Apply for recognition as a midwife with a professional qualification that is not automatically recognized

Application

You submit an application for permission to use the professional title "midwife" to the competent authority.

You can submit the application with the documents to the competent authority, send it by post or upload it electronically. Do not send any originals.

Examination of equivalence

The competent authority will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent authority will compare your professional qualification with the German professional qualification as a midwife. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

Note: If your professional qualification is automatically recognized, the competent authority will not carry out an equivalence check. This is a different procedure. The competent authority will inform you.

Possible results of the equivalence assessment

If your foreign professional qualification is equivalent, it will be recognized. The competent authority can confirm the result in writing. You must still meet the other requirements. You will then receive permission to use the professional title "midwife".

Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? You may be able to compensate for the differences through your professional experience, other knowledge or skills (lifelong learning). Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority in the country in which you acquired the knowledge or skills.

However, it may be that the significant differences cannot be compensated for by your professional experience, knowledge or skills. In this case, the competent authority will inform you of the significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification and why you cannot compensate for these significant differences with your professional experience or your knowledge and skills.

The competent authority will also tell you what compensatory measures you can take to offset the significant differences.
If you decide not to take compensatory measures, your professional qualification will not be recognized and you will not be allowed to work as a midwife in Germany.

Compensatory measures

There are various compensation measures:

• Adaptation course: The adaptation course lasts a maximum of 3 years.
• Aptitude test: The aptitude test consists of a practical examination combined with an interview.
• Knowledge examination for professional qualifications from a third country: The knowledge examination tests your knowledge in certain subjects and areas. The knowledge test comprises an oral and a practical part.

The competent authority will inform you whether you have to take one or more compensatory measures and whether you can choose which of the compensatory measures you take. This depends on the level of your training.

If you successfully complete the compensatory measure and meet all other requirements, you will receive permission to use the professional title "midwife".

Ministry of Science and Health Rhineland-Palatinate

• You have a professional qualification as a midwife from abroad.
• In order to obtain a state permit, the equivalence of your professional qualification must be checked.
• You want to work as a midwife in Germany.
• Personal suitability: You are reliable to work as a midwife and have no criminal record.
• Health suitability: You are mentally and physically fit to work as a midwife.
• You have German language skills at the required level. This is normally language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally

• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of training
• Proof of your relevant professional experience as a midwife
• Proof of other relevant knowledge for working as a midwife
• Perhaps: You come from a third country and do not yet live or work in the EU, EEA or Switzerland? Then you must provide proof: You want to work in the profession in Germany. Proof can be, for example, an application for an entry visa for gainful employment, job applications, invitations to job interviews or a location note from the Central Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA).

You usually hand in these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when you should hand in the documents:

• Proof of your personal suitability: criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin.
• Proof of your health suitability: Medical certificate
• Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate
  

The responsible office will let you know which documents you need to submit as a simple copy, a certified copy or the original.

Please seek advice from one of the following advice centers before submitting your application. They will provide you with more detailed information, in particular on the documents to be submitted in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Documents must be

• be submitted in the form of copies or sent electronically
• Translations of the documents must be submitted in German. The translations must be prepared by a publicly appointed or sworn translator.
• The translation must be submitted as a single copy in German.
• Translations made abroad must come from an institution that is authorized to provide a sworn translation (or equivalent) in that country.

If you do not have all the documents required to process your application, you will subsequently be asked to submit further documents.

Proof of health suitability (medical certificate) and reliability (police clearance certificate) must not be more than three months old at the time the professional title is granted.

The responsible office will inform you of the costs. The costs generally depend on the time and effort required for processing.

Additional costs may be incurred (e.g. for translations or notarizations). These costs vary from case to case.

Between 50.00 - 300.00 EUR

There is an additional charge of 44.00 euros for the issue of the professional certificate.

There is no deadline.

Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you must submit the documents. This may prolong the procedure.

• §§ Sections 5, 43, 44, 54 of the Act on the Study and Profession of Midwives (Midwifery Act - HebG)
• §§ Sections 43, 44, 48 ff. of the Study and Examination Ordinance for Midwives (HebStPrV)

or

• § Section 77a para. 1 HebG in conjunction with § Section 2 para. 2 HebG old version

• §§ 5, 43, 44, 54 Gesetz über das Studium und den Beruf von Hebammen (Hebammengesetz - HebG)
• §§ 43, 44, 48 ff. Studien- und Prüfungsverordnung für Hebammen (HebStPrV)
• § 77a Abs. 1 HebG i.V.m. § 2 Abs. 2 HebG alte Fassung
• Midwives Act (HebG)

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (for example, by lodging an objection). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. You should first speak to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

• Application for permission to use the professional title "midwife"

Partial access to the profession for professional qualifications from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland
Your professional qualification is not equivalent and the differences are too great? Then you may be able to work in the profession with partial access to the profession. With partial access to the profession, you can also work in the midwifery profession without recognition. There are certain requirements for this. Your professional qualification must include at least one so-called reserved activity of the German professional qualification of a midwife. Only specially trained persons may carry out reserved activities.
You must also provide proof: You are personally suitable, in good health and have the required knowledge of German.

With partial access to the profession, you may only carry out certain tasks as a midwife. You apply for partial access to the profession at the competent authority.

Notice of equivalence
The equivalence assessment (recognition procedure) also takes place during the licensing procedure. You can apply for a separate decision on the result of the examination.

Procedure for ethnic German repatriates
As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either in accordance with the laws mentioned here or in accordance with the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide for yourself. The responsible office will advise you on which procedure is right for you.

Using the (male) professional title "maternity nurse"
Until the end of 2024, you can also apply for the (male) professional title "maternity nurse". The regulations of the Midwives Act as amended until December 31, 2019 will then apply. Your competent authority will inform you about the details.

• Information on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications on the Recognition in Germany portal
• Informationen zu Beratungstellen
• Informationen zu Beratungstellen

20.05.2025