According to Section 28(1) of the Child Education Act (KiBiz), the following individuals are to be employed as educational staff in daycare facilities

• social education specialists,
• other qualified professionals, and
• supplementary staff

shall be employed. Who these individuals are is specified in the Ordinance on the Principles Governing Qualifications and Staffing Ratios (Staffing Ordinance).

An overview of all occupational groups that, according to the Staffing Regulation, can be counted toward the so-called minimum staffing level in daycare centers can be found in the “Positive List for the Staffing Regulation.” This includes not only early childhood educators and childhood pedagogues, but also many other professions. It is also possible to make a career change with other educational training or as a staff member with relevant expertise.

Even with a foreign degree, you can work as an educator in North Rhine-Westphalia’s daycare centers.

If you want to work in a state-regulated profession (e.g., “state-certified early childhood educator”), you must go through a professional recognition process and have your degree recognized. You can find more information on this topic on the page “Recognition of Foreign Educational Qualifications in the Field of Social and Educational Professions”.

However, a formal professional recognition process is often not required at all. For example, employment based on a foreign academic degree (bachelor’s, master’s, or diploma) is also possible (§ 2, paragraph 6, PersVO). The question of whether a degree qualifies under the Personnel Regulation can be answered through a credential evaluation by the Central Office for Foreign Education Systems (ZAB) of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) or through a positive entry in the “anabin” database. Further information on verifying a degree via anabin can be found in the document “Guidance on Using anabin".

Many of the approximately 10,800 daycare centers in North Rhine-Westphalia are looking to hire. You can find open job positions at daycare centers on the job portal. Whether close to home or farther away, full-time or part-time—here you can find the position that suits you best.

If you have questions about specific job openings, you can also contact your local youth welfare office or the employer/daycare provider.

If you're interested in training to become an early childhood educator or childcare worker, you can find more information at:

Become an Early Childhood Educator

Become a Childcare Worker