Recognition Office of certificatesProfessional recognition of vocational training acquired abroad
Our tasks
We examine certificates of school-based vocational training (initial training) acquired abroad and compare them with school-based vocational training acquired in Baden-Württemberg (non-regulated school-based vocational qualifications obtained at vocational schools regulated by state law).
At the end of the process, a certificate will be issued, if applicable, detailing the equivalent and differing portions of the vocational training.
In addition to foreign vocational school qualifications (initial training), we also examine continuing education acquired abroad on the basis of recognized initial training and compare them with continuing education from Baden-Württemberg. Here, too, a certificate will be issued, if applicable, detailing the equivalent and differing portions of the continuing education.
Please only submit an application if
- You are resident in Baden-Württemberg
Or - As a non-EU citizen residing outside Baden-Württemberg, you can present a (provisional) confirmation of a vocational training place in Baden-Württemberg. This means that a vocational training centre or employer in Baden-Württemberg confirms in writing that training is planned subject to the recognition of the certificate. Proof of an application for such a training place in Baden-Württemberg alone is not sufficient.
Or - As a citizen of the EU/EEA/Switzerland, you are able to present proof of acceptance in the application procedure for vocational training, further education, or employment in Baden- Württemberg
Or - You are a German national with a foreign qualification to enter higher education who has applied or intends to apply soon for an undergraduate or post-graduate degree programme in Baden-Württemberg.
Or - You have already obtained both the school-based part and the practical part of the entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences in a federal state other than Baden-Württemberg and wish to start an undergraduate degree programme in Baden-Württemberg
If we are not responsible for your concerns, please contact one of the institutions listed on the homepage under "Other competent bodies for other recognition procedures".
Please send us the following documents by post or by e-mail as a PDF attachment:
- Fully completed and signed application form.
A complete list of school and university education as well as of all professional activities is important for processing. Therefore, please complete the form in full, sign it and send it to us.
- Copy of foreign passport or, in the case of German citizenship, copy of current identity card
- If applicable, proof of name changes (e.g. marriage certificate, divorce certificate) as a copy of the original with a copy of the translation
- Written curriculum vitae with detailed information on educational and professional background and all previous jobs in the pedagogical field
- If third parties are to receive information about the current application or if correspondence is to be conducted with third parties, a corresponding power of attorney is required (Vollmacht).
- Degree certificate/diploma/professional examination (Professional licence or Professional permit) as copies of the Originals with copies of the official trans- lations. English and French-Ianguage documents do not require translation.
- Subject and grade overviews as copies of the Originals with copies of the offi- cial translations. English and French-Ianguage documents do not require translation.
- Proof of the type and duration of the relevant practical activities as copies of the Originals with copies of the translations. Documents in English and French do not require translation.
In some cases, further documents are required, which we will then request separately.
Important: The submitted documents will not be returned! Therefore, please do not send us any Originals!
Please do not send cash! If fees are due, you will receive the Information required for the bank transfer with the certificate of recognition.
Note: Processing times of several months must be expected in some cases. Please refrain from enquiring about the processing status.
Delivery of the documents
You can send your documents to our postal address at the Stuttgart Regional Council:
Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart
Referat 71 - Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle
Ruppmannstraße 21
70565 Stuttgart
Digital application via Service-BW
You can submit all the necessary documents to us digitally via the Service-BW website.
A fee of 100 euros will be charged for recognition at the end of the procedure. You will receive a letter with the payment information together with the certificate of recognition. The fee can only be paid by bank transfer, cash payment is not possible.
If you have sent us current proof of income for the purpose of checking the exemption from the fee due to low family income, we will check this against the seizure exemption limits applicable at the time in accordance with the German Code of Civil Procedure.
- EU Recognition Directive 2005/36/EC of 7 September 2005
- Act on the Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications in Baden-Württemberg (Baden-Württemberg State Recognition Act - LAnGBW)
- Law on the care and support of children in kindergartens, other day facilities and child day care (Child Day Care Act - KiTaG) of 19 March 2009, in the currently valid version
- Training and examination regulations for the state-recognised training of educa- tors / social education assistants in Baden-Württemberg in the current Version
If you have any further questions, you can reach us via this contact form, by telephone on 0711 904-17170, or by e-mail at anerkennungsstelle@rps.bwl.de
The postal address is:
Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart
Referat 71 - Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle
Ruppmannstraße 21
70565 Stuttgart
One option for acquiring the equivalence certificate, which is available to the applicant is the so-called "adaptation period". We define an adaptation period as a practical activity in a socio-educational institution in the professional field of an educator or socio-educational assistant, comparable to the professional internship at the end of training for educators or socio-educational assistants in Baden-Württemberg.
The difference to the professional internship is that the applicants are no longer in a training relationship, but already have basic professional competences. Therefore, the adaptation period does not have to be accompanied or examined by a specialised school for social pedagogy.
The adaptation period can be completed as part of a full-time or part-time job. If you work part-time, the duration of the adaptation period increases accordingly.
With regard to the question of counting towards the minimum staffing ratio and thus the remuneration of the activity, the requirements of the Baden-Württemberg Municipal Association for Youth and Social Affairs for the operating licence of daycare facilities are applicable.
This confirms that the provider can decide to what extent the applicant can be counted as a specialist towards the minimum staffing ratio.
It is important that experienced employees of the organisation observe, accompany and advise applicants in their educational work.