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Source: BUS Sachsen-Anhalt (Linie6PLus)

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Apply for equivalence of the master craftsman's examination

Description

There are about 200 professions in the craft sector in Germany. 41 of these professions are subject to authorisation:

Optometrist
Baker
Container and apparatus builder or container and apparatus builder
Concrete block and terazzo manufacturer or concrete block and terazzo manufacturer
Boat and shipbuilder or shipbuilder
Bötther or Böttcherin
Well builder or well builder
Gunsmith or gunsmith
Surgical mechanic
Roofer or roofer
Turner (ivory carver) and wood chipper or turner (ivory carver) and wooden toy maker
Electrical machine builder or electrical machine builder
Electrical engineer
Screed layer
Precision mechanic
Butcher
Tile, slab and mosaic layer or tile, slab and mosaic layer
Hairdresser or hairdresser
Scaffolding builder
Glassblowers and glass apparatus builders
Glazier or glazier
Glass refiner or glass refiner
Hearing care professional
Information Technician
Installer and heating engineer
Refrigeration system builder
Body and vehicle builder
Plumber
Pastry chef
Automotive technician
Agricultural machinery mechanic
Painter and varnisher or painter
Bricklayer and concrete builder or bricklayer and concrete builder
Mechanic for tire and vulcanization technology
Metal worker
Furnace and air heating engineer or air heating engineer
Organ and harmonium builder or organ and harmonium builder
Orthopaedic shoemaker or orthopaedic shoemaker
Orthopaedic technician
Parquet layer
Interior decorator
Roller shutter and sun protection technician or roller shutter and sun protection technician
Sign and light advertising manufacturer or sign and light advertising manufacturer
Chimney sweep or chimney sweep
Rope or rope maker
Stonemason and stone sculptor
Road builder
Stukkateur or Stukkateurin
Carpenter
Heat, cold and sound insulation or sound insulation
Dental technician
Carpenter
Two-wheeler mechanic

These so-called master professions are regulated. This means that you may only work permanently independently in these professions if you are registered in the register of craftsmen. In order to be registered in the register of craftsmen, you must prove a certain professional qualification in the corresponding craft (master craftsman's title).

Even with a professional qualification from abroad, you can be entered in the register of craftsmen. To do this, you must have your professional qualification recognised by the Chamber of Crafts. The recognition procedure is called "equivalence determination".

After a successful equivalence determination, you can be entered in the register of craftsmen. However, they do not receive a championship title.

The Chambers of Crafts are responsible for determining equivalence in crafts subject to authorisation. The Chambers of Crafts will advise you before the application is submitted and identify the right profession in the trades for you.

Hint:
For citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, there is another recognition procedure: the granting of the exemption permit (§ 9 HwO).

Process flow

You submit an "application for equivalence assessment" to the Chamber of Crafts.
For professional qualifications from the EU/EEA/Switzerland: You can submit the application and the documents directly to the Chamber of Crafts or to the Point of Single Contact. You can also submit the application electronically via the Point of Single Contact.
The Chamber of Crafts then compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks its equivalence. If your professional qualification is equivalent, it will be recognised. You will then receive the notice of equivalence by post or electronically (recognition notice).
If your professional qualification is not equivalent, it will not be recognised. You will then receive a notification of the differences in your professional qualifications. You then have the right to a compensatory measure: this can be an adaptation course or an aptitude test. If you successfully complete the compensatory measure, you will receive the certificate of equivalence.
With the decision of equivalence, you can be entered in the register of craftsmen. To do this, you must submit an "application for registration in the register of craftsmen".
You can take legal action against the decision of the Chamber of Crafts. The decision is then reviewed. We recommend that you first talk to the Chamber of Crafts before taking legal action against the decision.

Requirements

You have formal training in crafts from abroad.
You want to work in Germany in the corresponding craft.

Which documents are required?

The Chamber of 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 with your training and professional experience (CV)
Evidence of formal qualifications
Certificate of the nature and duration of the relevant professional practice
If the profession is regulated in your country of training: a certificate that you are allowed to practise the profession in your training state. The certificate must be issued by the competent authority of your training country.
Declaration that you have not yet submitted an application for an equivalence determination
possibly proof that you want to work in Germany (not applicable for applicants from EU/EEA/Switzerland)

The Chamber of Crafts will inform you which documents you must submit in the original or as a certified copy.
You must present your documents in German. Translations must be carried out by publicly appointed or authorised translators.

What are the fees?

The Chamber of Crafts will inform you about the costs. The costs generally depend on the effort required for processing.
In addition, additional costs may arise (e.B. for translations or certification of your documents). These costs vary from person to person.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

None.
Sometimes documents are still missing in the procedure. The Chamber of Crafts will then inform you about this. You must then submit the documents later. A deadline can be set for this.

Processing duration

The Chamber of Crafts will confirm that your documents have arrived after a maximum of one month. The Chamber of Crafts will inform you if documents are missing.

If all the necessary documents are available, the procedure takes 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.

Legal basis

§ 50b HwO
§§ 9 ff. BQFG
§ 8 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 BQFG

Appeal

Forms: Forms can be obtained from the Chambers of Crafts.
Online procedure possible: Via the Point of Single Contact
Written form requirement: possibly
Personal appearance required: no

Online procedure at the Point of Single Contact

What else should I know?

Freedom to provide services
If you are established in a country of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, you do not need to register in the register of craftsmen for temporary and occasional work as a service provider in Germany. You then do not need recognition of the professional qualification. However, special requirements apply: You must report your work to the Chamber of Crafts before your first activity. The Chambers of Crafts will inform you.
Qualification analysis
You have completed formal training but cannot provide all the necessary documents? Then you may be allowed to go through a qualification analysis. This means that you can prove your professional skills in practice.
Procedure for ethnic German repatriates
As a ethnic German repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either according to the laws mentioned here or according to the Federal Displaced Persons Act. You can decide for yourself.