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Teacher with professional qualification from EU/EEA/Switzerland; apply for recognition

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Schleswig-Holstein (Linie6Plus)

Service Description

Do you have a professional qualification as a teacher from abroad and want to work in Schleswig-Holstein? Then you need to have your teaching qualification recognized.

Working as a teacher is regulated. This means that you must provide proof of a specific qualification if you want to work as a teacher in Schleswig-Holstein without any restrictions. You can apply for recognition of your foreign teaching qualification for this activity.

In the recognition procedure, the competent authority compares your teaching qualification from abroad with the teaching qualification in Schleswig-Holstein. Your qualification must be equivalent for recognition.

In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must meet further requirements in order to work as a teacher. You usually only have to prove these requirements when you are employed as a teacher. This is a different procedure.


Process flow

You submit an application to the responsible office. You can send the application by post or electronically. The responsible office will inform you.

  • The responsible office receives the application.
  • It will confirm to you after a maximum of one month that the application has been received.
  • Once the competent body has received all the documents from you, it will process your application.
  • The competent authority will then examine it: Has your professional qualification been completed and is it equivalent to the professional qualification in Schleswig-Holstein? The competent authority will compare the qualifications using certain criteria. Important criteria are, for example, the duration of the training, the content of the training and the number of subjects taught.
  • The competent body also takes your professional experience and your other certificates of competence into account when assessing equivalence.
  • If your professional qualification and the professional qualification in Schleswig-Holstein are equivalent, you will receive recognition.

Sometimes there are significant differences between the professional qualifications. If there are significant differences, you can usually take a compensation measure.

There are various compensation measures:

  • Adaptation course: you work as a teacher and perhaps do additional training. This means, for example, that you take part in courses at a university. You already work at a school and receive further training.
  • Aptitude test: You take teaching tests and oral examinations. A teaching sample means that you conduct lessons with pupils. Examiners observe and assess your lessons. The responsible office will inform you about the necessary teaching samples and examinations.

You can usually choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test. The adaptation period is always recommended. The responsible office will inform you.

Once you have successfully completed the compensation measure, you will receive recognition.

With the recognition you can apply for the teaching profession in Schleswig-Holstein. This is a separate procedure. The other requirements for the so-called teaching qualification are then checked.

The teaching qualification is always valid for the teaching post applied for. This means that you can teach your subjects at a specific school. You have the same professional rights as a person with the Schleswig-Holstein teaching qualification.

Who should I contact?

Ministry for General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture of the State of Schleswig-Holstein

Requirements
  • You have a fully completed professional qualification as a teacher from abroad
  • You live in Schleswig-Holstein
  • You want to work as a teacher in Schleswig-Holstein

You must fulfill further requirements for employment in the teaching profession:

  • You have German language skills at the required level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The responsible office will inform you of the required language level. German language skills at level C2 are recommended.
  • Personal suitability: You are reliable to work as a teacher and have no criminal record.
  • Health suitability: You are in good health.
Which documents are required?
  • Application form from the competent authority
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Copy of proof of identity (passport or identity card)
  • Copy of marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
  • Copies of university diplomas and/or certificates
  • Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, diplomas, professional certificate) in copy
  • Proof of the content and duration of your education (e.g. diploma supplement, transcript of records, examination regulations) as a copy
  • Proof of your other qualifications (e.g. further professional training, seminars) as a copy
  • A copy of proof of your professional experience as a teacher
  • Information about an application for recognition that has already been submitted. Please indicate the body to which you have submitted the application. If you have already received a notice of recognition from another federal state, please enclose a copy of it

The responsible office will tell you which documents you may need to present again in the original. Some copies must be officially certified. We recommend that you do not send originals by post.

You must submit your documents in German. The translations must be done by publicly appointed or authorized translators.

Other documents are usually important for employment in the teaching profession. You only have to submit these documents if you take a compensatory measure or if you are hired as a teacher.

  • Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate at least C1 (C2 is recommended).
  • Proof of your personal suitability:
    Certificate of good conduct from Germany or your country of origin (for example, criminal record extract, Certificate of Good Standing)
  • Proof of your health suitability: medical certificate
What are the fees?

Levy: free of charge
In Schleswig-Holstein, the recognition procedure is free of charge. Additional costs may be incurred (e.g. for translations or notarization of your documents). These costs vary from person to person. You must pay these costs yourself.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

None.

Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you must submit the documents.

Processing duration

Processing time: 3 Months
The responsible office will confirm that your documents have arrived after a maximum of one month. Once the documents are complete, the procedure usually takes up to three months. Sometimes the competent authority may extend the procedure.

Legal basis
Appeal
  • You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority.
  • The decision will then be reviewed.
  • Details of this procedure can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision.
  • We recommend that you always speak to the responsible office first before taking legal action against the decision.
Applications / forms
What else should I know?

There are various options for working as a teacher without recognition. The exact options available to you also depend on the federal state in which you would like to work. The responsible office will inform you.

Options for working as a teacher without recognition include

  • lateral entry
  • Direct entry
  • Working as a substitute teacher
  • Working at a private school
  • Working at international schools
  • Teaching in the language of origin (mother tongue)
  • Working in preparatory classes and support classes (e.g. German as a foreign language - DaF or German as a second language - DaZ).
  • Working outside a school (e.g. in adult education)

There are many advisory services. You can find these on the Recognition in Germany portal.

