Publisher: Federal Institue for Vocational Education and Training

Funded through the "Integration Through Qualification - IQ" programme with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Federal Employment Agency.
www.recognition-in-germany.de
Materials tester (m/f)
Competent authority in charge of
recognition procedure
Comment to the competent authority
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.
Special regulations apply in the IHK district of Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid. If you work or wish to work in
this district, the responsible authority for your application is the IHK Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid.
IHK FOSA
Ulmenstrae 52g
90443 Nrnberg
Phone: (0911) 815060
Fax: 0911 81506100
E-mail: info@ihk-fosa.de
www.ihk-fosa.de
Industrie- und Handelskammer Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid
Heinrich-Kamp-Platz 2
42103 Wuppertal
Phone: 0202 2490-0
Fax: 0202 2490-899
E-mail: ihk@wuppertal.ihk.de
http://www.wuppertal.ihk24.de
Before submitting an application to the IHK FOSA or to the IHK Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid, 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.
Publisher: Federal Institue for Vocational Education and Training
Funded through the "Integration Through Qualification - IQ" programme with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Federal Employment Agency.
This delivers benefits
G 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.
G 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.
G The assessment notice will assist you in making progress within your occupation.
Information on the procedure
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THEPROCEDURE?
You may apply for a procedure to investigate the equivalence of your vocational qualification if:
G you are able to show that you have completed a vocational qualification which was not obtained in Germany
and
G 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.
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 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.
If you are an ethnic German resettler(an immigrant of German descent from the successor states of the
former Soviet Union and other Eastern European states), you may choose between the new procedure in
accordance with the Vocational Qualifications Assessment Law (BQFG) or the recognition procedure
pursuant to the Federal Expellees Act (BVFG). More information is available here. For details ask your local
Industrie- und Handelskammer (IHK).
WHAT FORM DOES THE PROCEDURE TAKE?
G Your foreign vocational qualification is compared with a German vocational qualification.
G The competent authority examines whether there are significant differences between your foreign vocational
qualification and the German vocational qualification.
G As well as looking at your vocational qualification, it will also consider the occupational practice you have
gained in Germany or abroad.
G The procedure is subject to a charge. The relevant competent authority will provide information regarding
costs.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES?
Publisher: Federal Institue for Vocational Education and Training
Funded through the "Integration Through Qualification - IQ" programme with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Federal Employment Agency.
G If your vocational qualification is recognised as possessing full equivalence, you will enjoy the same rights as
holders of the relevant German reference qualification.
G 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?
G Tabular summary in German of the training courses you have completed including previous occupational
activity if relevant
G Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
G Proof of vocational qualification
G Proof of your relevant occupational experience
G Evidence of other qualifications (e.g. continuing vocational training courses)
G A declaration that you have not previously submitted an application for assessment of equivalence
G 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?
G The competent authority will begin the equivalence assessment procedure when all documents have been
received in completed form.
G 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?
G 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.
G 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 ).
G 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.
G The competent authority may require fees to be paid in advance. Ask your competent authority.
G 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
G Law to assess the equivalency of professional qualifications (BQFG)
Publisher: Federal Institue for Vocational Education and Training
Funded through the "Integration Through Qualification - IQ" programme with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Federal Employment Agency.
Counselling Services
See http://netzwerk-iq.de for a list of guidance services or click on 'Counselling'.
Occupational profile
Fields of work
Materials testers specialising in plastics technology work for companies in the plastics manufacturing sector such
as raw materials producers and compounders, for companies in the plastics processing sector such as producers
of semi-manufactures, parts and products made of plastics and of polymer matrix composite materials and for
downstream companies in the aviation, automobile, railway, shipbuilding, plant construction and energy industries.
Fields of deployment in metallurgy also include institutes, research institutions, technical institutes of higher
education and companies that carry out
materials testing on metallic materials and products.
Materials testers specialising in systems technology work for service sector companies or companies which
conduct tests at changing locations in Germany and abroad. Typical fields of deployment are cross-branch service
companies, companies operating in the chemical and petrochemical industry, vehicle construction companies,
engineering companies, shipbuilding companies, manufacturers and operators of power stations and wind farms,
companies in the aviation and aerospace sector, construction companies and companies that manufacture
materials and product forms.
Materials testers specialising in heat treatment technology work for companies in the metalworking industry such as
hardening shops, plant manufacturing companies, engineering companies, automobile companies, shipbuilding
companies and companies in the aviation and aerospace sector.
