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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST (M/F)

GERMAN: FACHINFORMATIKER/IN

Competent authority in charge of recognition procedure

The German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) are responsible for the reference occupation you have selected. One
central office has been established for all German federal states. Please contact the IHK FOSA.

IHK FOSA

Ulmenstraße 52g
90443 Nürnberg

Phone: +49 911 81506 0

Fax: +49 911 81506 100
E-mail: info@ihk-fosa.de
http://www.ihk-fosa.de

Before submitting an application to the IHK FOSA, we recommend that you use the advice service provided by your local
Chamber of Industry and Commerce, either in person or by telephone. You can find your local Chamber of Industry and
Commerce here as well as details of the relevant contact partners who will be able to answer any questions regarding recognition
and applications.

Professional Recognition
DO I NEED TO HAVE MY PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS RECOGNIZED

The selected occupation is a so-called training occupation which is not regulated in Germany. You can also practice this
profession without a state licence.

You also, however, have the option of having your qualification assessed for equivalence with a German qualification.

This delivers benefits

The notice of equivalence you will receive is an official and legally secure document which confirms equivalence of the
foreign qualification with the relevant German reference qualification and confers the same legal rights as a German
qualification.
Regardless of whether you obtain full or partial equivalence for your vocational qualification, the procedure will make it
easier for employers to evaluate your qualification. This will increase your chances on the jobs market.
The assessment notice will assist you in making progress within your occupation.

Information on the procedure

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCEDURE?

You may apply for a procedure to investigate the equivalence of your vocational qualification if:

you are able to show that you have completed a vocational qualification which was not obtained in Germany and
you wish to work in Germany.

It is not necessary to hold German citizenship or a residence permit for Germany in order to obtain recognition of your
professional or vocational qualification. There is also no need for you to be resident in Germany at the time when you apply. You
may submit your application before entering the country from abroad. Prior to initiating a recognition procedure, you should,
however, clarify whether you are entitled to migrate to Germany in order to work here.

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 For interested parties abroad Prior to initiating a recognition procedure, you should, however, clarify whether you are
entitled to migrate to Germany in order to work here. You can use the Migration Quick Check service to verify your status.
Further information on starting work in Germany is available here.

Application forms for a recognition procedure are available on the Internet sites of the competent bodies or by direct enquiry to the
competent bodies themselves.

WHAT FORM DOES THE PROCEDURE TAKE?

Your foreign vocational qualification is compared with a German vocational qualification.

The competent authority examines whether there are significant differences between your foreign vocational qualification
and the German vocational qualification.
As well as looking at your vocational qualification, it will also consider the occupational practice you have gained in
Germany or abroad.
The procedure is subject to a charge. The relevant competent authority will provide information regarding costs.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES?

If your vocational qualification is recognised as possessing full equivalence, you will enjoy the same rights as holders of the
relevant German reference qualification.
The partial equivalence of your qualification will be certified if there are significant differences between your qualification
and the German reference qualification. The assessment notice issued by the competent authority includes a detailed
description of your existing vocational skills and of the knowledge which is missing. This is f assistance on the jobs market,
facilitates targeted continuing training or second-chance qualification and enables a new application to be made at a later
point if appropriate.

WHICH DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED?

Tabular summary in German of the training courses you have completed including previous occupational activity if relevant
Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
Proof of vocational qualification
Proof of your relevant occupational experience
Evidence of other qualifications (e.g. continuing vocational training courses)
A declaration that you have not previously submitted an application for assessment of equivalence
Evidence of intention to work in Germany (does not apply to nationals of the EU/EEA/Switzerland and to persons resident in
the EU/EEA/Switzerland)

The competent authority may require certified copies of documents or the original documents themselves. Simple copies of your
documents may also suffice in some cases. Ask your competent authority.

You should submit German translations of your documents. Translations must be made by interpreters or translators who are
publicly authorised or certified in Germany or abroad. The competent authority may also decide that no translations are needed.
Ask your competent authority.

HOW LONG DOES THE PROCEDURE TAKE?

The competent authority will begin the equivalence assessment procedure when all documents have been received in
completed form.
A decision will be made within 3 months of receipt of all documents. The decision deadline may be extended on a single
occasion in difficult cases.

WHAT IS THE COST OF THE PROCEDURE?

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 The procedure is subject to a charge. The fees for submitting an application range from €100 to €600. The actual amount of
the fee payable is based on the amount of time and expense incurred. This may vary from occupation to occupation and
from federal state to federal state.
Costs of fees and other costs such as translation and certification of documents must in all cases be borne by the applicants
themselves. In some circumstances and on an individual case basis, these fees may be paid by other bodies (e.g. German
Social Security Code II and III ).
If the required evidence cannot be submitted, it is possible for a skills analysis to be carried out (§ 14 BQFG) for the purpose
of ascertaining occupational competences (e.g. via a specialist oral examination or work sample). In such cases, an
applicant may incur further costs.
The competent authority may require fees to be paid in advance. Ask your competent authority.
Prior to submitting an application, unemployed applicants or applicants registered as job seekers should seek clarification
from their local Employment Office or Job Centre whether the labour administration authorities will meet the costs of the
procedure. The labour administration authorities will only provide such support if it is of the view that recognition of a foreign
training qualification is necessary in order for the holder to be integrated into the labour market. Adaptation measures such
as continuing training courses or examination preparations may also be funded in these cases.

Legal Basis

Law to assess the equivalency of professional qualifications (BQFG)

Special Note
Ethnic German Resettler

If you are an ethnic German resettler you may pursue a recognition procedure in accordance with the Federal Expellees Act as
previously or pursuant to the here refered law. Ethnic German resettlers can decide which procedure is likely to be more
favourable for them. Your competent authority will advise you on choosing the right procedure depending on your personal
profile.

Counselling Services

Obtain personal advice at an IQ Counselling Centre. Information on how to find a Counselling Centre in Germany is available
here.

The telephone hotline provided by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees is open from 9 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday and
can be contacted on: +49 30 1815-1111.

Further advisory services are available here.

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Occupational profile

Fields of work

Although information technology specialists specialising in applications development work at companies in virtually all sectors of
trade and industry, they predominantly find employment in the IT branch. They also work for companies which create or adapt
software for their business processes themselves.

Although information technology specialists specialising in systems integration work at companies in virtually all sectors of trade
and industry, they predominantly find employment in the IT branch.

Professional experience

In the subject/discipline of applications development

Design and realise customised software applications

Test and document applications
Modify existing applications
Apply project planning, implementation and control methods
Use software development tools
Develop ergonomically designed user interfaces to suit specific applications
Rectify faults through the use of expert and diagnostic systems
Present applications
Advise and train users

In the subject/discipline of systems integration

Design and realise complex information technology and telecommunications systems by integrating hardware and software
components
Install and configure networked information technology and telecommunications systems
Commission information technology and telecommunications systems
Apply project planning, implementation and control methods
Rectify malfunctions through the use of expert and diagnostic systems
Administer information technology and telecommunications systems
Present system solutions
Advise and train users

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