Apply for equivalence of the master craftsman examination
Description
There are around 200 professions in the skilled trades in Germany. 41 of these professions require a license:
- Optician
- Baker
- Container and apparatus builder
- Concrete block and terazzo maker
- Boat and ship builder
- Boat builder or cooper
- Well builder
- Gunsmith
- Surgical mechanic
- Roofer
- Wood turner (ivory carver) and wood toy maker or wood turner (ivory carver) and wood toy maker
- Electrical engineering technician
- Electrical engineer
- Screed layer
- Precision mechanic
- Butcher
- Tile, slab and mosaic layer
- Hairdresser
- Scaffolder
- Glassblower and glass apparatus maker
- Glazier
- Glass finisher
- Hearing aid acoustician
- Information technician
- Plumber and heating engineer
- Refrigeration plant fitter
- Car body and vehicle builder
- Plumber
- Confectioner
- Automotive technician
- Agricultural machinery mechanic
- Painter and varnisher
- Bricklayer and concrete worker
- Mechanic for tire and vulcanization technology
- Metal worker
- Stove and air heating fitter
- Organ and harmonium builder
- Orthopaedic shoemaker
- Orthopaedic technician
- Parquet layer
- Interior decorator
- Roller shutter and sun protection technician
- Sign and illuminated advertising sign maker
- Chimney sweep
- Rope maker
- Stonemason and stone sculptor
- Road builder
- Plasterer or stuccoer
- Carpenter
- Heat, cold and sound insulator
- Dental technician
- Carpenter
- Two-wheeler mechanic
These so-called master craftsman professions are regulated. This means that you may only work in these professions on a permanent basis if you are entered in the register of craftsmen. To be entered in the register of craftsmen, you must provide proof of a specific professional qualification in the relevant trade (master craftsman title).
You can also be entered in the register of craftsmen with a professional qualification from abroad. To do this, you must have your professional qualification recognized by the Chamber of Skilled Crafts. The recognition procedure is called "equivalence assessment".
After a successful equivalence assessment, you can be entered in the Register of Craftsmen. However, you will not receive a master craftsman title.
The Chambers of Crafts and Trades are responsible for determining equivalence in trades requiring a license. The Chambers of Skilled Crafts will advise you before you apply and identify the right trade for you.
Please note
For nationals of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, there is another recognition procedure: the granting of an exemption permit (§ 9 HwO). The chambers of skilled crafts will advise you.
- You have formal training in a skilled trade from abroad.
- You want to work in Germany in the relevant trade.
The Chamber of Skilled Crafts will inform you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally
- Proof of identity (passport or identity card)
- List in tabular form of your training and professional experience (curriculum vitae)
- Proof of training
- Certificate of the type and duration of relevant professional experience
- If the profession is regulated in your country of training: a certificate stating that you are authorized to practice the profession in your country of training. The certificate must be from the competent authority in your country of training.
- Declaration that you have not yet submitted an application for equivalence assessment
- Possibly proof that you wish to work in Germany (not required for applicants from the EU/EEA/Switzerland)
The Chamber of Skilled Crafts 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.
The Chamber of Crafts will inform you about the costs. The costs generally depend on the time and effort required for processing.
Additional costs may be incurred (e.g. for translations or notarization of your documents). These costs vary from case to case.
None.
Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The Chamber of Skilled Crafts will then inform you of this. You must then submit the documents. A deadline may be set for this.
The Chamber of Skilled Crafts will confirm that your documents have arrived after a maximum of one month. The Chamber of Skilled Crafts 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.
For professional qualifications from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, the procedure may be extended by a maximum of one month.
- Forms: Forms can be obtained from the Chambers of Crafts.
- Online procedure possible: Via the Single Point of Contact
- Written form requirement: possibly
- Personal appearance necessary: no
- You submit an "Application for equivalence assessment" to the Chamber of Skilled Crafts.
- For professional qualifications from the EU/EEA/Switzerland: You can submit the application and the documents directly to the Chamber of Skilled Crafts or to the Single Point of Contact. You can also submit the application electronically via the Single Point of Contact.
- The Chamber of Skilled Crafts 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 then receive the notification of equivalence by post or electronically (notification of recognition).
- If your professional qualification is not equivalent, it will not be recognized. You will then receive notification of the differences in your professional qualification. You then have the right to a compensation measure: this can be an adaptation period or an aptitude test. If you successfully complete the compensation measure, you will receive the notice of equivalence.
- With the notice of equivalence, you can be entered in the Register of Craftsmen. To do this, you must submit an "Application for entry in the Register of Craftsmen".
- You can take legal action against the decision of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts. The decision will then be reviewed. We recommend that you talk to the Chamber of Skilled Crafts first before taking legal action against the decision.
- Freedom to provide services
If you are established in an EU, EEA or Swiss country, you do not need to be registered in the Register of Craftsmen for temporary and occasional work as a service provider in Germany. You do not need recognition of your professional qualification. However, special requirements apply: You must notify the Chamber of Skilled Crafts of your work prior to your first activity. The chambers of skilled crafts will provide you with information. - Qualification analysis
Have you completed formal training but cannot provide all the necessary documents? Then you may be allowed to undergo a qualification analysis. This means that you can provide practical proof of your professional skills. - Procedure for late repatriates
As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either according to the laws mentioned here or according to the Federal Expellee Act. You can decide for yourself.
§ 50b HwO
§§ 9 ff. BQFG
§ 8 Para. 1 No. 2 BQFG
Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
26.10.2018
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
