Why should I have my university degree obtained abroad recognized?

The equivalence assessment and recognition of your university degree is a requirement for access to the profession or the practice of regulated professions. If the full equivalency of your foreign qualification is certified, you have the same rights as persons with a comparable German university degree with regard to practicing the profession.

Will I receive a German university degree with the recognition?

If the decision is positive, you will receive a notice of assessment or a notice of equivalence; there is no conversion to a German bachelor's, master's degree or diploma.

Do all foreign degrees have to be recognized?

Formal recognition is only required for academic appointments that are regulated in Hessen or Germany. Regulated are academic appointments for which the qualifications are prescribed by law, such as doctors or teachers. This also includes social workers, social pedagogues, childhood educators, curative educators and specialists in day care facilities for children.

For non-regulated academic appointments, such as mathematicians, economists and journalists, recognition is not required and it is possible to apply for recognition directly on the job market.

You can find out whether your academic appointment is regulated via the multilingual homepage www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de. For qualifications that are not regulated, there is the possibility of a certificate assessment by the Central Office for Foreign Educational Qualifications (see www.kmk.org/ZaB/Zeugnisbewertung).

Who can submit an application for recognition at Hochschule RheinMain?

Since April 1, 2012, all persons with a professional qualification acquired abroad have been entitled to have the equivalency of their professional qualifications acquired abroad checked against a German professional qualification.

If you have a foreign university degree in one of the following areas or fields of activity, you can submit an application for recognition to RheinMain University of Applied Sciences:

• Specialist in daycare facilities for children (degree was obtained at university level in the home country
• State-certified social worker
• State-certified curative educator
• State certification as a social worker

I would like to study in Hessen. Where do I apply for a university entrance qualification and/or recognition of my foreign academic achievements?

The higher education institutions at which you would like to study are generally responsible for the recognition of foreign qualifications as university entrance qualifications and for the recognition of foreign academic achievements. You can find information at study-in-hessen.de or on the homepages of the higher education institutions.

Information on the recognition of academic achievements at Hochschule RheinMain can be found here.

I do not live in Hessen. Can I still submit an application for recognition at Hochschule RheinMain?

As a rule, the application for recognition must be submitted in the state in which you reside and wish to pursue your academic appointment.

I live outside the EU (this also includes other signatory states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area and Switzerland). I am not a national of one of these countries. Can I submit an application for recognition to Hochschule RheinMain?

You can submit an application to us. In this case, please provide proof that you wish to pursue gainful employment in Hesse that corresponds to your professional qualification (e.g. by applying for an entry visa for gainful employment, contacting potential employers in Hesse, business concept in the case of self-employment, proof of counseling by the ZSBA).

We recommend that you first contact the Central Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA). The ZSBA advises those seeking recognition who are still abroad and supports you in the application process. You can find the contact details of the ZSBA on the website make-it-in-Germany.de.

Under what conditions does it make sense to submit an application for "state certification as social worker" in addition to an application for "Fachkraft in Kindertagesstätten"?

Academic recognition is usually only granted for ONE reference qualification. In most cases, further applications will be rejected. To avoid costs, visit a recognition advice center BEFORE submitting an applicant. They will advise you on which application is most likely to be successful in your case. Please do not submit the application until you have received advice.

Only in exceptional cases and for certain qualifications (e.g. Diplom as an educator and as a social worker) can an application for both procedures be considered.

What are the differences between recognition as a "Fachkraft für Tageseinrichtungen für Kinder" and as a "Staatlich anerkannte:r Kindheitspädagog:in"?

With both qualifications, you can work as a specialist in daycare facilities for children. Nevertheless, there are differences:

Differences in the compensation measures

For specialists for daycare facilities for children, the compensation measure is a so-called adaptation course. This is a supervised practical activity that must be completed in a recognized Hessian childcare center. It usually lasts 12 months full-time (37 hours/week). If necessary, existing relevant professional experience in a German childcare center can be taken into account if the relevant proof is provided when the application is submitted.

In the case of childhood educators, the compensation measures are determined and implemented by the Institute for School Pedagogy, Elementary Education and Didactics of Social Sciences at the Justus Liebig University Giessen. The significant differences between the German and foreign university education must be compensated for by coursework at Justus Liebig University Giessen. As a rule, an additional year of recognition must be completed in accordance with § 2 of the Social Professions Recognition Act (SozAnerkG).

Differences in the scope of validity

In the case of childcare center specialists, the academic appointment is recognized at state level and is only valid in the state of Hesse once the certificate has been issued. If you move to another state, it must be clarified whether the recognition will be transferred there.

In the case of childhood educators, the state certification as social worker is a so-called "state recognition". It is issued in Hesse, but is valid throughout the Federal Republic of Germany.

I obtained a degree as a primary school teacher abroad. Does my application for recognition as a "Fachkraft in Tageseinrichtungen für Kinder" have any chance of success?

Hochschule RheinMain is only responsible for determining the equivalency of university degrees obtained abroad in the field of social, early childhood and curative education. A degree as a primary school teacher is a teaching qualification and is the responsibility of the Hessian Teachers' Academy in Giessen, regardless of the request for recognition. Applications for recognition of foreign teaching qualifications can only be made there.

After appropriate recognition, you can work in the primary school or support sector as well as in a day care facility for children or in a children's group in accordance with Section 25b (1) Nos. 10 and 11 of the Hessian Child and Youth Welfare Code (HKJGB).

How long does the examination of my application take?

Once the supporting documents are complete, your documents will be reviewed and a decision on your application will usually be made within 12 weeks (decision period).

The decision deadline does not run as long as the required supporting documents have not been submitted (deadline suspension). It is therefore recommended that you prepare all the necessary supporting documents before submitting your applicant.

If a qualification analysis is carried out because proof cannot be provided, the decision deadline is also suspended.

If the decision deadline cannot be met, it can be extended once appropriately in accordance with Section 13 (3) sentence 3 HBQFG if this is justified due to the special features of the matter, e.g. obtaining a reviewer from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

Who can I contact if I have questions about recognition?

If you have not yet submitted an application, it is recommended that you first seek information and advice from a recognition advice center. You can find further information here.

For general information on the topic of recognition, please visit Recognition in Germany.

If you have already submitted an application, you are welcome to send us an email with your question to anerkennung_aeb(at)hs-rm.de  with your question.

You will receive a re-registration from the person responsible as soon as possible. We ask for your understanding if this is not always possible immediately due to the large number of applications and queries.

How can I get to know other international professionals and build a network?

Meet and greet - regular get-togethers for international professionals and other interested parties take place in one of Frankfurt's many typical cider pubs or restaurants.

They offer a good opportunity to get to know like-minded people or Hessian residents and an easy way to exchange ideas and network. All interested parties are cordially invited.

Detailed information and the next appointments can be found here.

What do I have to do after receiving the notification?

You have received a notice of assessment for recognition as a "Fachkraft in Tageseinrichtungen für Kinder" and must complete an adaptation period of several months:

Look for a daycare center, an after-school care center or another early education facility where you can complete the specified time. You can obtain support in finding an employer from the offices listed in the annex to your assessment notice.

You do not have to attend a subject or higher education institution during this time!

You have received a notice of assessment for recognition as a "state-certified social worker, child development worker or curative educator" and must take compensatory measures:

Report to the specified higher education institution that offers the compensatory measures.

For recognition as a "Staatlich anerkannte:r Kindheitspädagog:in oder Heilpädagog:in", you will find the contact details in the notification of assessment under point 2.

For recognition as a "state-certified social worker", you will find the contact details in the email with the subject "Invitation to a consultation".