Recognition of foreign professional qualifications

The application for professional recognition is free of charge at HIBB.

Yes. If you cannot provide certain documents, please submit a written statement explaining why you no longer have them and exactly what those documents are. We can work together to find a solution.

No, we do not require notarized copies, apostilles, or legalizations.

Before you submit an application, we recommend that you seek advice from the Central Service Office for Professional Recognition: Zentrale Servicestelle Berufsanerkennung (ZSBA). There are many authorities responsible for professional recognition in Germany. It is important to find out through a consultation where you need to submit your application. During the consultation, you can also obtain information on financing the costs and entry into Germany. You can also find information yourself here: Recognition in Germany: Anerkennung in Deutschland

Please never send original documents. We do not require certified copies, apostilles, or legalization.

The legal processing period is a maximum of 3 months. Please note: Processing does not begin until all required documents have been submitted.

No, you can submit the application even if you don’t speak German. To participate in an adaptation program, you usually need to have German language skills at the B2 level.

You can reach us by email or phone. We only arrange personal appointments after the application has been submitted in full. If you need general advice on professional recognition, please contact a counselling centre: Beratungsstelle

Yes, you can get counseling by phone or contact us by email at any time. We’re happy to answer your questions.

Information about regulated and unregulated professions:
Do you have a foreign professional qualification as an educator or a care and support professional for people with disabilities? These professions are regulated in Germany. This means that in order to work in Germany under this professional title without restrictions, you need to have your qualification recognized.

All other professions on the list above are unregulated. This means you do not need professional recognition to work as a technician, for example. However, having professional recognition is very helpful for your chances on the job market. This way, the employer knows exactly which German profession your qualification is comparable to and can hire you accordingly.

You can guide yourself using the TV-L S collective bargaining agreement (collective bargaining agreement for the public sector of the federal states for employees in social and educational services). Educators (primary staff) are generally classified in pay grade S8a or S8b, and social pedagogical assistants (secondary staff) in pay grade S3 or S4.

Are there significant but compensable differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? If so, your professional qualification will be partially recognized. You can then complete a compensatory measure to balance out the identified differences.

There are various compensatory measures:

• Adaptation course: You are employed and complete a course or further training alongside your job.
• Aptitude test: You take an exam to demonstrate your competencies.
• Catching up on practical experience: You obtain practical work experience to balance out the identified differences.

You can choose between an adjustment course or an aptitude test. If you successfully complete the compensatory measures, you will receive full recognition.

Staatliche Fachschule für Sozialpädagogik FSP2 (BS21)
State Technical College for Social Pedagogy FSP2 (BS21)
Max-Brauer-Allee 134
22765 Hamburg
Phone: +49 40 428 11 – 1703
E-mail: aqua@fsp2-altona.de
Internet: www.fsp2-hamburg.de

Yes and no. It depends on exactly what you studied. You generally have no chance of obtaining professional recognition as an educator if you are (a) a teacher of a specific subject, such as English or mathematics, etc., or if you are (b) a secondary school teacher, or if you have (c) teacher training below the bachelor’s degree level.
People who have a bachelor’s degree in elementary education have a chance of obtaining partial professional recognition as an educator in Hamburg.

Yes. There is a “Positive List” Positivliste in Hamburg. It is a regulation issued by the Department of Schools, Family, and Vocational Training on April 1, 2025, regarding the employment of childcare staff in daycare centers and all-day care programs at schools. It specifies which professional qualifications allow you to work in a daycare center or in all-day care at a school without state recognition. Individuals with a qualification listed on the Positive List may work there as a senior staff member (comparable to an Educator) or as a support staff member (comparable to a social pedagogical assistant). This requires a statement of academic qualifications from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) Zeugnisbewertung confirming your academic degree. For non-academic qualifications, you must apply for a “digital statement of professional qualifications” “digitale Auskunft zur Berufsqualifikation”. This allows you to apply directly for jobs and refer to the positive list in your cover letter. No additional recognition or approval from another authority is required for this.

In that case, you can also work as a career changer. Once you have found an employer who would like to hire you, they can apply for approval from the Hamburg Daycare Supervisory Authority Kita-Aufsicht. The employer submits the application for approval.

A regulation issued by the Authority for Schools, Family, and Vocational Training on April 1, 2025, regarding the employment of educator staff in child day care centers and all-day care programs at schools. It specifies which professional qualifications allow individuals to work in a child day care center or in an all-day care program at a school without state recognition. The regulation is available here: Hier

If you have questions about the positive list, please contact the Daycare Supervisory Authority: Kita-Aufsicht

All costs incurred in connection with professional recognition may be covered by the Employment Agency or the Job Center if you apply in advance and are a registered client there. If your application is denied or if you are employed in a position below your professional qualifications, you can apply for funding from the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg’s scholarship program through the Central Advisory Office for Recognition (ZAA). Costs for German translations, certified copies, and adaptation measures may be covered.

Yes. Once you have received professional recognition from a responsible authority, you have the same professional rights as someone who completed their training in Germany.

Section 10(3) of the Hamburg Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (HmbBQFG) states:

Where the competent authority of a federal state has determined equivalence, the holder of this professional qualification shall be treated, to that extent, as having acquired the regulated professional qualification under the law of that federal state.