The profession of social insurance clerk is not regulated in Germany. Recognition of your qualification is not mandatory for taking up a job, but can be useful, for example, to increase your chances in the application process.
Description
The profession of social insurance clerk is not regulated in Germany. In order 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.
In accordance with the Berufsqualifikationsfeststellungsgesetz (BQFG), you can apply to the Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LGL) (Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety) for a determination of equivalence with the German occupation of social insurance clerk specializing in general health insurance, provided you have successfully completed vocational training abroad that you consider to be equivalent to the German occupation of social insurance clerk specializing in general health insurance.
Prerequisites
You can apply for an equivalence determination in accordance with the BQFG if you have successfully completed vocational training abroad.
The LGL will determine equivalence with the German occupation of social insurance clerk specializing in general health insurance 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 work in Germany.
For more information, see "Procedure" and "Required documents".
The application can be submitted regardless of citizenship and residence status.
In addition, sufficient German language skills are expected for practicing a profession.
Procedure
You can submit the application for recognition of your foreign professional qualification informally in writing to the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety.
First of all, it will be checked whether your foreign qualification can be assigned to the domestic reference occupation you stated (here: Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte/r Fachrichtung allgemeine Krankenversicherung). If necessary, the LGL 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 examination of your foreign qualification, the LGL will check in particular whether your foreign vocational training qualifies you for comparable professional activities as evidenced by the corresponding German training certificate and whether there are significant differences between the foreign vocational qualification and the corresponding German vocational training with regard to the skills, knowledge and abilities acquired.
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.
Processing time
The LGL 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
-
a tabular list in German of the courses of vocational training or further vocational training completed and the gainful employment pursued
(e.g. in the form of a curriculum vitae)
-
proof of identity
(e.g. copy or scan of passport or identity card)
-
evidence of professional training or vocational education obtained abroad
- z. e.g. copies or scans of examination certificates, professional certificates
- each in German translation
- The translations must be carried out by publicly appointed or authorised translators.
-
evidence of relevant professional experience or other evidence of formal qualifications in so far as this is necessary to establish equivalence
- z. e.g. copies or scans of job references, certificates of participation
- each in German translation
- The translations must be done by publicly appointed or authorised translators.
-
a statement that no application for equivalence has yet been submitted
-
evidence of the intention to pursue a gainful activity in the national territory
Appropriate documentation may include, for example, proof of application for an entry visa for employment or proof of contact with potential employers.
Not applicable as a rule,
- if you are resident 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.
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).
Remedy
Administrative court proceedings; information
An appeal against the decision of the competent body is permitted in the form of an administrative court action. This allows you to take legal action against the decision so that it can be reviewed. Details of how to do this can be found in the appeal instructions at the end of your decision. However, you are advised to clarify the disputed issues with the responsible office before filing an appeal.
Links to more information
Status:20.04.2023
Responsible for editing:Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Gesundheit und Pflege
If you select a location under "Localization" the contact details of the responsible authority and, if applicable, locally valid information will be displayed.