The application for professional recognition is submitted to the competent recognition authority in the chosen federal state. Which authority is responsible depends on the profession and the state in question. Switching to a different federal state is generally possible at any time, since responsibility for the recognition process lies with the individual states, which can differ in their procedures, requirements, and processing times. Such a switch does, however, involve time and financial effort, making it worth weighing the pros and cons carefully.

Switching before the professional language exam

Switching before the professional language exam is possible but involves considerable effort. Those who have only recently submitted their application and have not yet received a response can first contact the current recognition authority by phone to ask whether a switch is possible before processing has begun.
The switch itself requires two steps: a new application must be submitted to the recognition authority in the new federal state, with a note indicating that a process is already underway in the previous state. At the same time, the previous recognition authority must be contacted to close the process there and arrange for the file to be transferred to the new state.
Before switching, it is worth checking what requirements apply in the new federal state. Additional documents are often required, such as a job offer or a current registration certificate. In most federal states, admission to the professional language exam is only possible once the completed file has been received and processed. Some authorities do allow parallel processing, however, whether this is possible in individual cases should be clarified directly with the relevant authority. For professionals on a visa, the waiting period means lost time; additional costs and potentially further documentation requirements add to this.

Switching after passing the professional language exam

If the professional language exam has already been passed, switching to another federal state is usually more straightforward. The existing language certificate can help support a faster transfer request, especially when a concrete job offer is in place.
A professional language exam passed in Germany is generally recognized nationwide for academic healthcare professions. It should be noted, however, that exams taken with private providers are not accepted in all federal states – as a rule, exams administered by the competent state medical associations are the recognized standard. Since requirements can vary by federal state, it is advisable to confirm acceptance of the certificate directly with the competent authority in the new state before making the switch.

Switching during an ongoing knowledge exam process

Those who switch federal states after a knowledge exam attempt has already taken place or after registration for the exam has been initiated should be aware that attempts are recorded nationwide. Switching federal states does not change this – attempts already made continue to count, regardless of which state they were taken in. Switching federal states therefore cannot be used to reset former attempts – a total of only three attempts are available across the whole of Germany.

Process and required documents

To transfer the file, an official request is submitted to the current recognition authority – usually via a form on the authority's website. Some authorities additionally require a short cover letter stating the reason and the destination address; if a job offer is available, this should be included as well. Once the request has been reviewed, an invoice is sent. The file is only forwarded after payment has been received.
At the same time, the recognition authority in the new federal state should be contacted to find out what documents are required. These typically include the completed application form, a copy of the passport, a current CV, and any existing language certificates. Core documents such as university degrees are generally carried over from the existing file. For documents with a limited validity period, such as a certificate of good conduct, resubmission may be necessary.
New application fees apply in the new federal state, as the submission is formally treated as a new application. Together with the file transfer fee, this results in double administrative costs. When submitting the application, it is also important to clearly state where the existing file is held, so that both authorities can communicate smoothly with each other.

Duration of the file transfer

The time it takes to transfer a file from one federal state to another varies considerably. It depends primarily on the processing speed and staffing situation of the respective recognition authorities. In some cases, additional documents must be forwarded to the "Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB)" in Bonn for verification. The ZAB is the national authority responsible for assessing foreign educational qualifications and determining their equivalence with German qualifications, which can also extend processing times. Overall, the entire process can take several weeks to months. It is therefore important for affected healthcare professionals to find out about the process early and to regularly check the status of their file with the new recognition authority.