If your foreign professional qualification cannot yet be recognized in Germany and you only need to pass an exam to have it recognized, you can obtain a residence permit to take the exam.
You can obtain a residence permit for the following exams:
- an exam that determines the equivalence of your foreign professional qualification to a domestic professional qualification
- an exam in a profession regulated in Germany, so that you may obtain the authorization to practice the profession
- an exam that allows you to use a professional title
Language and technical language exams are also possible. You may also take multiple exams.
If you need to attend an exam preparation course before taking the exam, you will require an additional residence permit. This is called a “Residence Permit for the Purpose of Undertaking a Qualification Measure for the Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications.”
You must provide proof of your language proficiency to the Foreigners’ Registration Office if demonstrating language proficiency is not part of your exam.
The “Residence Permit for Taking an Examination for the Recognition of a Foreign Professional Qualification” does not yet entitle you to practice your profession. After successfully passing the exam, you may switch to a residence permit for employment or for job seeking.
The “Residence Permit to Take an Examination for the Recognition of a Foreign Professional Qualification” is temporary and valid for the duration of your examination process. The examination process covers the period from taking the exam until the announcement of the exam results. The end of the examination process may be either the announcement of the exam results or a decision from the competent authority that concludes the process.
The immigration office responsible for the applicant's place of residence
