The anabin database provides information on the assessment of higher education qualifications in Germany. An application may or must be made for a Statement of Comparability if no entry can be found in the database.
When is assessment of a higher education qualification necessary?
The anabin database operated by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) can initially be used to check how a higher education qualification is assessed in Germany. Application may or must be made to the ZAB for a if no entry can be found in the database. The foreign qualification should be at least bachelor’s level. Assessment of a foreign higher education qualification may be helpful or even necessary for academically trained skilled workers in .
If you already have a residence permit in Germany or come from the , you may work in a without recognition. Assessment of a foreign higher education qualification is not necessary in these circumstances either. Such an assessment may, however, be helpful, for example when applying for a job. It allows employers to have a better understanding of the professional qualification.
Assessment of a higher education qualification is important when entering Germany from a . If a foreign higher education qualification is demonstrably comparable to a German higher education qualification, then the person may enter Germany as a recognised in order, for example, to look for a job or take up an employment offer. A relevant extract from the anabin database is sufficient evidence for entry to Germany.
The assessment of the ZAB also serves as evidence that the foreign higher education qualification is officially recognised by the state in which it was acquired. This evidence is required when employment takes place on the basis of “extensive practical work experience” pursuant to Section 6 of the Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners (Beschäftigungsverordnung, BeschV).
Important
An entry in the anabin database and the certificate evaluation do not replace the recognition procedure necessary for regulated professions.
In the anabin database, one can check how the university and the higher education qualification are evaluated in Germany. Both evaluations are important. This is because the higher education qualification is only regarded as comparable if the following requirements are met:
The university is listed in the anabin database and rated H+ or H+/-.
The higher education qualification is equivalent to or corresponds to a German higher education qualification.
If the university is rated H+/-, the higher education qualification must also be listed under the university.
What is a Statement of Comparability?
The is a procedure for assessing foreign higher education qualifications which is carried out by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). This checks whether the foreign higher education qualification is comparable to a German higher education qualification. The ZAB then issues an official certificate which describes the foreign higher education qualification and the possibilities for using it for professional and academic purposes. The certificate is likewise referred to as the Statement of Comparability.
The describes the nature and duration of the higher education training and names its equivalent in the German education system, such as a bachelor's or master's. It also provides information on opportunities for further study in Germany, on using an academic degree and on obtaining vocational . The Central Office for Foreign Education assesses higher education training from all countries of the world. The legal basis for this is the Lisbon Convention.
What does the Statement of Comparability process involve?
Foreign skilled workers with academic training are able to apply digitally to the Central Office for Foreign Education for the . Various documents are needed for this which may vary depending on the country of origin. In general, the following documents must be submitted:
Certificate of completion for the higher education qualification in the original language
List of subjects and grades for the entire degree
School-leaving certificate with higher education entrance qualification
Written confirmation of the form and duration for degree
Final certificates for previous degrees in the original language
Passport or personal identification
If all documents are complete and available, the takes a maximum of three months. The Statement of Comparability costs €208, a replacement certificate €104. In the event of cancellation, up to 50 percent of the costs will be charged. This is €20 up to a maximum of €104. The digital application form and further information about the Statement of Comparability are available on the website of the Central Office for Foreign Education.
There are no state regulations in terms of authorisation to practice for non-regulated professions. This means that individuals are permitted to work in these professions without authorisation to practice. These professions include for example all professions in dual vocational education and training. People with a foreign professional qualification can work in non-regulated professions withoutrecognition.
EU/EEA/Switzerland is the abbreviation for: European Union/European Economic Area/Switzerland.
The member states of the European Union (EU) include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
The European Economic Area (EEA) includes: All EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway.
Switzerland has entered into a treaty with the European Union. This states that Switzerland participates in the European system of professional recognition.
Statement of comparability for foreign higher education qualifications
An statement of comparability for foreign higher education qualifications is a document from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). The document describes a higher-education qualification from abroad.
The recognition procedures are only for higher-education qualifications which lead to a regulated profession. For those higher-education qualifications which lead to a non-regulated profession there is the statement of comparability. An statement of comparability compares the foreign qualifications with the German qualification following a degree. The assessment of higher education certificates gives information about the vocational and academic opportunities provided by the qualification.
The statement of comparability is requested from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).
The following persons are regarded as skilled workers under the Skilled Immigration Act:
Persons with completed vocational education and training which is equivalent to at least a two-year vocational education and training course in Germany. Foreign vocational education and training over a short period can be equivalent to qualified vocational education and training in Germany if the training shows no substantial differences or if these can be compensated for.
Persons with a higher education qualification which is comparable to a higher education qualification in Germany.
Individuals in a regulated profession need recognition of their foreign professional qualification. They are then permitted to work in Germany in this profession. The Recognition Finder helps when searching for regulated professions.
For the recognition procedure, the competent authority requires certificates and other documents relating to the content and duration of the professional qualification. Certificates and other documents relating to professional experience are also important.
German: Anerkennung
Also: Anerkennung der Berufsqualifikation, Gleichwertigkeitsfeststellung, Gleichwertigkeit
In this case recognition means that a foreign professional qualification is legally equivalent to a German professional qualification. This means that the foreign professional qualification is recognised in Germany. The equivalence is valid for a specific German reference occupation.
A foreign professional qualification is only partially equivalent to the German reference occupation. The reason for this is that there are substantial differences between the foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.
In this case, there are two options in order to still achieve full recognition:
A foreign professional qualification is not equivalent to the German reference occupation. The reason for this is that the differences between the foreign professional qualification and the German reference occupation are too great.
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