Would you like to have your foreign professional qualification recognized in Germany? Then you'll be like over 71,000 skilled workers in 2024 alone. The process is feasible - if you know what's important.
In this guide you will learn:
✓ which authority is responsible for you
✓ which documents you need
✓ what it all costs - and who pays for it
✓ how long the recognition procedure takes
✓ what happens in the event of partial recognition
✓ Why nursing professionals have particularly good opportunities
At TalentOrbit, we accompany international nursing professionals through this very process every year - from the application to the professional certificate. What we see: Most delays are not caused by the authorities, but by avoidable mistakes in the run-up. This article is intended to help you avoid these mistakes.
During recognition, your foreign professional qualification is compared with the corresponding German reference occupation. The competent authority checks: Do the training content, duration and skills match? The result is an official notification - the so-called recognition notice, based on an equivalence check.
Since 2012, all skilled workers with a foreign professional qualification have been legally entitled to this procedure. This applies regardless of nationality, country of origin or residence status. The legal basis is the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (BQFG), commonly known as the Recognition Act. It covers over 600 professions.
Regulated professions (nursing, medicine, pharmacy, teaching): Without recognition, you are simply not allowed to practice this profession in Germany. There is no gray area. A nurse from Tunisia who works as a nurse in a German hospital without a certificate of recognition is acting illegally - and so is her employer.
Non-regulated professions (business people, IT, many skilled trades): You can also work here without recognition. But: A study by the IAB (Institute for Employment Research) shows that full recognition increases the probability of employment by 17 percentage points within one year. After three years, it even increases by 25 percentage points. Recognition protects against de-qualification - i.e. from permanently working below your qualification level.
One of the most common mistakes we see in practice: Applications are sent to the wrong authority. This costs weeks. So here is an overview:
| Your profession | Responsible body | Example |
| Nursing, medicine, physiotherapy | State health authority of the federal state in which you want to work | LAGeSo Berlin, LfP Bavaria, RP Stuttgart, HLfGP Hesse |
| Commercial/technical training | IHK FOSA - centralized nationwide | Industrial clerk, mechatronics technician, IT specialist |
| Craft | Chambers of Crafts (HWK) | Baker, automotive mechatronics technician, master hairdresser |
| Academic degree (not regulated) | ZAB - Central Office for Foreign Education | Computer scientist, business economist, biologist |
| Professions under national law | State authorities | Teacher, educator, engineer (title protection) |
Practical tip: The recognition finder on anerkennung-in-deutschland.de shows you in just a few clicks which office is responsible for your profession and your federal state. Use this tool before you compile any documents.
If you are still living abroad, you can get free advice from the Central Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) at the Federal Employment Agency. The ZSBA supports the entire process up to entry - by e-mail at re*********@************ur.de or by telephone via the „Working and Living in Germany“ hotline.
The procedure is always essentially the same, regardless of whether you are a nurse from India or an electrician from Serbia. The details vary depending on the profession and federal state.
This sounds banal, but in practice it is the most common stumbling block. What you need:
Certified copies of your training certificate and professional certificate. A detailed overview of the subjects and hours of your training - the more detailed, the better. Proof of professional experience with employer certificates. A medical certificate of good health. Police clearance certificate from your country of origin and, if you already live in Germany, also from here. Certified translations of all foreign-language documents by sworn translators.
From our experience: By far the most common reason for delays is missing or incorrectly certified time sheets. Some universities abroad do not issue these as standard - you must actively ask for them. It can be difficult to obtain documents for specialists from Ukraine if archives have been destroyed. In such cases, it is possible to make individual arrangements with the authorities.
You submit the application to the office responsible for your profession and your federal state. Some federal states already offer online applications - for example Hesse via the HLfGP. In most cases, it is still done by post or email.
The authority systematically compares your training with the German reference qualification. If the documents are complete, this usually takes three to four months. Incomplete applications delay the process considerably - often by months.
You will receive one of three possible results:
Full recognition: Your degree is equivalent. You are allowed to work in your profession immediately. In 2024, this was the case for 43 percent of all procedures.
Condition (compensatory measure): There are differences that need to be compensated for - for example through a knowledge test or an adaptation period. This affected around 45 percent of procedures in 2024. This is the rule in nursing.
Partial recognition: For 10 percent of procedures. Equivalence is only determined for parts. In non-regulated professions, you can work with it and obtain full recognition later.
The rejection rate in 2024 was just one percent. This means that almost everyone who submits an application receives at least partial recognition.
Nursing is the epicenter of recognition of foreign qualifications in Germany. 22,425 applications in 2024 alone - more than for any other profession. Three quarters of all applications for recognition in Germany come from the healthcare sector.
The reason is simple: Germany needs nurses more urgently than almost anything else. And the nursing profession is regulated - no one is allowed to work independently as a nurse without a recognized qualification.
What we see in our daily work: Many international nursing staff come to Germany with an excellent education - often even at university level. Nevertheless, they fail not because of a lack of knowledge, but because of the language and a lack of knowledge of the German care system. The expertise is there. What is missing is the bridge.
