Social pedagogues and social workers Check requirements for the granting of state recognition

Foreign graduates should contact the State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Care.

Rhineland-Palatinate graduates should contact the university at which they completed their social work degree directly.

• State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Care - Recognition of foreign educational qualifications (social work)

Foreign graduates:

The application for state recognition can be submitted by anyone who has successfully completed a six-semester course of study in social work or social pedagogy or in a comparable course of study at a state or state-recognized university of applied sciences/vocational academy

1. has successfully completed a six-semester course of study and then successfully completed a professional internship (two-phase training) or
2. a diploma degree including two semesters of practical training with a diploma supervised by the university of applied sciences or
3. has successfully completed a Bachelor's degree including practical training of at least 60 credit points with a Bachelor of Arts (single-phase training) and
4. has the personal reliability and German language skills required for practicing the profession.

Any deficits identified that prevent the granting of state recognition may be compensated for by adaptation measures. Further information can be obtained from the competent authority.

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The following documents must be submitted for the examination of foreign qualifications:

• Application (see under "Applications / Forms")
• As officially certified copies:
  • the original diploma or Bachelor's degree,
  • the original annex (index / diploma supplement) to the diploma or Bachelor's degree showing the subjects studied,
  • the translation of the diploma or Bachelor's degree (by a publicly appointed or sworn interpreter or translator),
  • the translation of the annex to the diploma or Bachelor's degree (by a publicly appointed or sworn interpreter or translator),
  • Proof of professional experience and other evidence of qualifications in social work/social pedagogy gained during or after your studies, e.g. in the form of work books and references showing the social work or social pedagogy tasks and activities performed. (If necessary, please have a translation carried out by a publicly appointed or sworn interpreter or translator).
  • If the profession is regulated in the country of training (profession regulated by law), an officially certified copy of a certificate of authorization to practice the profession in the country of training must be submitted and
  • a translation of the certificate of authorization to practice the profession in the country of training (by a publicly appointed or sworn interpreter or translator).
• Further attachments:
  • Single copy of a proof of identity,
  • Single copy of a marriage certificate/marriage certificate if a name (maiden name) other than the current one is stated in the training documents
  • Curriculum vitae in tabular form and
  • Personal declaration

Further documents required in individual cases may be requested after receipt of the application.

A fee of EUR 16.00 is payable by graduates from Rhineland-Palatinate and foreign graduates for the granting of state recognition.

• § Section 1 State Act on the State Recognition of Social Workers and Social Pedagogues (SoAnG)
• § Section 6 State law on the state recognition of social workers and social education workers (SoAnG)
• State law on the state recognition of social workers and social pedagogues (SoAnG)

The application must be submitted using the application form and enclosing the required documents.

• Application for examination of the requirements for the granting of state recognition after completion of social work courses at universities of applied sciences or comparable universities

1. There is no state recognition for university degrees as there is for degrees from universities of applied sciences.
   For university degrees obtained abroad, you can apply for a certificate evaluation of your higher education qualification. The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) is responsible for this. Your professional and academic qualifications will be certified. The certificate evaluation is intended to facilitate your access to the German labor market.
2. Please do not submit any original documents and do not use application folders or sleeves.
   The documents submitted will remain with the State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Care and will not be returned. We accept no liability for unsolicited original documents.

• Further information on the ZAB certificate evaluation

• IQ advice centers in Rhineland-Palatinate
• Information portal of the Federal Government on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications
• Information portal of the Central Office for Foreign Education on foreign educational qualifications

01.06.2022