Professional recognition as nursing specialist
In general, the requirements for training and access for professions in the healthcare sector are uniformly regulated in Germany, as they are regulated professions under federal law. In order to be allowed to work as a nursing specialist, you need to have the professional qualifications acquired abroad be recognized in Germany.
You can get an overview of professional recognition in Germany with the help of the Recognition Finder - Home (anerkennung-in-deutschland.de)
1. German B2 certificate
To be able to work as a nurse in Germany, proof of German language skills is particularly important. A German B2 certificate from a recognized language school (Telc, ÖSD, Goethe) is required for the application for professional recognition.
2. Choose a federal state
Before applying for professional recognition, it is important to choose the federal state where the application will be submitted. You should consider in which federal state you have the best chances of quickly obtaining the professional recognition, as well as where the future employer and place of residence should be. Since the requirements may differ from one state to another, be sure to compare them. For example, in some federal states a confirmation of employment must be submitted beforehand.
3. Translate & certify documents
All important documents should be complete ahead of time and many documents must meet certain requirements (e.g. be officially certified copies; this is an official confirmation that a copy is identical to the original document and is made by a public authority (administrative office) or a notary.
Furthermore, it should be noted that all foreign language documents must be translated into German. The documents must be translated by a translator who is publicly sworn in Germany. It must be recognizable that the translator has made a translation of the original document in the national language.
In addition, the diploma/certificate of medical training and, if applicable, the professional license must be provided with a Hague Apostille.
To apply for professional recognition, the following documents must be translated by a translator who is publicly appointed or sworn in Germany:
Evidence of completed education:
Other:
The following documents require a Hague Apostille:
4. Curriculum Vitae (in German)
A curriculum vitae is also required for the application for professional recognition. It has to be written in German and be comprehensible.
5. Medical clearance
For the issuance of the professional recognition, a medical clearance is also required. This medical clearance needs to show that you are able to exercise the profession from a health point of view.
6. Substantiated legitimate interest in work
Most state offices require proof that you intend to work in the state where you are applying for professional recognition. Depending on the state, the type of proof varies. In some states, you only need to state that you intend to work in the state or prove that you have a permanent residence in the state. In many other federal states, you must have a confirmation of employment or an employment contract.
7. Submit the application for professional recognition
Once all the required documents are complete, they must be mailed to the appropriate state office. Check the documents for completeness beforehand and make sure that you followed the instructions from the relevant state government correctly. The instructions can be found on the website of the respective state government.
8. State office checks the documents
After the documents have been submitted to the relevant state office, the application for professional recognition will be checked. It is also checked whether sufficient language skills are available, at least B2 nursing.
With the help of the equivalence test, your training content is compared with the German qualification standards. If the medical training took place in a Non-EU-country, fundamental differences are often found. However, these deficits can be compensated for with relevant work experience. If the state authority in charge does not assess the equivalence as sufficient, a knowledge test or an adaptation course is required.
9. Knowledge examination
The knowledge test ensures that you have the required knowledge and skills to work as a nurse in Germany. The knowledge examination includes an oral and a practical examination, the contents may differ depending on the federal state. The following content may be included in the exam:
If all steps have been successfully completed and the state office has all the necessary documents, you will receive your German professional certificate as a nurse. Accordingly, you may then use the professional title "Pflegefachkraft" and work as a nurse in Germany.
Do you have any further questions?
Monja Haller Consultant