Profession in industry, trade and services; application for recognition of a foreign professional qualification for a profession regulated by national law

If you have obtained a qualification abroad in a profession that is regulated by state law in Bavaria, you can have it recognized. Recognition can give you better opportunities on the Bavarian job market.

The Bavarian Act on the Determination of the Equivalence of Foreign Professional Qualifications (BayBQFG) enables the recognition of foreign professional qualifications in professions that are regulated by state law in Bavaria in accordance with Sections 54, 66 and 71 (2) of the Vocational Training Act (BBiG).

The professions regulated by state law that can be recognized by the responsible Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) are non-regulated professions. This means that you can work in these professions even without recognition of your foreign qualification. During the recognition process, your professional qualification is compared with the content of the corresponding Bavarian vocational training. After this equivalence check, you will receive a notification of full or partial equivalence. This notification helps Bavarian employers to better classify your qualification and can therefore give you better opportunities on the Bavarian labor market.

• The following documents are required:
  • Curriculum vitae (tabular list of education and training completed and employment).
  • Proof of identity (identity card or passport, if applicable proof of change of name in colour copy)
  • Foreign proof of education (diploma) - in original language in colour copy and in German or English translation (original or colour copy)
  • If available: Evidence of relevant professional experience (e.g. employment references, work books, letters of reference) - in original language in colour copy and in German or English translation in colour copy.
  • If available: Other evidence of qualifications (e.g. certificates of further training or retraining) - in original language in colour copy and in German or English translation in colour copy.
  • Only for persons who are not citizens of the EU/EEA/Switzerland or who live outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland: Declaration of intention to work (e.g. proof of application for an entry visa for gainful employment, proof of contact with an employer).
  • Information on the content of the foreign qualification (e.g. syllabus, overview of subjects) - in original language in colour copy and in German or English translation in colour copy

All persons who have completed a foreign professional qualification and wish to work in the Free State of Bavaria are eligible to apply. Country of origin and residence status are not relevant for the recognition procedure.

Objection or administrative court action

To apply for professional recognition, send the required documents by post or electronically to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce responsible for you. After four weeks at the latest, you will receive confirmation that the documents have been received, and any missing documents will be requested. The letter will also include a fee notice with the necessary payment information.

As soon as all documents are complete and the fees have been received, the equivalence assessment procedure begins. The IHK uses the documents to compare whether there are any significant differences between the foreign professional qualification and the corresponding Bavarian profession. If this is the case, the IHK assesses whether these are compensated for by proven professional experience or further qualifications (e.g. further training). After 3 months at the latest, the IHK will issue an official and legally binding decision on the result of the examination, listing the existing qualifications and any missing qualifications.

Between 100 and 600 euros, depending on the estimated costs.

As the applicant, you must bear these costs yourself. You may also incur additional personal costs (e.g. for translations or notarizations). Under certain conditions, you can receive financial support for these costs.

Responsibilities

The chambers of industry and commerce are responsible for certain professions throughout Bavaria in accordance with chamber regulations.