Germany – Technical Vocational Qualifications Exempt from Assessment

At a glance

Germany has a list of technical vocational qualifications — the Diplom Ingenieur (Berufsakademie) / Diplom Ingenieur (BA) — awarded by specified Berufsakademien that are exempt from NZQA assessment for immigration purposes. These qualifications are assessed at NZQF Level 6 and can receive 40 points under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) when the awarding institution and award date meet the listed conditions [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications].

Definition

A German technical vocational qualification is exempt from NZQA assessment and may be awarded 40 points under the SMC if all of the following conditions are met [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications]:

1. The qualification is listed in the Vocational Qualifications Table below.
2. The awarding institution is listed in the Berufsakademien Table below.
3. The qualification was awarded within the year range shown for that institution.
4. The qualification is not excluded by the notes that follow.

Vocational Qualification

Qualification	NZQF Level	SMC Points
Diplom Ingenieur (Berufsakademie) / Diplom Ingenieur (BA) / DIPL.‑Ingenieur (BA)	6	40

The awarding certificate will generally include the heading “Diplomurkunde” or “Diplom-Urkunde” [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications].

Berufsakademien (Eligible institutions)

Berufsakademie	Qualification awarded between
Berufsakademie Eisenach - Staatliche Studienakademie Thüringen, Eisenach	2002–2008
Berufsakademie Heidenheim, Heidenheim	1982–2008
Berufsakademie Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe	1982–2008
Berufsakademie Lörrach, Lörrach	1984–2008
Berufsakademie Mannheim, Mannheim	1982–2008
Berufsakademie Mosbach, Mosbach	1984–2008
Berufsakademie Ravensburg, Ravensburg	2005–2008
Berufsakademie Sachsen Staatliche Studienakademie Bautzen, Bautzen	1999–2009
Berufsakademie Sachsen Staatliche Studienakademie Dresden, Dresden	1999–2009
Berufsakademie Sachsen Staatliche Studienakademie Glauchau, Glauchau	1999–2009
Berufsakademie Sachsen Staatliche Studienakademie Leipzig, Leipzig	1999–2011
Berufsakademie Sachsen Staatliche Studienakademie Riesa, Riesa	1999–2012
Berufsakademie Stuttgart - Staatliche Studienakademie, Stuttgart	1982–2008

Notes

• Award certificates must be provided in their original language [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications].
• The following qualifications must be referred to NZQA for an International Qualification Assessment [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications]:
  • Listed qualifications where study was completed at any institution outside of Germany, including any overseas campuses of a listed awarding institution.
  • Listed qualifications that contain cross-credited courses or papers.
• If an applicant believes their qualification may be higher than the NZQF Level 6 stated, they should apply to NZQA for an International Qualification Assessment [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications].

Application in decisions

An immigration officer assessing a German technical vocational qualification checks that [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications]:

• the qualification is a Diplom Ingenieur (Berufsakademie) / Diplom Ingenieur (BA) / DIPL.-Ingenieur (BA);
• the awarding institution appears in the Berufsakademien Table and the award date falls within the listed range;
• the qualification was not completed outside Germany or with cross-credited courses (if any of these apply, the qualification is referred to NZQA);
• the award certificate is in the original language (certified translations may be requested).

If all conditions are satisfied, the qualification is exempt from NZQA assessment and is awarded 40 points under the SMC at NZQF Level 6 [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications].

Interpretation & edge cases

• Original language requirement: As with other German qualifications lists, award certificates must be provided in the original language [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications].
• Overseas study or cross‑crediting: All qualifications containing overseas study or cross‑credited courses are excluded from the exemption and must be assessed by NZQA, regardless of the institution [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications].
• Higher level claim: If the applicant contends their Diplom Ingenieur (BA) is equivalent to a higher NZQF level, they should seek an NZQA International Qualification Assessment [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications].
• Relationship to other German exemptions: This exemption covers technical vocational qualifications (Berufsakademie‑granted). Craft and trade qualifications and academic qualifications are assessed under separate lists. An applicant may rely on only one exemption per qualification [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications].
• Effective date: These instructions apply from 28 August 2017 [G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications].

Citations

• G-germany-technical-vocational-qualifications — Germany – Technical Vocational Qualifications