Training professions in the field of administration of justice; application for determination of equivalence of a foreign professional qualification

Access to numerous training occupations in the field of law (such as paralegal or notary's assistant) is not regulated in Germany. Admission to the profession is therefore not dependent on an applicant having the equivalence of foreign vocational training with a comparable profession in Germany established.

However, recognition of equivalence enables a graduate of foreign training to present their own qualifications transparently on the domestic labor market. In the case of recognition of equivalence, persons with foreign qualifications have the same rights and obligations as graduates of domestic qualifications.

• The following documents are required:
  • Tabular list of completed training courses and employment in German language
  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of training acquired abroad
  • Proof of relevant professional experience or other certificates of competence, if these are required to establish equivalence
  • Declaration that no application for determination of equivalence has yet been submitted
  • Documents showing that the applicant intends to pursue gainful employment in Germany equivalent to the professional qualification
    This is generally not necessary for applicants residing in a member state of the European Union, another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or in Switzerland, or for nationals of these member states.

  The competent authority will indicate the form in which the documents are to be submitted and whether translations of the documents are required.

The prerequisite for determining equivalence is that the applicant has acquired the ability to perform a comparable professional activity in Germany on the basis of their foreign professional qualification. In addition, there must be no significant differences between the proven professional qualification and the corresponding domestic professional qualification.

The equivalence of a foreign professional qualification is determined upon application. This must be submitted to the bar association or notary's office responsible for the respective domestic professional training and otherwise to the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice.

Equivalence can only be determined for training occupations that are covered by the scope of application of the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act or the Bavarian Professional Qualifications Assessment Act. It is therefore not possible to determine equivalence for the profession of Rechtspfleger, for example.