Recognition stakeholders
Professional recognition in Germany has many stakeholders. We present the key stakeholders to you in a summary.
Information portals for recognition
Since the Recognition Acts entered in force, the state government and the federal states established an extensive range of information structures aimed to support their implementation. The three information portals for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications are central in this context: Anerkennung in Deutschland, the anabin database and the BQ portal. Their close cooperation ensures high quality content and consistency.
“Anerkennung in Deutschland“ informs skilled workers, advisors and employers about the recognition of foreign professional qualifications. In the Recognition Finder, skilled workers learn details about the recognition procedure. The Profi-Filter provides experts with a quick overview of occupations, competent authorities and regulations. The portal is implemented on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) by the Federal Institute for Vocational education and training (BIBB).
The anabin database provides information about the assessment of foreign education certificates. It helps authorities, employers and private individuals to classify a foreign qualification within the German education system. The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) in the Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) is responsible for the content and technical function of the database.
anabin: Database of the Central Office for Foreign Education
The BQ Portal provides chambers and companies with a comprehensive online knowledge and working platform. Its purpose is to enable improved evaluation and assessment of foreign professional qualifications which are based on a dual initial or advanced vocational education and training qualification regulated at federal level as the reference occupation in Germany. The BQ Portal is implemented on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) by the German Economic Institute (IW).
BQ Portal – Information portal for foreign professional qualifications
Further recognition stakeholders and cooperation partners
Furthermore, “Anerkennung in Deutschland“ cooperates closely with several projects and institutions in the areas of professional recognition and integration of skilled workers.
Costs of a recognition procedure or a statement of compatibility can be reimbursed via the Federal Government's recognition grant. The funding is administered by the Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (f-bb) and made available by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
The hotline “Working and Living in Germany” provides advice on the subjects of recognition of foreign professional qualifications, entry and residence, learning German and seeking work, employment and careers. It is run jointly by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and the Federal Employment Agency (BA). It is based on cooperation between the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
“Make it in Germany” is the Federal Government's multilingual portal for skilled workers from abroad. It provides those interested in immigration as well as companies with reliable information on the subjects of entry and visas, seeking work and recruitment, as well as working and living in Germany. The portal is implemented on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) by the German Economic Institute (IW).
The “Integration through Qualification (IQ)” network provides information, one-to-one counselling and training on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications at a national level. Its objective is to improve labour market opportunities for people from a migration background. Network IQ is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) and the European Social Fund (ESF). Strategic partners in implementing the programme are the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
ProRecognition is a project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) which supports recognition counselling abroad. It is coordinated in close cooperation with the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) by DIHK Service GmbH. ProRecognition provides counselling at a local level for skilled workers in several countries and is based in the Chambers of Foreign Trade and in Delegations of German Industry and Commerce (AHKs).
Professional recognition for business (Unternehmen Berufsanerkennung, UBA) provides information to companies about the options for professional recognition and makes them aware of the opportunities for companies associated with this. UBA offers companies specific support as well as communication services and networking opportunities. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) , coordinated in the areas of industry and commerce by DIHK Service GmbH, and in the craft trades by the Central Agency for Continuing Vocational Education and Training in the Skilled Crafts (ZWH).
The Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) counsels skilled workers living abroad and supports them in the recognition procedure. The ZSBA expands on the initial counselling provided by the hotline “Working and Living in Germany”. It is based at the Centre for International Migration and Development (ZAV) in the Federal Employment Agency (BA) and is being funded for an initial phase of four years by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Stakeholders in the recognition process
Graphic stakeholders in the recognition process. In: Report on the Recognition Act 2023. Berlin: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
- Share this page:
By sharing this content, you agree that your information will be transferred to the respective service and that you have read the Privacy Policy