One of the first surprises for employers hiring from abroad is that there is no single German recognition office. Responsibility is spread across federal bodies, chambers and state authorities, and the same qualification can be assessed by a different office depending on where the job is located. Filing with the wrong body costs weeks. This guide explains how responsibility is divided.
The Rule That Decides Everything
The competent authority is determined by the occupation and, in most cases, by the place where the person intends to work. A nurse with a job offer in Munich applies to a Bavarian authority; the same nurse with an offer in Hamburg applies to a Hamburg authority. That is why recognition should start only once the place of work is known.
Trades: Chambers
IHK occupations — industrial, technical, commercial and many hospitality occupations — are assessed for most chambers centrally by IHK FOSA in Nuremberg. Our FOSA step-by-step guide covers the process.
Handwerk occupations — automotive mechatronics, plumbing and heating, electrical installation, carpentry, baking, butchery, painting and others — are assessed by the Handwerkskammer responsible for the region where the job is. Some chambers have pooled their recognition work, so the office handling the file may not be the nearest one.
Agricultural and some other occupations have their own competent bodies, often at state level.
University Degrees: the ZAB
For degrees in non-regulated professions, the ZAB — the central office for foreign education run for the federal states — compares the degree with German ones. It is a single office, so the place of work does not matter. The anabin database shows how institutions and degrees are rated; see our anabin and ZAB guide.
Health Professions: State Authorities
Nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, midwifery and other health professions are regulated by federal law but recognised by authorities of the federal states. Each state organises this differently. Some have a dedicated state office — Bavaria, for example, has a state office for nursing, and Berlin handles health professions through its State Office for Health and Social Affairs (LAGeSo). Others use regional government offices (Regierungspräsidien or Bezirksregierungen) or state health offices. Processing times and document requirements vary between states.
Education and Social Professions
Teachers are recognised by state education authorities. Childcare educators (Erzieher), social workers and similar professions are also regulated at state level, with competent bodies that differ from state to state. Requirements, including language levels, are not uniform. See our childcare educators page for how this affects Kita recruitment.
Finding the Right Body Quickly
The federal "Recognition in Germany" portal (anerkennung-in-deutschland.de) has an Anerkennungsfinder tool. Enter the occupation and the place of work and it names the competent authority, the legal basis and the documents usually required. It should be the first check for any new role.
For applicants still abroad, the Zentrale Servicestelle Berufsanerkennung (ZSBA) offers guidance on the recognition process and helps applicants identify the right authority and prepare documents. Employers can point candidates to it.
Within Germany: Counselling Networks
Once workers are in Germany, recognition counselling is available through networks such as the IQ programme ("Integration through Qualification"), and some states run their own welcome or recognition centres. These services are generally free for the individual.
Accelerated Procedure and the Authority
When an employer uses the §81a fast track, the Ausländerbehörde coordinates with the recognition body on the employer's behalf. The recognition body remains the one competent for the occupation and place of work; the procedure simply sets shorter deadlines. See our fast-track guide.
Common Mistakes
- Starting recognition before the workplace is known, then having to refile in another state
- Sending a Handwerk application to IHK FOSA, or the reverse
- Assuming a nursing recognition granted in one state transfers automatically before it has been issued
- Relying on outdated authority lists rather than checking the portal
When the Job Location Changes
Recognition decisions, once issued, are generally valid throughout Germany. Applications still in progress are a different matter: if the job moves to another state before a decision, the competent authority may change. Fix the work location before filing whenever possible.
How We Use This
Before we prepare any recognition file, we confirm the competent body for your occupation and workplace, check its current document list and prepare the file to that standard. See the Germany hiring page.
