old post> It’s been almost unheard of, even historically, for a rabbi to need approval by the local government to be a rabbi.
Russian empire had an officially approved position. Due to efforts of R Salanter and others, the policy was for the learnt people not to apply for this position and thus to have a clear separation between real and official Rabbis.
Germany had mechanism of approval for creating a kehilla and, I think, for the Rabbi who they hire.