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If you have obtained a higher education qualification abroad, you can have your higher education qualification assessed with regard to practicing a non-regulated profession. The certificate evaluation

• describes your foreign higher education qualification,
• determines to which German educational qualification your university degree is comparable and
• certifies your professional and academic opportunities.

It should make it easier for you to enter the German job market. However, you cannot derive any legal claims from the certificate evaluation.

Please note: The certificate evaluation is not a recognition, but a comparative classification.

Binding recognition is particularly necessary if you

• have a place of residence in Germany and
• wish to pursue a regulated profession.

Your university degree must meet the following requirements in order to be assessed:

• The degree certificates must be officially certified.
• The degree must have been obtained at an institution that is recognized as a higher education institution according to the relevant criteria of the country of origin.
• In the case of degrees awarded as part of a cross-border cooperation or with the involvement of several universities (so-called franchising), all participating institutions must be duly recognized or accredited as universities under the law of the country of origin. The quality of the degree must meet the requirements of all countries involved in the cooperation and be compatible with the higher education regulations of these countries.
• In the case of degrees from countries in which the accreditation of study programs is mandatory, the completed study program must be accredited.

A list of the required documents can be found on the website of the responsible office.

• Https://www.kmk.org/zab/zentralstelle-fuer-auslaendisches-bildungswesen/zeugnisbewertung-fuer-auslaendische-hochschulqualifikationen/einzureichende-dokumente.html

• for issuing the certificate: EUR 200.00
• for the issue of each additional certificate for multiple qualifications: EUR 100.00
• for the reissue of a certificate (e.g. in the event of loss): EUR 100.00

Apply for the assessment using the form from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). It will be sent to you by e-mail after you have completed and submitted a web form online.

As the further procedure may vary depending on your country of origin, please obtain detailed information from the Central Office for Foreign Education beforehand.

The certificate evaluation states the level of the German educational qualification to which your foreign qualification is comparable, and also provides information on options for continuing your studies, the legal basis for awarding the degree and the procedures for professional recognition.

You will receive the certificate evaluation after:

• Your completed application has been received by the relevant office,
• all required documents have been submitted and
• you have paid the fees.

The certificate will be issued in a short version and a long version, which you will receive together.

The short version is intended as a supplement to your application documents and is intended to inform the employer or employment agency at a glance which German qualification corresponds to your foreign university degree.

You can always use the long version if more detailed information is required.

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Central Office for Foreign Education at the Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder (ZAB)

The ZAB issues certificate assessments for university degrees from all over the world.

The ZAB does not issue certificates for higher education courses that have not been completed or for courses that cannot be assigned to the higher education sector.

Please note: No certificate evaluations are issued for school certificates.

• Central Office for Foreign Education at the Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder (ZAB)

Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg