Driving instructor's license; application for recognition of foreign professional qualification
You would like to work as a driving instructor in Germany? Then you need a driving instructor's license. Even with a professional qualification from abroad, you can obtain a driving instructor's license in Germany - if the legal requirements are met.
Description
Working as a driving instructor is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to be allowed to work in this profession, you need a driving instructor's license. Only with this permit are you allowed to train people to drive vehicles.
You can also obtain a driving instructor's license with a professional qualification from abroad. To do so, your foreign professional qualification must be recognized as part of the procedure for issuing the driving instructor permit. In the procedure, the competent body (an authority) compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks the equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the issuance of the driving instructor license.
In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must meet other requirements for the issuance of the driving instructor license.
It is irrelevant what nationality you have or in which country you acquired your professional qualification.
You can also submit the application from abroad.
Prerequisites
- You have a professional qualification as a driving instructor from abroad.
- You are at least 21 years old.
- You are mentally and physically suitable.
- You are professionally and pedagogically suitable.
- There are no facts against you that make you appear unreliable for the driving instructor profession.
- You are in possession of a valid driving license for the class for which the driving instructor license is to be issued.
- You have the necessary German language skills to teach learner drivers.
- You want to work in the profession in Germany.
Procedure
You submit an "application for a driving instructor's license" to the competent body.
- The competent body then checks whether you meet all the requirements. One important requirement is the professional qualification.
- The competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks the equivalence. If your professional qualification is equivalent, it will be recognized. You still have to fulfill the other requirements and prove your language skills. Then you will receive the driving instructor license as a written document.
- If your professional qualification is not equivalent, it will not be recognized. You will then receive a written notice about the differences in your professional qualification.
- If your professional qualification is not equivalent, you can choose between an aptitude test and an adaptation course to compensate for the differences.
- In the aptitude test, only the differences that the competent body has determined are examined. The aptitude test consists of a written and oral examination. You will also have to hold teaching tests in theoretical and practical driving lessons.
- The adaptation course is a practical post-qualification and lasts a maximum of 3 years. In the adaptation course, you must complete written practice work and give theoretical and practical lessons.
- If you complete the adaptation course or pass the aptitude test (and meet all other requirements), you will receive the driving instructor's license as a written document.
- You can take legal action against the decision of the competent body. The decision will then be reviewed. Details of how to do this can be found in the appeal instructions at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.
Special notes
Freedom to provide services
You can also work temporarily and occasionally as a driving instructor in Germany. In this case, a corresponding note will be entered in your driving instructor's license. In this case, too, the competent authority will check whether your professional qualification from abroad is equivalent to the training and examination required in Germany. If significant differences are found and public safety is endangered as a result, the issuance of the permit may be made dependent on an aptitude test. The above requirements apply equally.
In addition, you must report your work to the competent body before the first activity and annually thereafter. The competent office will inform you in detail about the procedure.
Procedure for late repatriates
As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either according to the law mentioned here or according to the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide this yourself. Your competent office will advise you on this.
Deadlines
None.
Sometimes documents are still missing in the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you have to submit the documents.
Processing time
If the documents are complete, the procedure usually takes a maximum of 3 months.
Required documents
Required documents, Bavaria-wide: The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit.
Important documents are generally:
- Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
- officially certified copy of your proof of qualification to work as a driving instructor or driving teacher
- valid driver's license for the corresponding driving license classes
- If the work as a driving instructor is not regulated in your home country: a certificate that you have worked as a driving instructor for at least 2 years in the last 10 years
- Proof of your personal reliability. This proof must be from an authority in the state of your professional qualification. This can be a criminal record or a Certificate of Good Standing. (The proof should be no more than 3 months old at the time of application).
- Proof of your mental and physical health from the state of your professional qualification. Proof must demonstrate that you are qualified to work as a driving instructor. (The proof should be no more than 3 months old at the time of application).
- Your home state may not be able to issue the evidence of your personal reliability or mental and physical health. In that case, you can replace these documents with an affirmation in lieu of an oath. The competent office will inform you of this.
- The competent office will tell you which documents you have to submit as originals or copies. If your documents are not in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or authorized.
Fees
The responsible office will inform you about the costs. The costs generally depend on the effort required for processing.
Additional costs may arise (e.g. for translations and certifications). These costs vary individually.
The issuance of a driving instructor's license and a driving instructor's license costs 40.90 EUR. Expenses are charged in accordance with the schedule of fees for road traffic measures.
Legal basis
Status:12.10.2023
Responsible for editing:Bayerisches Staatsministerium des Innern, für Sport und Integration
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