Many Polish construction industry professionals decide to go to Germany in search of better earnings and more stable employment conditions. However, in the case of technical professions, an important question arises: are Polish construction qualifications valid in Germany and how to legalize them?

Also read: Work for an electrician in Germany – requirements, earnings, offers

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Polish construction qualifications – are they automatically recognized in Germany?


In most cases – Polish construction qualifications are not automatically recognized. Especially in regulated professions, which in Germany require meeting specific technical, safety or training standards.

Important: simply having a Polish SEP certificate, UDT qualifications, operator’s booklet or journeyman’s certificate may not be enough to work in Germany as a qualified technical worker. For many professions, recognition of professional qualifications, i.e. nostrification, is necessary.

Differences between the Polish and German systems – where does the problem come from?


The system of professional education and certification in Poland is based on different standards than in Germany. For example, Polish SEP (Association of Polish Electrical Engineers) qualifications are well-known in the country, but in Germany documentation compliant with VDE standards is expected. The same applies to welding qualifications – having a UDT certificate may be insufficient if it does not meet European standards (e.g. DIN EN ISO 9606).

Additionally, in Germany, great emphasis is placed on the quality of professional training and documentation confirming acquired competences. The employer or state institution that analyzes your qualifications wants to be sure that you have knowledge and skills that meet German technical and legal requirements. Therefore, even if you are an excellent specialist with many years of experience, you may hear that before you start working as an electrician or welder in Germany, you must first undergo the nostrification process.

Polish construction qualifications and nostrification of professional qualifications


Nostrification is a procedure for the official recognition of foreign professional qualifications in a given country. In Germany, it is regulated by the so-called “Act on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications” (German: Anerkennungsgesetz). It allows citizens of the European Union to legally confirm their competences acquired outside Germany.

In practice, this means that you can submit an application to compare your education and experience with the German equivalent of a given profession. After analyzing the documents, the institution considering the application determines whether the qualifications are fully equivalent. It may turn out that it will be necessary to supplement them with additional training, an exam or professional practice.

Which construction professions are regulated and require recognition of qualifications?


In Germany, the following are subject to regulation:


For professions such as painter, construction assistant or manual worker without specialization, recognition of qualifications is not required.

Summary


Polish construction qualifications can open the door to well-paid work in Germany. However, in order to fully use your potential, it is worth taking care of their formal nostrification. Although the procedure may seem complicated, in practice it is often simpler than it seems.

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