The recognition process in overview
In the equivalence assessment, a foreign vocational or further training qualification is compared to a corresponding German qualification.
Formal check: First, a fixed set of criteria, such as content, duration of training or places of study are compared.
Individual check: If a formal comparison is not sufficient to determine equivalence or to be able to grant full equivalence, then additional relevant qualifications such as work experience or further training will be considered and reviewed separately in order to assess equivalence.
The result of the process: an official notification
The official notification indicates which qualification the applicant holds, to what extent it compares to the German reference qualification, and, in the case of partial equivalence, which differences exist.
The assessment authority may come to the following conclusions:
- Full equivalence
- Partial equivalence
- No equivalence
More information on the recognition notification.
Companies can use this official notification to comprehensively assess their foreign candidate’s skills and qualifications. This enables employers to place candidates and employees in business areas that correspond to their qualifications, making the best use of the potential available.
Even if a qualification is deemed to be only partially equivalent, this will still be beneficial for a successful integration in the German labour market. A notification of partial equivalence will outline existing qualifications, but also the differences compared to a German qualification, so that the company can decide on a solid basis which job the employee is best suited for while identifying needs for further training.