Qualifications obtained abroad
Do you have a qualification obtained abroad – professional or academic – and are you interested in working as a teacher in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern? Welcome!
The same requirements apply as for applicants with qualifications obtained in Germany, but with the following specificities:
- Language skills
Applicants with German as the second language must provide proof of the required German language skills - with a certificate proving proficiency in speaking and writing at C1 level in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
C2 level proficiency (CEFR) is required for the following areas:
- Teaching German (not in the sense of DaF (German as a foreign language) or DaZ (German as a second language)),
- When teaching children in the school entrance level (years 1 and 2 of Grundschule (primary school)),
- Teaching in the qualification phase at the upper Gymnasium (academic secondary school) level.
Unsure if you need such proof or might already have it?
Here are a few pointers:
- A non-native German speaker is a person who has not obtained a higher education entrance qualification, e.g. the Abitur, in Germany or another German-speaking country.
- German citizenship does not exempt you from proof of language proficiency.
- Language exams
Unsure if you need such proof or might already have it?
Here are a few pointers:
- A non-native German speaker is a person who has not obtained a higher education entrance qualification, e.g. the Abitur, in Germany or another German-speaking country.
- German citizenship does not exempt you from proof of language proficiency.
- A degree in German language and literature completed abroad does not count as proof of language proficiency.
Recognised language certificates can be submitted in various forms.
The most common are:
- Goethe Certificate,
- "Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (German language examination for access to higher education)" – DSH,
- "Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (Test of German as a foreign language)" – TestDaF,
- telc certificate.
This list is not exhaustive.
Do you already have the necessary language skills, but you do not have a language certificate yet? Are you looking to take the necessary language exam but you need financial support? There are two options:
1. Registration for the "Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (German language examination for access to higher education)" (DSH) at the University of Greifswald, funded by the Ministry of Education and Child Day Care Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
The exams take place 4 times a year at the University of Greifswald (March/July/September/December) and consist of a written and an oral exam. As described below, you can register up to about three weeks before the respective exam date.
Requirements:
- You need proof of language proficiency to be employed as a teacher.
- The management of a state school in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is of the opinion that
- you would be successful in the recruitment process if you had proof of language proficiency, and
- you can pass the DSH exam.
Process:
- You will receive a form from the school management confirming the above-mentioned requirements. This form must be signed by you, the school management and the school supervisory authority (school councillor).
- You must send this signed form by post to
- Ministerium für Bildung und Kindertagesförderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Abteilung 2 - Schule und Lehrkräftegewinnung Referat 230
- Werderstraße 124
- 19055 Schwerin
- and in advance by email to c.jungbluth@bm.mv-regierung.de.
- About two weeks before the exam date, you will receive an invitation to the exam with further information or a rejection for capacity reasons, i.e. if more registrations than available exam spots.
- The results of the exams are announced on the day of the oral exam. The language level C 1 (CEFR) required for standard employment as a teacher is demonstrated by achieving "DSH-2." “DSH-3” indicates language level C 2 (GER). As the Ministry of Education will cover the cost of your language exam, it will also be informed of your exam result.
- A five-day exam training course is also offered in Greifswald for the exam dates in March and September. Participation is voluntary, but recommended. It takes place in the week immediately before the written exam. Participation is free of charge.
Next exam dates:
September 2024
Registration by 09.08.2024
Exam training – 02.-06.09.2024
Writing – 16.09.2024
Oral – 19. and 20.09.2024January 2025
Registration by 13.12.2024
Writing - 03.01.2025
Oral - 09. und 10.01.2025February / March 2025
Dates to be announced
2. Reimbursement of costs for an already completed and passed language exam
Requirements:
- You needed a proof of language proficiency to be employed as a teacher.
- The invoice date of your language exam and the start of your employment in the teaching profession are within six months of each other.
- Your employment in the teaching profession is either permanent or fixed-term for at least twelve months.
Process:
- You have received/signed an employment agreement as a teacher. If you meet the requirements, this will include a side agreement.
- Complete the application form (click here for the PDF) and send it together with the documents specified therein by post to
- Ministerium für Bildung und Kindertagesförderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Abteilung 2 - Schule und Lehrkräftegewinnung
- Referat 230
- Werderstraße 124
- 19055 Schwerin.
The costs can only be reimbursed once. The claim must be made within three months of starting the employment. Reimbursement is subject to the availability of budget funds.
- Educational qualifications obtained abroad (general)
You can also apply for local teaching jobs without formal recognition, i.e. only with a translation of the certificate/degree obtained abroad. However, both the chances of being hired and the salary grading are significantly better with recognition. Without formal recognition
- your application will only be considered in the last of the four groups and only as a lower priority (Group 4 d),
- this will result in a significantly lower salary (E 10),
- you will be considered to be a lateral entrant who must take part in a Seiteneinstiegsqualifizierung (lateral entry qualification/SEQ) lasting several years. You can find information on lateral entry into the teaching profession here.
This is why it makes sense to have your qualifications recognised. Depending on your qualifications, you have three options for "recognition":
- Certificate evaluation by the ZAB: The certificate evaluation indicates, among other things, the level of the German educational qualification comparable to your foreign university degree (bachelor's, master's degrees) and also provides additional information on the procedures for professional recognition.
- Determination of equivalence with a teaching qualification for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (see below "teacher qualifications obtained abroad").
- Teacher qualifications obtained abroad
Have you trained as a teacher outside Germany and have you completed this training? Then you can submit an application for a determination of equivalence of the qualifications you have obtained in your country of origin with a teaching qualification in accordance with the regulations of the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Please send the following documents by post to:
Ministerium für Bildung und Kindertagesförderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Referat 230,
Werderstraße 124,
19055 Schwerin:- Completed and signed application form (PDF for printing),
- Tabular CV (list of completed training /qualifications and career history) in German,
- Proof of identity,
- Educational qualifications obtained abroad,
- Proof of relevant professional experience and other qualifications,
- A certificate confirming eligibility to practice the profession in the country of training.
If a clear decision is not possible at first, the Ministry may request additional evidence.
The documents referred to in points 4 to 6 must be submitted as originals or officially certified copies. Official certifications can be obtained from public institutions or offices of a city or district, or from notaries. Health insurance companies and parishes, among others, are not authorised to provide these certifications.
Foreign-language documents must be submitted as translations, each accompanied by a copy of the original document obtained abroad (translated by a sworn translator/interpreter in Germany). Translations are only considered if the translator/interpreter had access to the original or an officially certified copy of the foreign-language document.
As translations made abroad will not be accepted, the documents must be translated into German by a publicly appointed and sworn translator in Germany, or the accuracy and completeness of the existing translation must be certified by such a translator. An overview of the publicly appointed and sworn translators in Germany is available at www.justiz-dolmetscher.de.
- Anerkennungsberatung
If you need help with the application process (especially for other professional qualifications), you can contact the relevant advice centre of the IQ Network Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
- Legal framework