Information - Services - Formalities by subjects - Human resources - Employment of foreigners (EU and non-EU citizens) - Certified social insurance specialist (specializing in statutory pension and miners' social insurance); application for recognition of a foreign qualification - Dienstleistungsportal Bayern

Description

The profession of social insurance specialist is not regulated in Germany. In order to be able to work in this profession in Bavaria, recognition of your foreign qualification is therefore not mandatory.

It is often possible to take up a job without formal recognition of your foreign qualification. In principle, the respective employer decides on the employment.

However, a recognition procedure can be useful in order to make your foreign qualification more transparent and better assessable for the employer. This can increase your chances in the application process.

Prerequisites

You can apply for an equivalence determination in accordance with the Berufsqualifikationsfeststellungsgesetz (BQFG) if you have successfully completed vocational training abroad.

Equivalence with the German profession of social insurance specialist can be established if

• your foreign vocational training qualifies you for comparable activities and
• your foreign professional qualification does not show any significant differences with regard to the skills, knowledge and abilities acquired.
• You may also have to prove that you intend to pursue gainful employment in Germany.

The application can be submitted regardless of citizenship and residence status.

Sufficient German language skills are also expected for professional practice.

Procedure

• You can submit the application for recognition of your foreign professional qualification in writing to the Bavarian State Ministry for Family Affairs, Labor and Social Affairs (StMAS).
• First of all, it will be checked whether your foreign qualification corresponds to the domestic reference occupation you have stated (in this case: Geprüfte/r Sozialversicherungsfachwirt/in, Fachrichtung gesetzliche Renten- und knappschaftliche Sozialversicherung). If necessary, the StMAS will inform you which other office is responsible for you. In this case, you can withdraw the application free of charge.
• Within the framework of the equivalence test of your foreign qualification, the StMAS checks in particular whether you are qualified by your foreign professional training to perform comparable professional activities as evidenced by the corresponding German training certificate and whether there are significant differences between the foreign professional qualification and the corresponding German professional training with regard to the acquired skills, knowledge and abilities.
• Evidence of relevant professional experience (from abroad or from Germany) and other evidence of qualification (e.g. additional qualifications or further and continuing training not regulated by legal or administrative provisions) are also taken into account.
• If no significant differences are found, the full equivalence of your foreign professional qualification will be determined.

If there are significant differences and at the same time comparable qualification contents, the existing qualifications as well as the differences to the reference occupation will be described in the decision.

Special notes

Late repatriates can alternatively apply for a determination of equivalence in accordance with Section 10 of the Federal Expellees Act (BVFG).

Within the framework of this free procedure - in contrast to the procedure according to the BQFG - no professional experience can be taken into account.

Entitled persons under the BVFG can choose whether to submit an application under the BQFG or the BVFG.

Deadlines

none

Processing time

The StMAS will confirm receipt of your application within one month and, if necessary, inform you which required documents need to be supplemented. After the documents are complete, the decision will be made within three months. In justified cases, this period may be reasonably extended.

Required documents

• The following documents may be required:
  • Tabular list of training courses and, if applicable, of previous employment in German (e.g. in the form of a curriculum vitae)
  • Proof of identity (e.g. copy or scan of passport or ID card)
  • Evidence of vocational training or further vocational training acquired abroad (evidence of training certifies successful completion of an educational measure regulated by legal or administrative provisions; e.g. copies or scans of examination certificates, professional certificates. In each case in German translation. The translations must be done by publicly appointed or authorized translators).
  • Proof of relevant professional experience or other evidence of qualifications, if these are required to establish equivalence (e.g. copies or scans of job references, certificates of attendance. In each case in German translation. The translations must be done by publicly appointed or authorized translators).

  • Declaration that no application for determination of equivalence has yet been submitted

  • Proof of the intention to pursue gainful employment in Germany (suitable documents can be, for example, proof of application for an entry visa for gainful employment or proof of contact with potential employers)

  Not applicable as a rule,

  • if you reside in a member state of the EU, a contracting state of the EEA or in Switzerland or
  • if you are a national of one of these states.

Forms

Please select a location in "Localization" so that the address of the responsible authority can be filled in.

• Prefillable Form, Bavaria-wide: Formloser Antrag (mit Unterschrift)

  Please note

  This form has to be signed and sent to the responsible authority. You can sign the form manually and send it by email/fax or sign the form electronically with your qualified electronic signature an send it by (secure) email. If the responsible authority has set up a De-Mail account, you can also send the form by De-Mail using an sender-confirmed message.

  Dieser Assistent unterstützt Sie bei der Erstellung eines formlosen Schreibens, wenn die zuständige Stelle kein Antragsformular zur Verfügung stellt.

Fees

• The recognition procedure in accordance with the BQFG is generally subject to a fee.

  The fees for a corresponding procedure are based on the fee law of the Free State of Bavaria and depend on the individual effort required to carry out the procedure. As a rule, the fees range between EUR 25.00 and EUR 1,000.00. Pursuant to Art. 14 of the Bavarian Cost Law, the performance of the declaratory proceedings can be made dependent on the payment of an appropriate advance on costs.

  Further costs, e.g. for translations and certifications, must be borne by you.

  Unemployed and job-seeking applicants should check with their relevant employment agencies or job centers before submitting an application to see whether the costs can be covered by the employment service.

  The information portal "Recognition in Germany" (see "Further links"), for example, provides information on other options for financial support.

  The recognition procedure under the Federal Expellees Act (BVFG), on the other hand, is free of charge (see Special Information).

Legal bases

• Gesetz über die Feststellung der Gleichwertigkeit von Berufsqualifikationen (Berufsqualifikationsfeststellungsgesetz - BQFG)
• § 10 Gesetz über die Angelegenheiten der Vertriebenen und Flüchtlinge (Bundesvertriebenengesetz - BVFG)
• Verordnung über die Berufsausbildung zum Sozialversicherungsfachangestellten/zur Sozialversicherungsfachangestellten

Remedy

Administrative court action

Links to more information

• Anerkennungs-Finder
• Finanzielle Förderung
• Berufsanerkennung

Related issues

• Foreign professional qualification; advice on recognition
• Social insurance clerk (specializing in statutory pension and accident insurance); application for recognition of foreign qualification