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Permission to use the professional title of veterinary medical-technical assistant with professional qualification from the EU/EEA/Switzerland Issue

Service Description

The profession of veterinary medical-technical assistant is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to work as a veterinary medical-technical assistant in Germany, you need a state license. With this permit, you can use the job title "veterinary medical technical assistant" and work in the profession.

If you have a professional qualification from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can also obtain a state permit from the competent authority in Germany.

In order to obtain the permit, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognized.

On January 1, 2023, the training of professions in medical technology was reformed in Germany. The new law on professions in medical technology applies. The profession on this basis is called medical technologist for veterinary medicine or medical technologist for veterinary medicine. There is a transitional period for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications on the basis of the old law on technical assistants in medicine. Until 31.12.2026, foreign professional qualifications may still be recognized as veterinary medical technical assistants on a transitional basis. The competent authority will advise you.

In the recognition procedure, the competent body 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 granting of the state permit.

In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must also meet other requirements for the permit to be issued. Further requirements include, for example, sufficient German language skills and health suitability.

If your professional qualification does not originate from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply.

You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.

Process flow

Application

You submit an application to the competent authority for permission to use the professional title "veterinary medical technical assistant". You can submit the application with the documents to the competent authority or send it by post. Do not send originals. Sometimes you can also send the application electronically. The responsible office will inform you.

Examination of equivalence

The competent authority will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent body will compare your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a veterinary medical-technical assistant. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

Possible results of the examination

If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The competent authority can confirm the result in writing. You must still meet the other requirements. You will then receive permission to use the professional title "veterinary medical technical assistant".

Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? You may be able to compensate for the differences through your professional experience, other knowledge or skills (lifelong learning). You must provide evidence of your professional experience. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority in the country in which you acquired the knowledge or skills.

However, it may be that the significant differences cannot be compensated for by this knowledge. In this case, your foreign professional qualification will not be recognized. You will then not be allowed to work as a veterinary medical-technical assistant in Germany.

However, the competent authority will tell you the main differences and why you cannot compensate for the main differences with your professional experience.

In most cases, you can take a compensatory measure. This will allow you to compensate for the main differences.

Compensatory measures

There are various compensatory measures:

  • Adaptation course: The adaptation course lasts a maximum of three years.
  • Aptitude test: In the aptitude test, only those areas in which significant differences have been identified are tested. The aptitude test is an interview.

You can choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test.

If you successfully complete the compensation measure and meet all other requirements, you will receive permission to use the job title "veterinary medical-technical assistant".

Who should I contact?

Please contact the Thuringian State Office for Consumer Protection.

Requirements

  • You have a professional qualification as a veterinary medical-technical assistant from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
  • You want to work in Germany as a veterinary medical technical assistant.
  • Personal suitability: You are reliable for work as a veterinary medical technical assistant and have no criminal record.
  • Health suitability: You are mentally and physically able to work as a veterinary medical technical assistant.
  • You have German language skills at the required level. This is normally language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Which documents are required?

  • Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
  • Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
  • Proof of training
  • Proof of your relevant professional experience as a veterinary technical assistant
  • Proof of other relevant knowledge for working as a veterinary technical assistant
  • Perhaps: You come from a third country and do not yet live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? Then you must provide proof: You want to work in the profession in Germany. Proof can be, for example, an application for an entry visa for employment, job applications, invitations to interviews, a business concept or a location note from the Central Service Agency for Professional Recognition (ZSBA).

You usually submit these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when you should submit the documents:

  • Proof of your personal suitability: criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
  • Proof of your health suitability: Medical certificate. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
  • Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate

The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit as a simple copy, a certified copy or the original.

What are the fees?

The procedure costs money. The responsible office will inform you about the costs. The costs generally depend on the time and effort required for processing.
Granting of permission to use the professional title: 80,00 EUR

Verification of the equivalence of the level of education: At least 200.00 EUR up to a maximum of 300.00 EUR.

Additional costs may arise (e.g. for translations, certifications or compensatory measures). These costs vary individually.

Processing duration

Processing Time: 4 Months
The responsible office will inform you if any documents are missing. If the documents are complete, the procedure will take a maximum of 4 months.

Legal basis

§ Section 75 of the Medical Technology Professions Act (MT-Berufe-Gesetz - MTBG)

  • i.V.m. § Section 1 (1) no. 4, Section 2 (1-4) of the Act on Technical Assistants in Medicine in the version valid on December 31, 2022
  • in conjunction with §§ Sections 25, 25a, 25c of the Training and Examination Ordinance for Technical Assistants in Medicine in the version valid on December 31, 2022

What else should I know?

Freedom to provide services

Do you only want to offer services in Germany occasionally and for a short time? Then you usually do not need a state permit. You must fulfill these requirements:

  • You must be established in another EU or EEA member state or in Switzerland.
  • You must provide proof of your professional qualification.
  • You must notify the competent authority of your activity in writing.

The competent authority will inform you whether you are permitted to provide services or whether you need to take an aptitude test.


Notification of equivalence

The equivalence assessment (recognition procedure) also takes place during the authorization procedure. You can apply for a separate decision on the result of the examination.


Procedure for ethnic German repatriates

As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either in accordance with the laws mentioned here or in accordance with the Federal Expellee Act. You can decide for yourself. The responsible office will advise you on which procedure is right for you.

Further Information

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content per DeepL.

Technically approved by

Federal Ministry of Health

Professionally released on

17.02.2023

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6Plus)

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