  • Ask an IQ advice center for personal advice on this procedure and your qualification. The advisors will also help you with your documents before you submit your application. The advice is free of charge.
  • You can also call the hotline of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. The hotline will answer your questions on the subject of "Working and living in Germany".
    Telephone number: +49 30 1815-1111
    Office hours: Monday to Friday 08:00 - 18:00 (CET)
Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Technically approved by

Ministry for General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture of the State of Schleswig-Holstein

Professionally released on

05.10.2020

Teaser

Do you have a professional qualification as a teacher from abroad and want to work in Schleswig-Holstein? Then you need to have your teaching qualification recognized.

Process flow

You submit an application to the responsible office. You can send the application by post or electronically. The responsible office will inform you.

  • The responsible office receives the application.
  • It will confirm to you after a maximum of one month that the application has been received.
  • Once the competent body has received all the documents from you, it will process your application.
  • The competent authority will then examine it: Has your professional qualification been completed and is it equivalent to the professional qualification in Schleswig-Holstein? The competent authority will compare the qualifications using certain criteria. Important criteria are, for example, the duration of the training, the content of the training and the number of subjects taught.
  • The competent body also takes your professional experience and your other certificates of competence into account when assessing equivalence.
  • If your professional qualification and the professional qualification in Schleswig-Holstein are equivalent, you will receive recognition.

Sometimes there are significant differences between the professional qualifications. If there are significant differences, you can usually take a compensation measure.

There are various compensation measures:

  • Adaptation course: you work as a teacher and perhaps do additional training. This means, for example, that you take part in courses at a university. You already work at a school and receive further training.
  • Aptitude test: You take teaching tests and oral examinations. A teaching sample means that you conduct lessons with pupils. Examiners observe and assess your lessons. The responsible office will inform you about the necessary teaching samples and examinations.

You can usually choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test. The adaptation period is always recommended. The responsible office will inform you.

Once you have successfully completed the compensation measure, you will receive recognition.

With the recognition you can apply for the teaching profession in Schleswig-Holstein. This is a separate procedure. The other requirements for the so-called teaching qualification are then checked.

The teaching qualification is always valid for the teaching post applied for. This means that you can teach your subjects at a specific school. You have the same professional rights as a person with the Schleswig-Holstein teaching qualification.

Who should I contact?

Ministry for General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture of the State of Schleswig-Holstein

Requirements

  • You have a fully completed professional qualification as a teacher from abroad
  • You live in Schleswig-Holstein
  • You want to work as a teacher in Schleswig-Holstein

You must fulfill further requirements for employment in the teaching profession:

  • You have German language skills at the required level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The responsible office will inform you of the required language level. German language skills at level C2 are recommended.
  • Personal suitability: You are reliable to work as a teacher and have no criminal record.
  • Health suitability: You are in good health.

Which documents are required?

  • Application form from the competent authority
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Copy of proof of identity (passport or identity card)
  • Copy of marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
  • Copies of university diplomas and/or certificates
  • Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, diplomas, professional certificate) in copy
  • Proof of the content and duration of your education (e.g. diploma supplement, transcript of records, examination regulations) as a copy
  • Proof of your other qualifications (e.g. further professional training, seminars) as a copy
  • A copy of proof of your professional experience as a teacher
  • Information about an application for recognition that has already been submitted. Please indicate the body to which you have submitted the application. If you have already received a notice of recognition from another federal state, please enclose a copy of it

The responsible office will tell you which documents you may need to present again in the original. Some copies must be officially certified. We recommend that you do not send originals by post.

You must submit your documents in German. The translations must be done by publicly appointed or authorized translators.

Other documents are usually important for employment in the teaching profession. You only have to submit these documents if you take a compensatory measure or if you are hired as a teacher.

  • Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate at least C1 (C2 is recommended).
  • Proof of your personal suitability:
    Certificate of good conduct from Germany or your country of origin (for example, criminal record extract, Certificate of Good Standing)
  • Proof of your health suitability: medical certificate

What are the fees?

Levy: free of charge
In Schleswig-Holstein, the recognition procedure is free of charge. Additional costs may be incurred (e.g. for translations or notarization of your documents). These costs vary from person to person. You must pay these costs yourself.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

None.

Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you must submit the documents.

Processing duration

Processing time: 3 Months
The responsible office will confirm that your documents have arrived after a maximum of one month. Once the documents are complete, the procedure usually takes up to three months. Sometimes the competent authority may extend the procedure.

Legal basis

Appeal

  • You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority.
  • The decision will then be reviewed.
  • Details of this procedure can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision.
  • We recommend that you always speak to the responsible office first before taking legal action against the decision.

Applications / forms

What else should I know?

There are various options for working as a teacher without recognition. The exact options available to you also depend on the federal state in which you would like to work. The responsible office will inform you.

Options for working as a teacher without recognition include

  • lateral entry
  • Direct entry
  • Working as a substitute teacher
  • Working at a private school
  • Working at international schools
  • Teaching in the language of origin (mother tongue)
  • Working in preparatory classes and support classes (e.g. German as a foreign language - DaF or German as a second language - DaZ).
  • Working outside a school (e.g. in adult education)

There are many advisory services. You can find these on the Recognition in Germany portal.

  • Ask an IQ advice center for personal advice on this procedure and your qualification. The advisors will also help you with your documents before you submit your application. The advice is free of charge.
  • You can also call the hotline of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. The hotline will answer your questions on the subject of "Working and living in Germany".
    Telephone number: +49 30 1815-1111
    Office hours: Monday to Friday 08:00 - 18:00 (CET)

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Technically approved by

Ministry for General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture of the State of Schleswig-Holstein

Professionally released on

05.10.2020

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