Professional experience
In plastics technology:
G Plan, prepare, carry out and evaluate physico-chemical and mechanical and technological investigations and
test series for the purpose of checking the composition, structure and properties of relevant
semi-manufactures to be used or
produced
G Prepare materials samples, carry out destructive, non-destructive and materialographic test procedures
G Determine the physical, chemical and in particular mechanical properties and values of plastics
G Evaluate the results of experimental investigations in connection with the manufacturing process
G Examine semi-manufactures, parts and products, analyse sources of error and stipulate measures to remedy
such errors
G Draw up and document results, evaluate the plausibility of results
G Draw up and present summary reports
G Operate, monitor, maintain and carry out routine repairs to technical apparatus, plants and installations
G Work as part of a team
G Accord due consideration to safety and environmental regulations and quality standards.
Publisher: Federal Institue for Vocational Education and Training
Funded through the "Integration Through Qualification - IQ" programme with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Federal Employment Agency.
In metallurgy:
G Plan, prepare, carry out and evaluate physico-technical investigations and test series for the purpose of
checking the properties, composition and errors of relevant metal materials and products or of metal materials
and products to be manufactured
G Carry out destructive, non-destructive and metallographic and other product-related test procedures according
due consideration to international and national standards and rules and to other testing regulations and
guidelines
G Check, calibrate and maintain testing equipment, measurement devices and tools in order to ensure
functionality
G Prepare materials samples for the metallographic determination of materials properties and structures
G Evaluate the heat treatment capacity of metallic materials and products
G Determine and define necessary heat treatment stipulations for the purpose of achieving characteristic
materials properties
G Draw up, documents and evaluate test results and assess the plausibility of results
G Analyse errors in materials and the possible causes of such errors and develop measures for the avoidance of
errors
G Examine defective parts, determine the cause of error, stipulate subsequent treatment measures and
possibilities for the avoidance of error
G Draw up and present test and work processes and summary test reports
G Work with English language documentation
G Accord due consideration to health and safety at work, health and environmental protection regulations and
quality standards
G Deploy company quality management methods.
In systems technology:
G Check the condition of components installed in plants or technical systems either on site or in production and
maintenance departments using both destructive and non-destructive test procedures
G Plan, organise and coordinate test orders including identification of and compliance with the relevant
standards and regulations applicable to the testing venue, testing plans, company provisions and spatial
circumstances
G Coordinate testing preparations and execution with customers, auditors, test supervisory staff and colleagues
with the aim of integrating the test into operational processes with as little disturbance as possible
G Plan and set up test workplaces including necessary auxiliary equipment and safety precautions according
due consideration to health and safety at work and health protection regulations relevant to the venue and to
company circumstances
G Optimise testing conditions by selecting suitable auxiliary equipment
G Take specific requirements of the procedures and materials into account
G Check, calibrate and maintain testing and auxiliary equipment
G Record, document and analyse test results and characterise indications
G Compare deviations identified and errors with error catalogues and testing standards with defined errors
G Evaluate test results in agreement with the test supervisory staff
G Present and give reasons for test results to test supervisory staff, auditors and customers
G Work as part of a team.
In heat treatment technology:
G Evaluate the heat treatment capacity of steels, cast materials and non-ferrous metals
G Plan and stipulate work and test processes for heat treatment procedures
G Select heat treatment procedures, e.g. hardening, tempering, quenching and drawing, glowing and surface
hardening, with the assistance of technical documentation
G Prepare and carry out heat treatment processes
G Monitor and manage heat treatment processes including subsequent evaluation
G Perform follow-up treatments and authorise heat treatment processes
G Maintain and carry out routine repairs to technical plants and installations Check, calibrate and maintain
testing and auxiliary equipment
G Check materials properties before and after heat treatment using destructive and non-destructive testing
processes, in particular metallographic, mechanical, technological and analytical procedures
G Analyse and evaluate properties and composition of metal materials, identify any errors in materials
G Record, document, evaluate and present test results, work with English-language documentation
G Analyse the causes of error in heat treatment and develop proposals for the avoidance of error
G Investigate and analyse instances of damage to components and develop proposals for the avoidance of error
G Implement quality management stipulations
Publisher: Federal Institue for Vocational Education and Training
Funded through the "Integration Through Qualification - IQ" programme with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Federal Employment Agency.
G Work as part of a team
G Accord due consideration to health and safety at work and environmental protection regulations.