Following the assessment notice, nursing professionals have the right to choose between two paths to full recognition. Both lead to the same goal - but the path is fundamentally different.
| Knowledge test | Adaptation course | |
| Duration | 3-6 months preparation, then exam date | 6-11 months, depending on the deficit decision |
| Format | Oral + practical examination (care situation) | Theory (approx. 200 units) + supervised practical assignments |
| Conclusion | Pass or fail; can be repeated once | Final discussion after each area of application |
| Plannability | Fixed time frame, easy to calculate | Variable duration, depending on the individual case |
| Ideal for | Experienced specialists with good German and practical experience in DE | New arrivals who are just getting to know the German system |
Honest assessment: If you have already worked as a nursing assistant in Germany for one or two years and have a solid B2 knowledge, you are better off taking the knowledge test. If you have recently arrived and are not yet familiar with the German care system, you should choose the adaptation course - it offers more security and accompanied learning.
Practical example: A nurse from the Philippines who we accompanied in 2024 had seven years of professional experience in a hospital in Manila and spoke fluent German at B2 level. She decided to take the knowledge test, passed on her first attempt after four months of preparation and now works as a fully recognized nurse in a clinic in Bavaria. The entire process from application to professional certificate took nine months.
Since January 1, 2025, all recognition procedures in nursing have been carried out exclusively in accordance with the Nursing Professions Act (PflBG). The previous regulations under the Nursing Act and the Geriatric Nursing Act have expired. What this means in concrete terms is that assessment is now based on competencies instead of purely comparing hours. This is a step forward because it better reflects the reality of modern nursing training - but it makes the process more demanding for the authorities.
No. Professional recognition as a nurse is not possible without formal proof of training. The nursing profession is regulated because the protection of patients takes priority. Anyone with practical experience but no qualification can work as a nursing assistant, depending on the federal state - in some federal states, nursing assistants are not subject to a permit requirement.
Are you a nursing professional from abroad and would like to have your qualification recognized in Germany? TalentOrbit accompanies We will guide you through the entire process - from the application to the professional certificate. Contact us for a free initial consultation.
The costs vary depending on the profession and federal state. Recognition in nursing - including language courses and preparatory training - can cost between 4,000 and 10,000 euros in total. That sounds a lot. But: a large part of this is eligible for funding.
| Position | Costs |
| Application fees (equivalence check) | 100 - 600 € |
| Certified translations | 150 - 500 € |
| Knowledge test preparation course | 1.000 - 3.000 € |
| Knowledge test fee | 1.000 - 1.500 € |
| Professional certificate | 110 - 165 € |
| Language courses (up to B2) | 1.500 - 4.000 € |
New conditions for the recognition grant have applied since January 2025. Anyone who has their main place of residence in Germany and can prove that they have a low income can receive funding for fees, translation costs, qualification measures and even travel and accommodation costs. There is also the education voucher from the employment agency, which can finance 100 percent of preparatory courses, and the Qualification Opportunities Act, through which employers receive a refund if they register their employees for the examination.
Typical error: Do not apply for the recognition grant until after you have submitted your application. This is not possible. The application for funding must be submitted before the application for recognition - retroactive assumption of costs is excluded.
Although the Recognition Act applies nationwide, practical implementation differs from state to state. Anyone recruiting internationally should be aware of the differences - because they have a noticeable impact on the duration, costs and process of the procedure.
| Country | Job (Care) | Special features |
| Berlin | LAGeSo | 6-month adaptation courses at the Berlin education campus; high number of applications |
| Bavaria | LfP | Three-stage adaptation courses; special regulations for long-term care until the end of 2025 |
| Baden-Württemberg | RP Stuttgart | Competence-based assessment since 01/2025; new concept under development |
| NRW | BR Münster | Central responsibility for all nursing and healthcare professions since 07/2021 |
| Lower Saxony | LS Lüneburg | +17.6 % applications in 2024; strongest origin: Ukraine, Turkey |
| Hesse | HLfGP | Online application possible; PQZ Hessen provides support even before entry |
| Hamburg | ZAA / Diaconia | Hamburg's own support program; ZAA as a specialized advice center |
If you are a clinic, nursing home or outpatient service hiring skilled workers from abroad, recognition is not just a matter for the applicant. On the contrary: employers who actively support the process gain their skilled workers more quickly, retain them for longer and avoid costly delays.
In concrete terms, this means: Support you in compiling the application documents. Organize language courses at B2 level. Register your employees for preparatory courses. Provide practical instructors for the adaptation course. And above all: make use of the accelerated skilled worker procedure.
In the accelerated procedure for skilled workers, the employer submits the application to the central immigration authority. Nursing professionals cannot submit this application themselves. The advantage: the entire process - from recognition to the visa - is coordinated centrally and significantly accelerated.
Practical example: One nursing home in North Rhine-Westphalia that we work with has four nursing homes in 2024. Nursing staff from Georgia via the accelerated skilled worker procedure. It took eight months from the first contact to the start of work with a provisional work permit. Two of the four specialists have now passed the knowledge test and are working as fully recognized care professionals. The other two are currently on a preparatory course.
