Zur Hauptnavigation springen. Zum Seiteninhalt springen.
BIBB Logo
An offer from the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training
Logo: Anerkennung in Deutschland

Information portal of the German government
for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications

Logo: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung

Training

The federal government, states and chambers are working to simplify and accelerate recognition. Here you can find examples of how it can work better.

John FedeleBlend / Adobe Stock
Nursing specialist smiles into the camera

INGA Pflege

Initial solution: For foreign general nurses from third countries, getting their professional qualifications recognised in Germany can be a challenge. The INGA Pflege [INGA Care] concept can help with compensating for any differences in competencies identified. INGA Pflege is a professionally integrated adaptation period including language training for general nurses.

Solution approach: The INGA Pflege adaptation period is an innovative, professionally integrated scheme for international general nurses. The scheme was developed on the initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).

Completing the adaptation period reduces the differences in competencies identified. The nurse then receives recognition and authorisation to use the professional title of ‘general nurse’. INGA care can be implemented in hospitals, nursing organisations and outpatient care services. As an adaptation period, INGA Pflege combines efficient professional recognition, effective familiarisation with the host institution and a strengthening of communication skills in the profession. This means it is sustainable and it also facilitates integration. The concept was originally created for general nurses from the Philippines. It has been further developed and the new version, INGA Pflege 3.0, can now be used for different countries of training. The initial piloting of INGA Pflege at three locations in Saxony, Brandenburg and Hamburg has already been successfully completed. With the support of the BMG, the launch of further piloting of INGA Pflege 3.0 started 2024 in five federal states.

Further information about INGA Pflege
Contact: Julia Schmidt (Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe)
Evandro Pflege / Adobe Stock
A group of doctors and nurses stand in the sunlight

National exchange formats simplify the professional recognition of medical professions

Initial solution: The recognition of healthcare professions is carried out by different competent authorities depending on the federal state or region. While the process of recognition is essentially regulated by federal law, interpretations or administrative practices can differ between the federal states. Since 2015, the Recognition Monitoring Department of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) has been organising exchange formats for the competent authorities on behalf of the BMBF, among other things to offer the authorities a platform and ensure greater uniformity.

Solution approach: A series of workshops is currently focusing, for example, on recommendations to the competent authorities in order to standardise document requirements in the context of recognition. More standardised requirements should make the process more transparent for professionals and advisory services.

A series of workshops is currently focusing, for example, on recommendations to the competent authorities in order to standardise document requirements in the context of recognition. More standardised requirements should make the process more transparent for professionals and advisory services.

Contact: Moritz Scholz (BIBB)
Halfpoint / Adobe Stock
Male nursery school teacher reads to a group of children

National exchange formats standardise the recognition of nursery school teacher occupations

Initial solution: The occupation of nursery school teacher is regulated at federal state level and, therefore, different regulations govern the recognition of nursery school teacher occupations. The processes involved also differ. On behalf of the BMBF, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training is working together in regular workshops with representatives from the federal states’ competent authorities and other federal state and federal government representatives to produce specific measures and recommendations aimed at harmonising the recognition processes.

Solution approach: These regular meetings of the relevant federal state recognition offices are offered by the BIBB recognition monitoring project to simplify and standardise recognition for nursery school teacher occupations.

Depending on the context, other participants also include representatives of the relevant federal state ministries, the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB), the IQ Competence Centre for Recognition and Job Training (FSAQ), the BMBF and the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). The presentation of the initial results in 2023 was well received: these included sample notices which have been developed to ensure greater transparency. Another tool is the sheet supplementing the sample notice. This sets out in visual form the stage in the procedure and the options available for the applicants to take. The results are also being incorporated into the overall strategy for nursery school teachers.

Recommendations of the ‘Overall Skilled Labour Strategy’ working group

Model notices

Contact: Katharina Gilljohann (BIBB)
St. Franziskus-Hospital Muenster
Thomas Thiemann, coordinator of nursing staff in recognition at St. Franziskus-Hospital Muenster with a nurse

The “Transkulturelle Integration in der Pflege (TIP)” [“Cross-cultural integration in nursing”] project supports general nurses in Muenster.

Initial solution: General nurses are needed across Germany. Having arrived in the country, however, it's not always easy for skilled workers from abroad: new job, coping with speaking German, official procedures – these are all challenges which have to be overcome. To help, the St. Franziskus Hospital in Muenster has set up the “Transkulturelle Integration in der Pflege (TIP)” project. And it’s been a great success.

Solution approach: The “Transkulturelle Integration in der Pflege” project is funded by the St. Franziskus Hospital and eases the pressures on skilled workers from other countries when beginning their new (working) lives.

The project aims to ensure that, over the long term, skilled workers also feel happy and content here in Germany. To support this, TIP focuses on learning support following the Montessori approach and on the clear separation of integration and nursing management. Support is also provided by a specifically designed, in-house German course which bridges the gap between classroom German and everyday language use. The project is effective: all participants have remained in Germany permanently – a retention rate of 100%.

Contact: Thomas Thiemann (St. Franziskus-Hospital Muenster)
Further information: Team Franziskus in the news
Unternehmen Berufsanerkennung
Good matching of skilled professionals through UBAconnect

UBAconnect

Initial solution: Together with the chambers of industry and commerce (IHKs) and the chambers of crafts and trades, the BMBF-funded “Professional recognition for business” (UBA) project is implementing the UBAconnect matching service in which international skilled workers with partial equivalence are brought together with businesses to complete refresher training. The reason for this is that businesses in Germany are facing the challenge of having to find qualified international skilled workers. At the same time, there are skilled workers who have already received partial equivalence but who are still searching for an employer to enable them to come to Germany from a third country and complete refresher training. They need this to obtain their full recognition.

Solution approach: Together with the IHKs and the chambers of crafts and trades, the “Professional recognition for business” project has set up the “UBAconnect” matching service.

Businesses which are interested can register in the UBAconnect database. They then have the opportunity of finding skilled workers with partial equivalence in IHK professions and in the craft trades. If a successful match is made, the skilled worker is initially employed for a fixed term period, i.e. for the duration of the refresher training. The business takes on parts of the training. Practical work experience is provided in the business. This includes experience of business processes and quality management or operation of specialist machines. In this way the skilled worker is supported on their path to gaining full recognition.  Both sides benefit from this: The international skilled workers receive their full recognition and the prospect of long-term permanent residency in Germany, and companies can recruit new skilled workers.

Contact: Verena Maisch (DIHK)
Further information about the work of UBAconnect

Report examples of good practice

Do you know of other examples that contribute to the optimization of recognition procedures? We would be happy to include your example on our website.

Share your experiences with us!