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Profession in the skilled crafts sector; applying for recognition of a foreign professional qualification

If you want to work permanently on a self-employed basis in a non-regulated profession, you do not need a specific professional qualification. You have the right to a recognition procedure for your foreign professional qualification.

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Procedure details

There are around 200 different professions in the skilled trades in Germany.

For 53 professions in the skilled trades, you need a specific professional qualification. These are the "trades requiring a license". Only with the necessary professional qualification may you work independently in these professions on a permanent basis. Further regulations apply to these 53 regulated professions (see "Related topics").

All other professions in the skilled trades are not regulated. This means that you do not need a specific professional qualification if you want to work in these professions on a permanent basis.
You do not need to have your foreign professional qualification recognized. However, you have the right to a recognition procedure. The procedure is called "equivalence assessment". An equivalence assessment brings you advantages:

  • At the end of the procedure, you will receive a notice of equivalence. The notification is proof of your professional qualification.
  • The decision is an official and legally binding document. You and your employers can rely on its contents.
  • The certificate increases your chances on the job market. Employers can better assess your professional qualification with the certificate.

The regional chambers of skilled crafts are responsible for determining equivalence in the skilled crafts sector.

The competent bodies will advise you before you submit your application and identify the right occupation for you in the skilled trades sector.

  • You have formal training in a skilled trade from abroad.
  • You would like to work in Germany in the profession in question.

  • The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit.

    Important documents are generally

    • Proof of identity (passport or identity card)
    • Fully completed application form
    • List in tabular form of your education and professional experience (curriculum vitae)
    • Proof of training
    • Certificate of the type and duration of relevant professional experience
    • Declaration that you have not yet submitted an application for equivalence assessment
    • Proof that you wish to work in Germany (not required for applicants from the EU/EEA/Switzerland)

    The responsible office will inform you which documents you must submit in the original or as a certified copy.

    You must submit your documents in German. The translations must be made by publicly appointed or authorized translators.

  • You submit a written "Application for equivalence assessment" with the necessary documents to the competent body.
  • For professional qualifications from the EU/EEA/Switzerland: You can submit the application and the documents directly to the competent body or to the Single Point of Contact. You can also submit the application electronically via the Point of Single Contact.
  • The competent body will then compare your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and check the equivalence. If your professional qualification is equivalent, it will be recognized. You will receive the notification of equivalence (notification of recognition) in the post.
  • If your professional qualification is not equivalent, it will not be recognized. You will receive notification of the differences in your foreign professional qualification. You can use this notification to gain further qualifications and later submit a new application for equivalence assessment.

The procedure is subject to a fee. The fee framework of the respective Chamber of Skilled Crafts, which is set out in the individual fee regulations and schedules of the Chambers of Skilled Crafts, is decisive for issuing the notification. For example, fees of EUR 100.00-600.00 are generally charged for the notification of the equivalence assessment of foreign training certificates in accordance with § 40a HwO in conjunction with the Act on the Assessment of the Equivalence of Professional Qualifications (Professional Qualifications Assessment Act -BQFG). The actual amount of the fees depends on the amount of work involved in the procedure. Additional costs may also be incurred (e.g. for translations or notarization of documents). These costs vary from case to case. The Chamber of Crafts will inform you about the costs.

The competent authority will inform you of any missing documents. You will also be informed by when you have to submit them.

The responsible office will confirm that your documents have arrived after a maximum of one month. The competent office will inform you if any documents are missing.

If all the necessary documents are available, the procedure will take a maximum of 3 months.

In individual cases, the procedure may be extended once.

Administrative recourse is available against the decision of the Chamber in accordance with Section 40 VwGO.

Status: 17.12.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Landesentwicklung und Energie
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