Are you looking for international nursing staff for your facility? TalentOrbit International takes over the entire Recruitment process - from the selection of candidates in the countries of origin to sustainable integration. Get non-binding advice now.
Even though nursing is the most common recognition procedure, professional recognition in Germany is by no means limited to healthcare professions. Technical and commercial training occupations account for around 25 percent of all procedures.
Electronics technician, mechatronics technician, automotive mechatronics technician, plant mechanic - the IHK FOSA in Nuremberg is responsible for these and around 350 other IHK training occupations throughout Germany. The recognition procedure here typically takes three to four months. The advantage: as most technical professions are not regulated, you can already work during the process.
Skilled trades such as baker, hairdresser or automotive mechatronics technician are examined by the chambers of skilled trades. In some cases, the master craftsman title is a prerequisite for self-employment - which makes recognition particularly relevant for founders.
The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) in Bonn is responsible for higher education qualifications. The ZAB assessment places your foreign qualification in the German education system and compares it with a German reference qualification. The fee is 208 euros and the processing time is four to twelve weeks.
Important: The ZAB assessment is not a professional recognition in the strict sense. It is an assessment that helps employers to classify your qualification. For regulated academic professions such as doctor, pharmacist or engineer (in federal states with title protection), you also need professional recognition from the respective state authority.
Regardless of the profession, the equivalence assessment follows the same principle: your training content, duration and acquired skills are compared with the German reference profession. Professional experience can compensate for significant differences - an experienced electrician with 15 years of practical experience has a better chance of full recognition than a newcomer, even if their formal training was shorter.
The recognition procedure deliberately takes into account not only certificates, but also informally and non-formally acquired skills. A qualification analysis - i.e. a practical work sample - is possible if documents are missing or incomplete.
Many applicants are alarmed when they receive a notification with conditions. Wrongly so. Partial recognition or a decision with compensatory measures is not a failure - it is the completely normal path to full recognition.
In nursing, over 80 percent of all applicants initially receive a decision with conditions. This is not because the training is bad, but because the German requirements are very specific - particularly in the areas of care process planning, legal framework conditions and quality management.
Typical misunderstandings: „My application was rejected“ - we often hear this when someone has received a decision with conditions. In fact, nothing has been rejected. The decision says: 60, 70 or 80 percent of your qualification is equivalent, and for the rest you have to complete a clearly defined measure. The rejection rate is one percent - not 45 percent.
For non-regulated professions, you can work immediately with partial recognition - the notification documents which qualifications are recognized. This is already sufficient for many employers.
The most common question we hear: How long does it all take? Here is a realistic timeline for a nurse who is abroad:
Months 1-2: Collect documents, have them notarized and translated. This can take longer for documents from countries that are difficult to obtain (Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan).
Month 3: Application to the responsible state authority.
Months 4-6: Equivalence check by the authorities. In some cases faster with complete documents and accelerated skilled worker procedure.
Months 7-12: Compensatory measure (knowledge test or adaptation course), parallel to language courses and possibly first employment as a nursing assistant.
Month 12-15: Full recognition and professional certificate as a nursing specialist.
In total: 9 to 15 months from the first step to full professional practice. With professional support, this tends to be at the lower end. Without, more likely at the upper end - or significantly longer if documents have to be submitted later.
Three to four months for complete documents. Often faster with an accelerated skilled worker procedure. Incomplete applications delay everything.
In regulated professions such as nursing: only with a temporary work permit, usually as a nursing assistant. This is limited in time.
For the application itself: no. For the professional certificate in regulated professions: yes, B2 is mandatory. Some federal states also require a specialist language test.
Each part of the examination can be repeated once. Passed parts continue to count. After that, the adaptation period is possible as an alternative.
Yes, recognition as a nursing specialist is valid nationwide.
Fees between 100 and 600 euros. With language courses and exam preparation, a total of 4,000 to 10,000 euros - mostly eligible for funding.
The ZAB evaluates academic university degrees. IHK FOSA assesses the equivalence of around 350 IHK training professions. Neither is responsible for nursing professions - here the state health authorities decide.
The recognition system is on the move. The most important innovations:
Record figures 2024: 55,300 new applications for federal appointments, 66,900 procedures decided. Applications from Ukraine rose by 143 percent to 3,500. The strongest countries of origin: Turkey, India, Tunisia. Indian applications with a focus on nursing grew by 50 percent.
Digital application service: Together with the portal anerkennung-in-deutschland.de, BIBB is setting up a digital application service that will make the entire process possible online. A BIBB study is also investigating whether machine translations can speed up the process and reduce costs.
Skilled Immigration Act (reformed 2023/2024): Significantly facilitates the immigration of qualified skilled workers. The accelerated skilled worker procedure makes the path from recruitment to the work visa significantly faster and easier to plan.
We don't just do this in theory. TalentOrbit International accompanies nursing professionals and employers through the entire recognition process - daily, practically, from the first consultation to the professional certificate.
For applicants: We coordinate the application process, help with the compilation of documents, arrange language courses and preparatory courses and stay on the case until recognition is granted. For employers: We take care of recruitment, from candidate selection and visa organization to integration on site.
Do you have any questions? Contact us for a free initial consultation - we will respond within 24 hours.