US Equivalency of German Vocational Degree

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Emilypsu86, Jul 15, 2019.

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  1. Emilypsu86

    Emilypsu86 New Member

    Hello,

    My Husband has a German Vocational degree as a Machine Fitter or Maschinenschlosser with 20 years of work experience as a service engineer in the U.S. We are trying to figure out the U.S. equivalency of his degree. I understand there are credentialing companies, however I have read many bad reviews, so it is difficult to choose the best one. I am trying to decide between WES and IERF. I believe IERF might be better option because they consider work experience as a part of education. Does anyone have advice on a good company? We want to know his credential equivalent for future job opportunities as well as possibly completing more education. I know to be official we need to go through a company, however does anyone know how his education might be evaluated?

    Any helpful information is greatly appreciated.
     
  2. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    I used ECE for my MBA evaluation and will always recommend them. All the best!
     
  3. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    I think Maschinenschlosser is not a degree but a vocational qualification.
    How long did he study for it and what is the level of the qualification on the Doiche Qualification Framework DQF, EQF..?
     
  4. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    Even if it is a vocational qualification it could still evaluate as being equivalent to an associates.
     
  5. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    Good point. I can be equivalent to AAS. More details needed in order to evaluate.

    I know I had my German State-certified Technician - Statish Gripen Techniker evaluated by NACES agency as equivalent to US Bachelors of Engineering degree from RA univ.
    It's level 6 on DQF - German Qualification Framework, and EQF European Qualifications Framework.
     
  6. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    A priest from the high school I attended was the first to tell me about degree evaluation woes. Back in the 70s when he came to America from Italy, whichever service did the evaluation basically said that his laurea was worthless. He wanted to pursue a US masters but first needed a school to accept his laurea as at least being equivalent to a Masters. The University of Scranton (huzzah!) finally relented on admission when he presented an evaluation by the Catholic University which did a course by course evaluation and determined his degree was equivalent to a U.S. RA bachelors.

    Much has changed since then. At the same time, in many ways, it hasn't changed all that much.
     
  7. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Having earned a degree in Engineering Technology and worked with people who might be something like a Maschinenschlosser (I admit I don't really know what this means aside from the literal translation), I can imagine this might be something akin to an Associates degree. However, it's also possible that a lot of the Maschinenschlosser training is more in-the-shop-hands-on-training and that it doesn't translate easily into something like "credit hours." I don't know. Then you have to do some sort of portfolio assessment? I don't know. Maybe there's piles of budding maschinenschlossers sitting in classrooms scribbling notes as we speak. I guess that's why the credential assessment services exist. If it's true that an IERF assessment takes work experience into account and that would be an acceptable source then it's probably the way to go.
     
  8. mintaru

    mintaru Active Member

    Yes, it's a vocational qualification. The problem is that it is unassigned to both, the EQF and the GQF/DQR (Deutscher Qualifikations-Rahmen). The reason is simple: It's an old qualification.

    The EQF exists since 2008, and the first version of the GQF was introduced in 2009. The qualification Maschinenschlosser, however, was introduced in 1936 (or in 1937, depending on the source) and it was phased out in 1987. Both, the GQF and EQF do not apply to old qualifications. That fact may result in problems with WES, IERF, and others.

    The new qualification Industriemechaniker ("industrial mechanic") replaced the old Maschinenschlosser qualification. Both qualifications are/were part of the German so-called dual education system. That system combines vocational education at a Berufsschule (vocational school) and apprenticeships in a company in one course. An Industriemechaniker course takes 3 1/2 years and I think a Maschinenschlosser course was the same. Industriemechaniker is at level 4 on GQF and EQF.
     
  9. Steve Levicoff

    Steve Levicoff Well-Known Member

    This is all German to me. And the only German I ever learned when it comes to vocations is from the 1982 Steve Martin movie Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid:

     
  10. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    I think that the evaluators will request official documents, this will include a transcript, etc.
    They have access to archived information about education. The 3.5 years I think includes approved hands-on apprenticeship or 2 years and vocational school with state examinations.
    But as mentioned earlier it may be at the Associate level.
    And not all NACES member evaluation services are equal. It's maybe worth to try a few with additional cost.
     
  11. Marcus Buffler

    Marcus Buffler New Member

    Hello,
    I have similar topic that I need some expertise.
    I have two German vocational degrees, Industriekaufmann and Industriemechaniker für Geräte und Feinwerktechnik. I live and work in the US for the past 14 years and hold a position as Quality Manager. I have acquired several other certifications over the years such as RAB certified Auditor, problem solving, project management and many more.
    I am wondering what the two degrees and my work experience is equivalent to in the US? I am thinking about a evaluation.
    I would appreciate your input. Thanks.
     
  12. Rachel83az

    Rachel83az Well-Known Member

    The equivalent of an Associate's degree is probably the best that you can hope for. Otherwise, you're probably going to get some sort of vocational school certificate. Vocational degrees are not really considered degrees under the American system. The US does have technical schools but you usually have to go on to obtain additional certifications outside of completing the school program. For instance, you can go to school to be a plumber or an electrician but simply going through school doesn't allow you to be a licensed plumber or an electrician. There are certifications you need to take, often on a regular basis.

    If you're hoping for a Bachelor's degree or similar, there are ways to get one relatively quickly and easily but your German degrees and your work experience in the US probably won't help much.
     
    Lerner likes this.
  13. Johann766

    Johann766 Active Member

    A vocational training ain´t an academic "degree" in Germany neither.
     
  14. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    Not so fast. Germany DQR and Europe EQF developed Qualification Frameworks.
    Its role is to increase the transparency of qualifications in light of the huge variety of education systems in Europe.


    If I'm not mistaken Geräte und Feinwerktechnik - certified industrial mechanic would be on the level 5 on DQR and EQF,

    Which is in UK for example would be equivalent to HND - Higher National Diploma.
    This enables one to enroll in a final year of Bachelors degree program in UK universities.

    Some US NACES member evaluation agencies may take in to the account DQR, EQF standards. Especially if the evaluation is for employment purposes.

    German Certified Technicians for example have equivalency Douche and on the European Qualification framework they are at level 6 witch is equated to Bachelors.
    People with Staths Grupen Techniker evaluated as having equivalency to US BS degree by some NACES member agencies.

    See the following document/table
    https://www.dqr.de/media/content/Liste_der_zugeordneten_Qualifikationen_31_03_2014_bf.pdf

    This link is for general info:
    https://www.dqr.de/content_en/2315.php
    https://www.dqr.de/en/2316.php?LANG=ENG&PID=5#qs-result
     

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