Recognition of Professional Qualifications Obtained Abroad
In general, the operator of a child care facility decides on the hiring and assignment of staff as part of its overall responsibility and under its own authority. A key factor for the operator is often the ability to meet the so-called minimum staffing level as defined in the Staffing Regulation. In the case of foreign credentials, the primary concern is therefore usually to verify whether the credential qualifies under the Staffing Regulation.
Individuals with foreign credentials may be assigned to positions based on the minimum staffing standard in the same manner as individuals who have obtained a corresponding credential in Germany. The prerequisite is that equivalence to one of the qualifications listed in the Personnel Ordinance be demonstrated.
The determination of equivalence for training credentials obtained abroad for professions regulated by state law is generally carried out in accordance with the State Vocational Qualifications Assessment Act (BQFG NRW). This applies, for example, to regulated professions with protected professional titles (e.g., “state-recognized early childhood educator”).
However, insofar as the Personnel Ordinance is directly linked to the possession of a specific academic degree, such a professional recognition procedure under the BQFG is not required; instead, an evaluation of the certificate by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) is sufficient. By using the ZAB database “anabin,” it may be possible to verify eligibility for employment within the next five minutes, particularly for degrees in accordance with Section 4(2) of the Personnel Regulation (PersVO) or Section 11(2).
To make it easier for you to work with a foreign degree, this page provides step-by-step instructions for handling foreign degrees in education. The term “educational degrees” generally refers to all degrees with an educational focus.
Please note:
The following information applies in this form only to the so-called minimum staffing hours in child care facilities in North Rhine-Westphalia. If, for example, you wish to work in another professional field that requires state recognition—such as a “state-recognized early childhood educator” —or if you wish to work in a child care facility in another federal state, you may need to obtain state recognition through a professional recognition process, an external examination, or vocational training.
Credit toward the minimum staffing requirement is only possible if, upon starting work, you have German language skills at least at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. No later than 24 months after starting work, all educational staff are expected to have language skills at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Step 1: Was the degree earned at a higher education institution (university or university of applied sciences) abroad?
Continue to Step 2.
Employment is only possible if professional recognition has been granted. Here you will find information on professional recognition procedures.
Step 2: Is there an entry in the anabin database that meets all three required criteria of the Personnel Regulation (H+ rating of the institution, duration of study, equivalence class)? Note: For more information on verifying a degree via anabin, see the document "Guidelines for Using anabin" at the bottom of this page.
Perfect! There’s likely an immediate opportunity to use this. Check the Positive List to see if the degree mentioned in the anabin entry is listed in § 4(2) of the PersVO or, if applicable, in § 11(2). If the degree is listed, the minimum staffing requirement is met immediately!
If the degree is not explicitly listed in the positive list (e.g., for secondary school teachers) or if there are uncertainties, the operator of a child care facility may contact the responsible state youth welfare office. The responsible state youth welfare office may then, if necessary, grant an exception allowing employment as an additional specialist (Section 9(1) of the Personnel Regulation) or as a supplementary staff member (Section 9(2) of the Personnel Regulation).
It is recommended that you contact the ZAB to discuss whether it would be advisable to have an individual assessment prepared (see Step 3 for more information). If an individual ZAB assessment cannot demonstrate the equivalence of the foreign degree, employment based on a foreign degree is only permitted if professional recognition has been granted. Here you will find information on professional recognition procedures.
Continue to Step 3.
Step 3: Can the equivalence of the foreign degree be demonstrated through an individual assessment by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) of the Conference of Ministers of Education? Note: You'll find a link to the ZAB website at the bottom of this page.
Very good. It is likely that there will be an opportunity for employment once the individual ZAB assessment has been completed. Please check the Positive List to see if the degree mentioned in the ZAB report is listed in § 4(2) of the PersVO or, if applicable, in § 11(2). If the degree is listed, the individual qualifies for the minimum staffing requirement.
If the degree is not listed (e.g., for teachers from abroad) or if there are uncertainties, the operator of a child day care facility may contact the responsible state youth welfare office. The competent state youth welfare office may, if necessary, grant an exception allowing the individual to be assigned as an additional specialist (Section 9(1) of the PersVO) or as a support staff member (Section 9(2) of the PersVO).
Since neither ANABIN nor an individual ZAB assessment can verify the equivalence of a foreign degree, employment based on a foreign degree is only possible if professional recognition has been granted. Here you will find information on professional recognition procedures.