Your contact persons: assessment authorities
Various authorities in Germany are responsible for the assessment and recognition of foreign professional qualifications. As a general rule, the institution that is responsible for training and qualifying individuals to practise a certain profession in Germany is also responsible for assessing and recognising foreign qualifications in that field. Find out which assessment authorities are responsible for which profession here.
Assessment authorities for recognition of professional qualifications:
Professional qualifications in industry and commerce
IHK FOSA (Industrie- und Handelskammer Foreign Skills Approval): responsible for applicants who do not live and/or work in the Braunschweig, Hanover or Wuppertal regions
IHK Wuppertal: responsible for applicants who live and/or work in the Wuppertal region.
IHK Hannover: responsible for applicants who live and/or work in the regions of Hanover and Braunschweig.
Professional qualifications in crafts
Chambers of skilled crafts: a comprehensive list of competent chambers of trade is available on the website of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts.
Qualifications in liberal professions (e.g. pharmacy technicians, dental assistants, medical laboratory scientists)
Chambers and associations of liberal professions: a list of chambers and associations of liberal professions is available on the website of the federal association of liberal professions [in German].
Professional qualifications in agriculture
Chambers of agriculture: a comprehensive list of competent chambers of trade is available on the website of the German Confederation of the Chambers of Agriculture [in German].
Für Berufsqualifikationen im Bereich Seeschifffahrt
Genaueres zur Berufsanerkennung in der Seeschifffahrt erfahren Sie unter Berufsbildungsstelle Seeschifffahrt.
Other qualifications in maritime shipping or sea transport.
Further information is available at Competent Body For Vocational Training Of Ship Mechanic.
Advisory services for applicants
- Online recognition portal: Alternatively, you may use the Recognition Finder on the “Recognition in Germany” portal.
- IQ Network: The local offices of the “Integration through Qualification” (IQ) network [in German] will provide you with information on the recognition process for foreign professional qualifications and establish which authority is responsible for the assessment. If required, they will also help international qualified professionals with their application (e.g. explain notifications etc.).
- BAMF: The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) operates an information hotline. You can reach the hotline Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on +49 (0)30-1815-1111 (calls are charged at German landline rates).
