Logo Bayernportal
Home > Procedures

Professions in the spa sector; application for determination of the equivalence of a foreign qualification

You can apply for the equivalence of a foreign qualification for the occupation of "Fachangestellte/-r für Bäderbetriebe" and further training to become a certified master craftsman/-woman for swimming pool operations.

Forms

  • Formloser Antrag (mit Unterschrift)

    Dieser Assistent unterstützt Sie bei der Erstellung eines formlosen Schreibens, wenn die zuständige Stelle kein Antragsformular zur Verfügung stellt.

Responsible for you

Bayerische Verwaltungsschule

Bayerische Verwaltungsschule

Street address

Ridlerstraße 75
80339 München

Postal address

Ridlerstraße 75

80339 München

Email

info@bvs.de

Website

www.bvs.de

Mehr zur Behörde

Procedure details

If you have acquired your qualification for working in public swimming pools abroad and would like to take on permanent positions of responsibility and work in public swimming pools, you can apply for your qualification to be recognized as equivalent.

Specialist and master pool attendants work in private or public swimming facilities: in outdoor, indoor, lake and beach pools, in spas and leisure pools.

Their tasks include

  • Supervision of bathing operations and bathers, especially directly in the bathing area
  • Recognizing emergencies
  • Rescuing people from the water
  • Initiating water rescue measures
  • Securing the vital functions of injured persons, e.g. by resuscitation and carrying out first aid measures
  • Supervising and advising bathers and offering sports and play arrangements
  • Giving theoretical and practical swimming lessons
  • Safeguarding the operation of technical pool facilities and controlling water treatment processes
  • Applying emergency plans in the event of operational disruptions and initiating measures to rectify faults
  • Care and maintenance of technical pool and leisure facilities
  • Application of relevant legal and administrative regulations
  • Carrying out administrative work in pool operations and assisting with public relations tasks
  • Supervision and participation in cleaning and disinfection work
  • Maintaining operational safety
  • Measuring physical and chemical parameters.

Further training to become a "Certified Master Pool Operator" is essential for the qualified performance of responsible management tasks in pool operations.

This applies in particular to junior staff who are to take on responsible tasks in the future, e.g. as shift leader, deputy manager or manager. Master craftsmen are authorized to train specialist pool attendants.

You can submit an application for an equivalence assessment in accordance with the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act if you

  • have successfully completed vocational training abroad and - in the area of regulated professions - are authorized to practice the profession in the country of training and
  • intend to pursue gainful employment in Bavaria

An application can be submitted regardless of nationality and residence status.

Sufficient German language skills are also expected for practicing the profession.

The requirements that the applicant must fulfill must be indicated here.

  • Final reports and subject overviews

    Original or certified copy and translation in German. The translations must be prepared by a publicly appointed or sworn translator.

  • evidence of your professional experience (e.g. references, workbooks)

    Original or certified copy and translation in German. The translations must be prepared by a publicly appointed or sworn translator.

  • Proof of identity

    Copy of identity card or passport

  • Proof of your German language skills

    z. e.g. certificate at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

  • Notification and letters from other competent authorities in Germany

    If you have already applied.

Before submitting a written application to the Bayerische Verwaltungsschule, we recommend that you have a consultation in advance.

This will help you to avoid errors in your application and delays in processing.

The following points will be clarified during the consultation:

  • Is my chosen profession correct?
  • How does the recognition procedure work?
  • Which documents do I need to submit and in what form?
  • What alternatives are there if the necessary documents are not available?
  • Are there alternatives to recognition for me?
  • What can I do if I do not receive recognition?
  • What options are there for qualification?

Do you already have some documents in German? Then please bring them with you. During the consultation, you will find out whether you need to have further documents translated for your application.

The application must then be submitted informally in writing to the Bavarian School of Administration with the required documents.

The Bavarian School of Administration will decide on the application as the responsible body.

The fees are based on the fee regulations of the Bavarian School of Administration and depend on the individual effort required to carry out the procedure. Costs of between EUR 35.00 and EUR 1500.00 may be incurred.

Possible additional costs: e.g. for translations, certifications, adaptation qualifications or examination fees

none

As a rule, the recognition procedure is completed within three months. Missing evidence and documents lead to delays.

Specialist pool attendants and certified master pool attendants are often confused with lifeguards and pool attendants, but are fundamentally different from them.

Administrative court action

Details of the procedure can be found in the information on legal remedies in your notification.

Status: 06.06.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium des Innern, für Sport und Integration
Contains machine translated content. Show the original content