Qualifications obtained abroad

Applicants with German as the second language must provide proof of the required German language skills - with a certificate proving proficiency in speaking and writing at C1 level in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

C2 level proficiency (CEFR) is required for the following areas:

• Teaching German (not in the sense of DaF (German as a foreign language) or DaZ (German as a second language)),
• When teaching children in the school entrance level (years 1 and 2 of Grundschule (primary school)),
• Teaching in the qualification phase at the upper Gymnasium (academic secondary school) level.

Unsure if you need such proof or might already have it?

Here are a few pointers:

• A non-native German speaker is a person who has not obtained a higher education entrance qualification, e.g. the Abitur, in Germany or another German-speaking country.
• German citizenship does not exempt you from proof of language proficiency.

You can also apply for local teaching jobs without formal recognition, i.e. only with a translation of the certificate/degree obtained abroad. However, both the chances of being hired and the salary grading are significantly better with recognition. Without formal recognition

• your application will only be considered in the last of the four groups and only as a lower priority (Group 4 d),
• this will result in a significantly lower salary (E 10),
• you will be considered to be a lateral entrant who must take part in a Seiteneinstiegsqualifizierung (lateral entry qualification/SEQ) lasting several years. You can find information on lateral entry into the teaching profession here.

This is why it makes sense to have your qualifications recognised. Depending on your qualifications, you have three options for "recognition":

1. Certificate evaluation by the ZAB: The certificate evaluation indicates, among other things, the level of the German educational qualification comparable to your foreign university degree (bachelor's, master's degrees) and also provides additional information on the procedures for professional recognition.
2. Determination of equivalence with a teaching qualification for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (see below "teacher qualifications obtained abroad").
3. Determination of equivalence with another profession: When determining equivalence, the competent authority compares your professional qualification with the German reference profession. Click here to find out what your German reference profession is and which authority is responsible for you.

Teacher qualifications obtained abroad

Have you trained as a teacher outside Germany and have you completed this training? Then you can submit an application for a determination of equivalence of the qualifications you have obtained in your country of origin with a teaching qualification in accordance with the regulations of the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Please send the following documents by post to:

Ministerium für Bildung und Kindertagesförderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Referat 230,
Werderstraße 124,
19055 Schwerin:

1. Completed and signed application form (PDF for printing),
2. Tabular CV (list of completed training /qualifications and career history) in German,
3. Proof of identity,
4. Educational qualifications obtained abroad,
5. Proof of relevant professional experience and other qualifications,
6. A certificate confirming eligibility to practice the profession in the country of training.

If a clear decision is not possible at first, the Ministry may request additional evidence.

The documents referred to in points 4 to 6 must be submitted as originals or officially certified copies. Official certifications can be obtained from public institutions or offices of a city or district, or from notaries. Health insurance companies and parishes, among others, are not authorised to provide these certifications.

Foreign-language documents must be submitted as translations, each accompanied by a copy of the original document obtained abroad (translated by a sworn translator/interpreter in Germany). Translations are only considered if the translator/interpreter had access to the original or an officially certified copy of the foreign-language document.

As translations made abroad will not be accepted, the documents must be translated into German by a publicly appointed and sworn translator in Germany, or the accuracy and completeness of the existing translation must be certified by such a translator. An overview of the publicly appointed and sworn translators in Germany is available at www.justiz-dolmetscher.de.