Recognition statistics 2022

In this section the BQ-Portal provides an overview of applications for professional recognition. Full equivalence is the most common outcome of the equivalence reviews in 2022.

More than 44,130 applications for recognition of foreign professional qualifications were processed in 2022 in Germany. The competent authorities responsible for the recognition procedure compare the applicant’s foreign qualification to the corresponding German qualification in order to determine their equivalence. The key criterion for granting equivalence is, that as a result of foreign vocational training, the applicant has acquired the knowledge and skills necessary for practicing this profession in Germany. In addition to formal learning outcomes, relevant work experience or other evidence of competence are taken into consideration.

In most cases, full or partial equivalence could be certified in 2022. Only 2 percent of the applicants received a negative decision. One has to bear in mind that partial equivalence is broadly defined and, thus, ranges from “only limited” to “large overlaps between the German and the foreign qualification”. The significant differences which can be compensated through a formalized additional training (compensation measures), vary accordingly. The share of those granted full equivalence is high, at 47 percent. You can find a detailed analysis of recognition statistics 2022 at Anerkennung in Deutschland.

The BQ-Portal provides an overview of applications for professional recognition by professions and countries.

Glossary

Regulated professions: Full equivalence is required for these professions to be practiced. This is primarily the case in health professions (e.g., doctors, general care nurses etc.) and regulated master craftsman occupations. About three quarters of the recognition procedures deal with regulated professions. In case it is not possible to attest full equivalence, the assessment notification imposes compensation measures which have to be fulfilled in order to acquire full equivalence.

Non-regulated professions: These include occupations that require prior vocational and advanced training qualifications such as electronics technician, mechatronics technician, office clerk etc. About 24 percent of the recognition procedures concern non-regulated professions. In case it is not possible to grant full equivalence, a partial equivalence is certified. After the fulfilment of the imposed compensation measures full equivalence can be acquired.

Equivalence quotas: The equivalence evaluation generally consists of two stages: the formal and the individual evaluation. The formal evaluation is sometimes sufficient for determining equivalence. In such cases, an official notification is issued stating that the foreign professional qualification is equivalent to the German reference qualification. If it is not possible to determine equivalence based on formal qualifications alone, the individual evaluation will take additional evidence of training and relevant work experience into consideration. Therefore, the equivalence quotas in the recognition statistics base on mostly individual equivalence evaluations.

Teaserbild Anerkennungsstatistik nach Berufen
In 2022, as in previous years, the medical regulated professions will predominate in the recognition procedures for foreign professional qualifications in Germany. For the regulated professions, the rate of positive recognition ranges between 35 and 65 percent, except of the profession of the profession of geriatric nurse, which has a low success rate of 19 percent. The highest rate of decisions of full equivalence for the non-regulated professions was issued for cook, at 81 percent. This is immediately followed by the professions of restaurant specialist, industrial electricians, specialist for metal technology, and electrical systems technician with over 60 percent.
Teaserbild Anerkennungsstatistik nach Ländern
As in 2021, the highest number of applications came from Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by the Philippines, Serbia, and Syria. The Netherlands has the highest positive recognition rate in 2022 with at 94 percent, closely followed by Latvia, as well as Hungary, Switzerland, Lithuania, Austria and the Czech Republic, which also have positive recognition rates of over 90 percent.