Requirements For Recognition In Germany

In part 1 of this blog post we introduced the regulatory framework set by the new Nursing Professions Act in Germany.

In part 2, we will focus on the requirements to get the professional titles of nurses from third countries recognized in Germany and list the required documents that must be submitted together with the application to the competent authority.

While the exact requirements may vary slightly from federal state to federal state within Germany, the below information will give you a good first overview of the typical requirements and the papers which need to be submitted.

Requirements

The recognition of your title in Germany requires that the training you have received abroad is recognized in your home country and corresponds for the most part with the respective training in Germany.

A corresponding training exists if the training goal and the training content and focus is equivalent to the training for nurses in Germany.

Furthermore, the training must be state-recognized or state-regulated and must enable access to the profession in the country of origin. The recognition of training at private schools that are neither officially recognized nor regulated by the state are therefore excluded from the outset.

If your foreign training is not equivalent or if equivalence can only be established with an unreasonable amount of time or effort, you have the choice between completing an adaptation course or taking a knowledge test (see also part 1 of this article here).

You have the right to choose between the knowledge test and the adaptation course.

Equivalence Of Training

An equivalence of the level of training exists if there are no significant differences in comparison to the German education in health and nursing in terms of duration and content. The German training in health and nursing lasts three years and ends with a state examination.

It consists of theoretical and practical instruction in specialized subjects of at least 2100 hours and practical training in the form of practical assignments in hospitals, outpatient care facilities, stationary care facilities or rehabilitation facilities of at least 2500 hours.

Practical work experience can compensate deficits completely or partially (depending on the duration and actuality of the work experience).

Please note: If the degree was obtained in a member state of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland and the applicant also meets the other job-specific requirements (e.g. language skills, police clearance certificate), the automatic recognition procedure applies according to the Directive 2005/36/EC.

Required Documents

1. Filled in Application Form

2. Evidence of job offer or credible evidence that the profession is to be exercised in the federal state where you submit your application

3. Birth certificate

4. Passport

5. CV in German language with detailed information about school education, vocational training and previous activities

6. Final diploma or certificate of the education in the national language and in German translation

7. If applicable, registration diploma in the national language and in German translation

8. Proof of the training institution of the content and scope of the vocational training completed there, including the final examination in the national language and in German translation. This proof must include the following information:

   • a) duration of the training (from - to)

   • b) Type and extent of the subjects taught (hours per subject, separated into theoretical and practical instruction/exercises). The number of hours per subject should be related to the total duration of training. If the weekly hours per subject are stated in the certificate, it is essential that the number of teaching weeks per school year or semester is also stated.

   • c) Type and extent of practical training (clinical internships). It must be listed in which fields (departments) with which number of hours per field the practical training took place.

9. If applicable, proof of professional activities as a nurse in the national language and in German translation.

10. German language certificate at level B2 (more recently, some federal states require the passed ‘Fachsprachenprüfung‘) to eventually receive the nursing certificate in Germany.

Please note:

Exact requirements may slightly vary from federal state to federal state in Germany.

Costs

The costs for the recognition procedure are set by the authority in the federal state you submit your papers to and range from 150 EUR to 600 EUR. In addition, there will be costs for translations, certifications, visa (if applicable) and travel.

Summary

Nurses from abroad must get their professional title recognized as equivalent by the competent authority in Germany.
If the German authorities deem the foreign training not to be equivalent, applicants can typically fill the gaps by completing an adaptation course or knowledge test. The German language skill of Nurses must be at level B2 (some states now require the passed ‘Fachsprachenprüfung‘) to eventually receive the nursing certificate in Germany.

For degrees obtained in a member state of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, the automatic recognition procedure applies according to the Directive 2005/36/EC.

For more information on the regulatory framework, we would also like to refer you to part 1 of this blog post series.

Contact us at CareME2 if you have further questions or if you are a Nurse, interested in working in Germany.
We can guide you through the regulatory requirements and get you in touch with German employers to receive job offerings.

Disclaimer

CareME2 is not a law firm, hence, it doesn't offer any legal counsel. Rather, the information it provides is purely for general informational purposes. The content on this website is delivered 'as is', without any guarantees of being devoid of errors.