Dealing with professional qualifications acquired abroad
In principle, the provider of a childcare facility decides on the recruitment and deployment of staff as part of its overall responsibility and under its own authority. The key factor for the responsible body is often the possibility of deploying the so-called minimum staff value as defined by the Personnel Ordinance. In the case of foreign qualifications, it is therefore usually a question of checking whether the qualification in question is a qualification within the meaning of the Personnel Ordinance.
Persons with a foreign qualification can be employed in the same way for the minimum personnel value as persons who have acquired a corresponding qualification in Germany. The prerequisite is that equivalence to one of the qualifications listed in the Personnel Ordinance is proven.
The determination of the equivalence of training certificates acquired abroad for professions that are regulated by state legislation is generally carried out in accordance with the State Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (BQFG NRW). This applies, for example, to regulated professions with a protected professional title (e.g. "state-recognized educator").
However, insofar as the Personnel Ordinance is directly linked to the existence of a specific degree, such a professional recognition procedure is not required under the BQFG; instead, a certificate assessment by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) is sufficient. Using the ZAB database "anabin", it may be possible to provide proof of employment within the next five minutes, particularly in the case of qualifications in accordance with Section 4 (2) PersVO or Section 11 (2).
To make it easier for you to work with a foreign qualification, this page provides step-by-step instructions on how to deal with educational qualifications from abroad. Pedagogical qualifications generally refer to all qualifications with a pedagogical reference.
Please note:
The following information only applies in this form to the so-called minimum staff hours in childcare facilities in North Rhine-Westphalia. If, for example, you want to work in another professional field for which state recognition is a prerequisite - e.g. as a "state-recognized educator" - or if you want to work in a childcare facility in another federal state, you may have to obtain state recognition through a professional recognition procedure, an external examination or through training.
Creditation towards the minimum personnel requirement is only possible if you have German language skills at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages when you start work. All teaching staff should have language skills at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages no later than 24 months after starting work.
Step 1: Was the degree obtained at a higher education institution (university or university of applied sciences) abroad?
Continue to step 2.
The assignment can only take place if professional recognition is available. Here you will find information on professional recognition procedures.
Step 2: Is there an entry in the anabin database that fulfills all three required criteria of the Personnel Ordinance (H+ assessment of the university, duration of studies, equivalence class)? Note: You can find further information on proving your degree via anabin in the document "Handreichung zur Handhabung von anabin" at the bottom of this page.
Perfect! It is probably possible to use it immediately. Use the positive list to check whether the degree specified in the anabin entry is listed in Section 4 (2) PersVO or, if applicable, in Section 11 (2). If the degree is listed, it can be used for the minimum staffing level immediately!
If the degree is not explicitly on the positive list (e.g. for secondary school teachers) or if there is uncertainty, the provider of a childcare facility can contact the responsible state youth welfare office. The responsible state youth welfare office can then, if necessary, approve the deployment as an additional specialist (Section 9 (1) PersVO) or as a supplementary employee (Section 9 (2) PersVO) as an exception
It is advisable to contact the ZAB and discuss whether it would make sense to prepare an individual assessment (see step 3). If it is not possible to prove the equivalence of the foreign degree by means of an individual ZAB assessment, employment on the basis of a foreign degree can only take place if professional recognition is available. Here you can find information on professional recognition procedures.
Continue to step 3.
Step 3: Can the equivalence of the foreign degree be proven by an individual assessment from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) of the Conference of Ministers of Culture? Note: You will find a link to the ZAB homepage at the bottom of this page.
Very good. It is likely that you will be able to work after the individual ZAB report has been issued. Use the positive list to check whether the degree mentioned in the ZAB report is listed in Section 4 (2) PersVO or, if applicable, in Section 11 (2). If the degree is listed, the minimum staffing level applies.
If the degree is not listed (e.g. for teachers from abroad) or if there are uncertainties, a provider of a childcare facility can contact the responsible state youth welfare office. If necessary, the responsible state youth welfare office can approve the deployment as an additional specialist (§ 9 Para. 1 PersVO) or as a supplementary employee (§ 9 Para. 2 PersVO) as an exception.
Since neither anabin nor an individual ZAB assessment can prove the equivalence of the foreign degree, employment on the basis of a foreign degree can only take place if professional recognition is available. Here you will find information on professional recognition procedures.