pass an aptitude test.
Equivalency notice
The equivalence examination (recognition procedure) also takes place in the permit procedure. You can apply for a separate decision on the result of the examination.
Procedure for late repatriates
As a late repatriate, you can either go through the recognition procedure according to the laws mentioned here or according to the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide this yourself. The competent office will advise you which procedure suits you.
- Vorbehaltene Tätigkeiten
- Informationen zur Anerkennung ausländischer Berufsqualifikationen auf dem Portal Anerkennung in Deutschland
- Finanzielle Hilfen für das Anerkennungsverfahren
- Öffentlich bestellte Übersetzerinnen und Übersetzer in Deutschland
- Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen (GER)
- Verfahren nach dem Bundesvertriebenengesetz
Legal basis
§ Section 75 Medical Technology Professions Act (MT-Berufe-Gesetz - MTBG)
- in conjunction with. § 1 Para. 1 No. 1, § 2 Para. 1-4 Law on Technical Assistants in Medicine in the version applicable on December 31, 2022
- i.V.m. §§ Sections 25, 25a, 25c Training and Examination Ordinance for Technical Assistants in Medicine in the version applicable on 31 December 2022
Appeal
You can take legal action (e.g. file an appeal) against the decision of the responsible office within a certain period. The decision will then be reviewed. Details on this can be found in the appeal instructions at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.