driving instructor; Recognition of foreign professional qualifications

• You submit an "application for the issuance of the driving licence" to the competent authority.
• For professional qualifications from EU/EEA/Switzerland: You can submit the application and documents directly to the competent authority or to the Point of Single Contact. You can also submit the application electronically via the Point of Single Contact.
• The competent authority will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important prerequisite is the professional qualification.
• The competent authority will then compare your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and check its equivalence. If your professional qualification is equivalent, it will be recognized. You must also meet the other requirements and prove your language skills. Then you will receive the driving licence as a written document.
• If your professional qualification is not equivalent, it will not be recognised. You will then receive a written notification of the differences in your professional qualification.
• If your professional qualification is not equivalent, you can choose between an aptitude test and an adaptation period to compensate for the differences.
• The aptitude test shall examine only the differences identified by the competent authority. The aptitude test consists of a written and oral examination. You will also have to hold teaching rehearsals in theoretical and practical driving lessons.
• The adaptation period is a practical post-qualification and lasts a maximum of 3 years. In the adaptation period, you will have to complete written exercises and give theoretical and practical lessons.
• If you complete the adaptation period or pass the aptitude test (and meet all other requirements), you will receive the driving licence as a written document.
• You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to the competent authority before taking legal action against the decision.

The competent authority will tell you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally:

• Proof of identity (ID card or passport)
• officially certified copy of your qualification certificate of work as a driving instructor
• valid driving licence for the corresponding driving licence classes
• If working as a driving instructor is not regulated in your home country: A certificate that you have worked as a driving instructor for at least 2 years in the last 10 years
• Proof of your personal reliability. This proof must be from an authority from the state of your professional qualification. This can be an extract from the criminal record or a certificate of good standing. (The proof should be no more than 3 months old at the time of application.)
• Proof of your mental and physical health from the state of your professional qualification. The proof must prove that you are suitable for working as a driving instructor. (The proof should be no more than 3 months old at the time of application.)

Your home state may not be able to provide evidence of your personal reliability or mental and physical health. Then you can replace these documents with an affidavit. The competent authority will inform you of this.

The competent authority will tell you which documents you need to submit in the original or as a copy. If your documents are not available in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. Translations must be carried out by translators who are publicly appointed or authorised.

The competent authority will inform you about the costs. The costs generally depend on the effort required for processing.

In addition, additional costs may arise (e.g. for translations and certifications). These costs vary from person to person.

The issuance of the driving instructor license and a driving instructor license costs EUR 40.90.