Training professions in the field of the administration of justice; application for the determination of the equivalence of a foreign professional qualification

You can have the equivalence of a foreign, non-academic professional training in the field of administration of justice with a German comparable profession (e.g. paralegal or notary clerk) determined.

Description

Access to numerous occupations in the field of legal services (e.g. legal assistant or notary clerk) is not regulated in Germany. Admission to the profession is therefore not dependent on an applicant having the equivalence of foreign vocational training with a comparable profession in Germany established.

Recognition of equivalence does, however, enable a graduate of a foreign training program to present his or her own qualifications transparently to the domestic labor market. In the event of recognition of equivalence, persons with foreign training qualifications have the same rights and obligations as graduates of domestic training.

Prerequisites

A prerequisite for the determination of equivalence is that the applicant has acquired the ability to perform a comparable professional activity in Germany on the basis of his or her foreign professional qualification. In addition, there must be no significant differences between the proven professional qualification and the corresponding domestic professional qualification.

Procedure

The determination of the equivalence of a foreign professional qualification shall be made upon application. This application must be submitted to the bar association or notary's office responsible for conducting the respective domestic professional training, and otherwise to the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice.

Special notes

The determination of equivalence can only be made for training professions that are covered by the scope of the Vocational Qualification Determination Act or the Bavarian Vocational Qualification Determination Act. A determination of equivalence is therefore not possible, for example, for the profession of judicial officer.

Deadlines

none

Processing time

The competent body shall acknowledge receipt of the application for determination of equivalence within one month of receipt of the application. It shall decide on the application no later than three months after receipt of all required documents. The deadline may be extended if necessary.

Required documents

  • The following documents are required:

    • Tabular list in German of the training courses completed and the gainful activities pursued
    • Proof of identity
    • proof of education acquired abroad
    • Proof of relevant professional experience or other proof of qualifications, if these are required for the determination of equivalence
    • Declaration that no application for the determination of equivalence has been submitted so far
    • Documents showing that the applicant intends to pursue a gainful activity in Germany corresponding to the professional qualification
      This is generally not required for applicants residing in a member state of the European Union, in another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or in Switzerland, as well as for nationals of these member states.

    The competent body shall indicate the form in which the documents must be submitted and whether translations of the documents are required.

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.

Fees

  • The competent body will inform about the amount of costs for determining the equivalence of education. The costs can be paid by bank transfer (also via online banking).

Legal bases

Remedy

The decision may be appealed to the administrative court.

Links to more information

Related issues

Status:14.02.2023

Responsible for editing:Bayerisches Staatsministerium der Justiz

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  • Online transactions, Bavaria-wide
  • Online transactions, locally limited
  • Form, Bavaria-wide
  • Form, locally limited
  • Prefillable Form, Bavaria-wide
  • Legal bases, Bavaria-wide
  • Legal bases, locally limited
  • Fees, Bavaria-wide
  • Fees, locally limited
Bild zur Leistungsbeschreibung

Responsible for you

If you select a location under "Localization" the contact details of the responsible authority and, if applicable, locally valid information will be displayed.

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