With regard to the sector of vocational recognition, the Zentralstelle is only able to give advice, too. Moreover, foreign students who return to their countries after having studied in Germany can obtain a general description of their respective course of study and the vocational perspectives involved at the Zentralstelle. For some certificates, corresponding agreements were contracted with Austria and France in 1996. This project proved that it is possible to conduct the German final examination with only slight differences but more efforts in another country and another language. Since 1988, the IHK Aachen is conducting a binational examination for skilled workers in the metal industry with the corresponding authority in the Netherlands.
German youths have to pass an examination at a Dutch committee according to Dutch law.
The same goes for Dutch youths. The theoretical parts of the examination are mutually recognised. Following an initiative of the national association and chambers, a trilateral examination is planned as an additional qualification for the education of florists in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. An example for this is the development of a European curriculum in the motor vehicle industry. The initiative for these minimum standards should start out from the economic sector or the social parties.