Recog­ni­tion of Pro­fes­sion­al Qual­i­fi­ca­tions in the EU and Worldwide

FAQ Recognition of Professional Qualifications in the EU

Do you have a EU degree and want to work in Germany?

If you have a university degree in architecture, you can work in Germany without further professional recognition, for example, in an architectural office. As a non-EU citizen, you will also need a residence and work permit in Germany.

To use the title “Architect” or “Urban Planner” and to submit construction documents (“Bauvorlageberechtigung”), you must be registered with the Chamber of Architects of the federal state where your workplace is located.

Your degree can be automatically recognized if your study program is notified under the EU Recognition Directive and you also fulfill the requirements of the “Certificate accompanying the evidence of qualifications” (Annex V.7, Column 4).

What if my degree is not listed in the Professional Qualifications Directive?

If your university degree is not listed in the Professional Qualifications Directive (Annex V.7) or if you lack the additional certificate, automatic recognition is not possible. The Chamber of Architects of the federal state where you want to work will then examine your eligibility based on the architectural law applicable in that federal state.

In any case, please contact the respective Chamber of Architects of the federal state where you intend to work.

For more information on the registration requirements in Germany and an overview of contacts in the individual federal states, please visit the online portal “Recognition in Germany”.

Are you a graduate from a third country or do you want to work in a third country?

As a non-EU citizen:

If you have a university degree in architecture (outside the EU) and wish to work in Germany, you can apply for jobs on the labor market and, with a residence and work permit, perform the duties of an architect (e.g., work in an architectural office). However, to use the professional title “Architect” or “Urban Planner” and to submit construction documents, you must be registered with the Chamber of Architects of the federal state where you wish to work. For registration, you need to have your degree evaluated by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). With a degree recognized as equivalent and sufficient professional experience, you can register with the Chamber of Architects.

With a German degree:

If you are a German graduate and wish to work in a non-EU country, you can find information about the professional regulations of various countries in the NAX Country Database (German only). Please also contact the chamber of the country where you wish to work. Contacts to the chambers and relevant foreign professional organizations, such as the Architects’ Council of Europe and the International Union of Architects (UIAUIA Union Internationale des Architectes International Union of Architects), are also available in the NAXNAX Netzwerk Architekturexport Country Database.

Are you an architect with EU citizenship and graduated in the UK?

What does Brexit mean for recognition?

The term Brexit refers to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU). The transition phase ended on 31 December 2020, and since 1 January 2021, a partnership agreement has governed relations between the EU and the United Kingdom. Brexit has legal implications for the recognition of professional qualifications from the United Kingdom.

For professional qualifications that have already been recognised, recognition will remain valid after Brexit. The qualifications covered can be found in Annex V of the Professional Qualifications Directive.

If recognition of a British professional qualification was applied for before 1 January 2021 and a decision has not yet been made, the recognition procedure must continue to be carried out and completed in accordance with EU legislation under the Withdrawal Agreement. More detailed information can be obtained from the competent authority, which can be found in the Profi-Filter.

For applications for recognition submitted after 1 January 2021, the national provisions for professional qualifications from third countries apply. Irrespective of this, the following applies to EU citizens who obtained their qualification in the United Kingdom by 31 December 2020: They can continue to apply for and receive recognition in accordance with the regulations of the EU Professional Recognition Directive.

Under the partnership agreement between the EU and the UKVK Vereinigtes Königreich, professional organisations on both sides can propose simplified recognition procedures for certain professions.

Do you have a German degree and want to work in another EU country?

Automatic Recognition:

Your university degree can be automatically recognized if:

• Your degree is listed as a notified program in the Professional Qualifications Directive (Annex V.7) and
• You can provide the additional certificate listed in column 4 of Annex V.7, which means two years of supervised professional practice.

You can obtain the certificate of completed professional practice from the Chamber of Architects of your federal state.

What happens if my degree is not listed in Annex V.7?

In this case, the registration authority of the respective country will check whether you would be eligible for registration under national rules. They will assess which study contents you may be missing and inform you how to compensate for these to gain national access.

Further information on specific national regulations for practicing the profession can be found in the NAX Country Database (German only).

Are you a foreign architect and only want to work temporarily on a project in Germany?

If you, as a foreign architect, only want to work on projects in Germany temporarily, you should either – if time is of the essence – find a local German partner architect who is authorized to submit building documents and can cooperate with you. Alternatively, you can contact the Chamber of Architects of the federal state where your project is located to be entered into the “List of Foreign Professionals.” This procedure varies depending on the federal state.