Select your location for location specific information:
If you have obtained a qualification abroad in a profession that is regulated by state law in Bavaria, you can have it recognized. Recognition can give you better opportunities on the Bavarian job market.
The Bavarian Act on the Determination of the Equivalence of Foreign Professional Qualifications (BayBQFG) enables the recognition of foreign professional qualifications in professions that are regulated by state law in Bavaria in accordance with Sections 54, 66 and 71 (2) of the Vocational Training Act (BBiG).
The professions regulated by state law that can be recognized by the responsible Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) are non-regulated professions. This means that you can work in these professions even without recognition of your foreign qualification. During the recognition process, your professional qualification is compared with the content of the corresponding Bavarian vocational training. After this equivalence check, you will receive a notification of full or partial equivalence. This notification helps Bavarian employers to better classify your qualification and can therefore give you better opportunities on the Bavarian labor market.
All persons who have completed a foreign professional qualification and wish to work in the Free State of Bavaria are eligible to apply. Country of origin and residence status are not relevant for the recognition procedure.
To apply for professional recognition, send the required documents by post or electronically to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce responsible for you. After four weeks at the latest, you will receive confirmation that the documents have been received; if necessary, missing documents will be requested. The letter will also include a fee notice with the necessary payment information.
As soon as all documents are complete and the fees have been received, the equivalence assessment procedure begins. The IHK uses the documents to compare whether there are any significant differences between the foreign professional qualification and the corresponding Bavarian profession. If this is the case, the IHK assesses whether these differences are compensated for by proven professional experience or further qualifications (e.g. further training). After 3 months at the latest, the IHK will issue an official and legally binding decision on the result of the examination, listing the existing qualifications and any missing qualifications.
Between 100 and 600 euros, depending on the estimated costs.
As the applicant, you must bear these costs yourself. You may also incur additional personal costs (e.g. for translations or notarizations). Under certain conditions, you can receive financial support for these costs.
The competent body shall acknowledge receipt of the application within one month and, if necessary, indicate which documents need to be supplemented. If the documents are complete, the decision must be taken within three months. In justified cases, this period may be extended by one month.
The chambers of industry and commerce are responsible for certain professions throughout Bavaria in accordance with chamber regulations.
The Regensburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Upper Palatinate / Kelheim is responsible for the following professions throughout Bavaria in accordance with chamber regulations:
Objection or administrative court action
In order to be optimally prepared for a recognition procedure at a recognition body, it is strongly recommended that you seek advice from a recognition counseling center beforehand.
If you want to work permanently on a self-employed basis in around 200 professions, you do not need a specific professional qualification. You do not have to have your foreign professional qualification recognized. However, you have the right to a recognition procedure.
If you have a training qualification from abroad, you can apply for official recognition of your training qualification.
You can apply for recognition of an industrial-technical and commercial profession that is not regulated in Bavaria.
If you would like to work permanently in Bavaria in a specific socio-educational and social care profession, you can apply for recognition of your foreign qualification.