The rate of full equivalencies varies by profession. For the regulated professions, the rate of full recognition ranges from 35 to 75 percent, with the exception of veterinarian and nursing professional which has a success rate of 90 percent and 86 percent, respectively. In over 55 percent of applicants who wish to work as general care nurses, general care and pediatric nurses, midwives/obstetric nurses, medical radiology technicians, medical laboratory technicians and pharmaceutical technical assistants, a compensatory measure was imposed that had not yet been completed at the end of the year under review.
As shown in the chart, the highest rate of full equivalence was issued for the non-regulated occupation of cook, at 82 percent. This is immediately followed by the occupations of electrical systems technician, specialist for metal technology and industrial electrician with over 70 percent. By contrast, the rates of full equivalence are strikingly low for construction draftsman and mechanics for sanitary, heating, and air-conditioning technology although 75 and 67 percent of them respectively received a partial equivalence. Furthermore, the proportion of all non-regulated occupations for which partial equivalence certified is, is between 20 and 80 percent.
Applications granted equivalence by profession, 2020
For the exact number of applications processed, see figure below.
As in previous years, in 2020 healthcare regulated professions played a major role in recognition procedures for foreign professional qualifications in Germany. The majority of processed applications concerned the general care nurses and doctors. The processed applications for nursing profession (15,864) fell slightly compared to the previous year (15,925), while only a slight increase was recorded for the doctor profession. Three non-regulated occupation of office clerk, electronic technician and motor vehicle mechatronics technician are in third place, with less than 1,000 applications, and well behind the two previously mentioned occupations. Cooks and electrical systems technicians are also frequently found in recognition procedures.
Applications processed by profession, 2020
