Many applicants believe they must first get their GCE A-Level recognised in Germany before they can start an Ausbildung. Some even pay middlemen to do it. The reality is simpler, with some important exceptions. For in-company Ausbildung, recognition of your school certificate is generally not required. For school-based training, and above all for nursing (Pflege), it is. Here is how to tell which case you are in, and what to do about it.
In-company Ausbildung: recognition is generally not required
For dual training (in a company, plus classes at the Berufsschule), German law sets no minimum school certificate. The official anabin database, run by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education of the German states (KMK), says so plainly: for dual training such as Kfz-Mechatroniker (automotive mechatronics technician) or Industriekaufmann (industrial business administrator), the law requires no specific prior education.
Companies pick their trainees by their own criteria. Your school record matters, of course. But if a company accepts you with your O-Levels, A-Levels, Probatoire or Bac, it needs no official recognition to sign your contract.
One exception: if a company asks for a specific German school level (for example an equivalent of the Realschule leaving certificate), it may ask you for a certificate of equivalence. Read the job advert carefully and ask before you sign.
What about the visa?
For the training visa (Section 16a), the German Embassy in Yaoundé asks for your school certificates (GCE O-Level and A-Level, or Probatoire and Bac) in the file. It does not ask for a recognition decision for in-company Ausbildung. That is different for people coming to work as skilled workers with a qualification they already hold (Section 18a): for them, an equivalence decision (Gleichwertigkeitsbescheid) is mandatory.
What really counts for the Ausbildung visa is the signed contract, your German level and your funding. It is all on our § 16a visa page.
School-based training and nursing: recognition becomes mandatory
For training that happens entirely in a school (Berufsfachschule, Fachschule), the law often sets an entry level. anabin gives examples such as Altenpfleger (elderly care) or Erzieher (childcare educator). In these cases you need your foreign certificate recognised.
The most important case for Cameroonians is nursing training, Pflegefachfrau or Pflegefachmann. Under the Nursing Professions Act (Section 11 PflBG), entry requires:
- a mittlerer Schulabschluss (the German certificate after 10 years of school, Realschule level) or an equivalent;
- or a Hauptschulabschluss plus at least two years of vocational training (or a one-year care assistant training);
- or another successfully completed ten-year general school education.
So your Cameroonian certificate has to be judged equivalent. One question comes up constantly: does the GCE O-Level, the Probatoire or the BEPC count as a mittlerer Schulabschluss? We found no official table that says so. The state authority decides case by case. Be wary of anyone who guarantees an equivalence before the decision.
For the full nursing route, read our article on nursing Ausbildung in Germany.
Who recognises school certificates in Germany?
There is no single national office. Each German state (Land) has its own certificate recognition office (Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle). Usually, the office of the state where you will live is responsible. The official portal anerkennung-in-deutschland.de has a finder to locate the right office.
Rules vary from state to state. Two examples from official pages:
| Baden-Württemberg | North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) | |
|---|---|---|
| Responsible office | Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart | Bezirksregierung Köln (Year 10 level); Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf (Hochschulreife, university entrance level) |
| Applicant living outside the EU | possible with a provisional training place offer in the state; an application alone is not enough | Düsseldorf: for work purposes, you need a residence or workplace in NRW |
| Fee | EUR 100 per certificate (about 65,600 XAF) | Düsseldorf: free (2023 brochure) |
| Translation | English or French documents usually need none | Düsseldorf: required except for German and English |
| Processing time | several weeks to several months | Düsseldorf: up to one year |
The good news for GCE holders: English documents are accepted without translation in both examples. Francophone certificates may need a translation depending on the state. For certified copies and translations, read our article on Ausbildung documents and translation.
The role of the school or company
For nursing training, the nursing school (Pflegeschule) or the employer can tell you the procedure and the responsible office, because recognition depends on the state where the school is. So start with the contract or the training place offer: without one, several states will not even process an application from someone living abroad.
GCE A-Level and Bac: what they open up in Germany
Your A-Levels or Bac have value even when the Ausbildung does not require them.
- For the training-place search visa (Section 17), you need a certificate that gives access to university, in Germany or in your home country. The GCE A-Level and the Bac meet this condition at home. This visa has other conditions too (under 35, B1 German, blocked account of EUR 1,091 a month in 2026).
- For university study, anabin lists by country which certificates open German universities, in its section “Schulabschlüsse mit Hochschulzugang”. According to unofficial sources, the GCE A-Level and the Cameroonian Bac generally give indirect access through a preparatory year (Studienkolleg). Check anabin and the university itself, since this does not affect the Ausbildung.
To compare both routes, see our requirements page and our article on Ausbildung requirements in 2026.
Already hold a vocational qualification?
If you already have an HND, a BTS, a CAP or a similar diploma, the question changes. You can have this vocational qualification assessed in Germany (professional recognition). If it is judged fully equivalent, you could come to work as a skilled worker (Section 18a) instead of doing an Ausbildung. If it is partly equivalent, you receive a notice listing the gaps to close.
These procedures are long and depend on the occupation. The anerkennung-in-deutschland.de portal shows the responsible body for each occupation. For many young people, Ausbildung remains the most direct route, because it ends with a German qualification recognised across the country.
Preparing your application from Cameroon
If you do need recognition (nursing, school-based training or a company requirement), these are the documents offices ask for most often:
- the application form of the state concerned;
- a copy of your passport;
- your certificates and results slips (GCE O/A-Level with subjects and grades, or Probatoire and Bac);
- a Bildungslebenslauf: an education CV listing every school with years and places;
- certified copies and, if the state requires them, translations by a sworn translator;
- the training contract or offer, if the state requires it for applicants abroad.
Keep your originals, as offices can ask to see them. And start early, because processing times run into months.
At ILC, we help you work out whether your plan needs recognition, and we prepare the documents with you in the right order. A short summary is on our diploma recognition page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GCE A-Level recognised in Germany?
For in-company Ausbildung it does not need official recognition, because the company assesses your background itself. It counts as a university entrance certificate in your home country, which is enough for the Section 17 search visa. For university, check anabin.
Is the GCE O-Level enough for an Ausbildung?
For in-company training, the law sets no specific certificate: the company decides. For nursing, you need a level equivalent to the mittlerer Schulabschluss, and only the state authority can say whether your O-Levels match it.
Do I need my Bac recognised for nursing?
Yes, your school certificate must be judged equivalent under Section 11 PflBG. The state where your nursing school is located decides.
How much does recognition cost?
It depends on the state: for example EUR 100 in Baden-Württemberg, and free in Düsseldorf according to its brochure. Add the cost of certified copies and any translations.
Sources
- anabin (KMK): FAQ on school certificates
- anabin
- Anerkennung in Deutschland
- Section 11 PflBG: entry requirements for nursing training
- German Embassy Yaoundé: training visa (document list)
- German Embassy Yaoundé: employment visa § 18a
- Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf: certificate recognition brochure
- Baden-Württemberg public service: recognition of foreign school certificates
- Make it in Germany: training-place search visa factsheet
Last checked: 19 October 2026.