Applying for recognition as a special education teacher with a professional qualification from abroad

For the purposes of recognition, the Supervisory and Service Directorate (ADD) on the basis of your certificates, whether or to what extent your foreign qualification corresponds to a German qualification for the profession of special education teacher. This review is based on defined formal criteria, such as content, professional orientation and duration of the training. Your relevant professional experience will be taken into account, as well as any other relevant qualifications. The decision on the application will be made by means of a written decision.

If there are significant differences, a compensatory measure (adaptation period or aptitude test) is required before the professional qualification acquired abroad can be recognised. The scope of the compensatory measure is determined by the Supervisory and Services Directorate (ADD) in a decision.

For more information, please visit the " Recognition in Germany".

This internet portal provides quick and easy answers to questions about recognition, for example:

• Do I have to have my professional qualifications recognised?
• Is the recognition worth it for me?
• Can I submit the application? Do I have a formal entitlement to it?
• Who should I contact?
• What does the procedure look like?
• What documents are required? What form do the documents need to take?
• How long does the procedure take?
• How much does the procedure cost?
• Which laws are relevant to my case?

• Directorate of Supervision and Services (ADD)
• Recognition in Germany

If you have your primary residence in Rhineland-Palatinate or want to work in Rhineland-Palatinate, you can have your educational certificates recognised by the Supervisory and Service Directorate (ADD).

Before submitting an application for recognition of your professional qualification, please first identify the competent authority on "Recognition in Germany". The recognition of the equivalence of your foreign professional qualification with a German reference occupation must be applied for in writing.

In order for the professional qualification obtained abroad to be recognised, the following conditions must be met:

• the professional qualification obtained entitles the holder to carry out professional activities comparable to those of a curative teacher in the country in which it was obtained, and
• there are no significant differences between the professional qualification obtained in the country of origin and the corresponding continuing education in Rhineland-Palatinate.

• Completed application form

• Handwritten tabular presentation of the curriculum vitae with information about the entire school and professional career in German (without gaps from school enrolment)

• Officially or notarized copy of the certificate of the school leaving certificate to be evaluated and any evidence of studies in the original language, as well as the officially or notarized copies of the translations of the foreign certificates.

• Officially or notarized copies of employment references or proof of relevant professional experience, if the documents are available, as well as the officially or notarized translations of any employment references or proof of activity by an officially approved translator. The evidence should provide information about the activities and the scope of the activities.

• Proof of identity (identity card, passport or residence permit)

• If applicable, proof of a name change (e.g. marriage certificate),

• Officially or notarized copies of German language examinations, if available

• If you live outside Rhineland-Palatinate, proof that you want to work here, for example through correspondence with a potential employer in Rhineland-Palatinate

An "official certification" confirms that the copy corresponds to the original. City and municipal administrations as well as notaries can issue certified copies.
For the documents in non-German language, translations into German are also required. The translations must be prepared or at least confirmed by a publicly appointed/sworn translator in Germany. The publicly appointed/sworn translators in Germany can be found in the "Interpreter and Translator Database".

Certificates written in English or French do not need to be translated.

• Database of interpreters and translators

A fee of 80.00 euros will be charged for the recognition procedure. With the final notification of recognition, you will receive the invoice with the corresponding information about the transfer.

In addition, you will have to reckon with additional costs (e.g. fees for translations and certifications) when carrying out the recognition procedure.

There are no deadlines on the part of the applicants.

The processing time depends on the number of applications received and is usually several weeks. In individual cases, for example in the case of expert requests, the processing time can be several months.

• Directive 2005/36/EC
• Section 101 (3) of the School Act (SchulG)
• Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (BFQG)
• Rhineland-Palatinate State Ordinance on the Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications for the Professions of Educator, Special Education Nurse and Curative Educator

In the event of a rejection of the requested recognition, administrative remedies are available.

The rejection will be accompanied by a specific instruction on legal remedies, from which the objection period and the competent administrative court can be seen.

• Application form

The service centres of the network "Integration through Qualification" (IQ Network) will be happy to advise and accompany you before, during and after the recognition procedure.

• Network "Integration through Qualification (IQ)"

16.05.2022