Dietician with training from EU/EEA/Switzerland, recognise professional qualification

You would like to work as a dietician in Germany? Then you need a state permit. To obtain the state permit, you can have your foreign professional qualification recognised.

The profession of dietician is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to be able to work as a dietician in Germany, you need a state permit. With this permit, you may use the professional title "dietician" and work in the profession.

Even with a professional qualification from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can obtain state permission from the competent authority in Germany.

In order to obtain the permit, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognised.

In the recognition procedure, the competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks the equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of the state permit.

In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must also meet other requirements for the granting of the permit. Further requirements are, for example, sufficient German language skills and health suitability.

If your professional qualification does not come from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply.

You can also submit the application for the procedure from abroad.

Hessian State Office for Health and Care

The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally

• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of training
• Proof of your relevant professional experience as a dietitian
• Proof of other relevant knowledge for working as a dietician
• You do not yet live or work in Germany? Then you may need to provide proof: You want to work in the profession in Germany. Proof includes, for example, applications for a job, invitations to job interviews, personal statement
  

You usually submit these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when you should submit the documents:

• Proof of your personal suitability: criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
• Proof of your health suitability: Medical certificate. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
• Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate

The responsible office will let you know which documents you need to submit as a simple copy, a certified copy or the original.

• You have a professional qualification as a dietitian from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
• You want to work as a dietitian in Germany.
• Personal suitability: You are reliable for working as a dietitian and have no criminal record.
• Health suitability: You are mentally and physically fit to work as a dietitian.
• You have German language skills at the required level. This is normally language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (e.g. lodge an objection). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first speak to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

Application

You submit an application for permission to use the professional title "dietician" to the competent authority. You can hand in the application with the documents to the competent body or send it by post. Do not send originals. Sometimes you can send the application electronically. The competent body will inform you.

Checking the equivalence

The competent body will then check whether you meet all the requirements. One important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a dietician. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

Possible results of the examination

If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognised. The competent body can confirm the result to you in writing. You still have to fulfil the other requirements. Then you will be granted permission to use the professional title "Diätassistentin" or "Diätassistent".

Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? Perhaps you can compensate for the differences through your professional practice, other knowledge or skills (lifelong learning). You have to prove the professional practice. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority of the state in which you acquired the knowledge or skills.

However, it may be that the essential differences cannot be compensated by this knowledge. In this case, your foreign professional qualification will not be recognised. You will then not be allowed to work as a dietician in Germany.

However, the competent authority will tell you the essential differences and why you cannot compensate for the essential differences through your professional practice.

In most cases, you will be able to take a compensatory measure. This will enable you to compensate for the substantial differences.

Compensatory measures

There are different compensatory measures:

• Adaptation course: the adaptation course lasts a maximum of three years.
• Aptitude test: In the aptitude test, only the areas in which substantial differences have been identified are tested. The aptitude test consists of a practical examination.

You can choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test.

If you successfully complete the compensatory measure and meet all other requirements, you will be granted permission to use the professional title "dietician".

None.

Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you have to submit the documents.

Additional costs may also be incurred (e.g. for translations, notarizations or compensation measures). These costs vary from case to case.

Freedom to provide services

Do you only want to offer services in Germany occasionally and for a short time? Then you usually do not need a state permit. You must fulfill these requirements:

• You must be established in another EU or EEA member state or in Switzerland.
• You must provide proof of your professional qualification.
• You must notify the competent authority of your activity in writing.

The competent authority will inform you whether you are permitted to provide services or whether you need to take an aptitude test.

Notification of equivalence

The equivalence assessment (recognition procedure) also takes place during the authorization procedure. You can apply for a separate decision on the result of the examination.

Procedure for ethnic German repatriates

As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either in accordance with the laws mentioned here or in accordance with the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide for yourself. The responsible office will advise you which procedure is right for you.