Work As Nurse In Germany - Regulated By The New Nursing Professions Act

Have you ever contemplated a nursing career in Germany, and wondered what the prerequisites are?
This two-part blog series provides an expansive view of the definitions and requirements for foreign nurses aspiring to work in Germany.

They are based on the German Nursing Professions Act ‘Pflegeberufegesetz’, which came into effect at the beginning of 2020 and governs the vocational training of nursing specialists in Germany.

The German Nursing Professions Act combines the nursing training, which was previously regulated separately in the Geriatric Care Act and the Nursing Care Act, into a generalist training. The aim is to increase the value of the nursing profession and to modernize the training for nursing specialists.

Definitions

a) The Pillars of Nursing - ‘Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann’:

The Nursing Professions Act defines the nursing tasks that must be performed exclusively by trained nursing professionals. Also with the new job title "Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann" the occupations of the geriatric care, the health and nursing care and health and pediatric care have been combined. Going forward, trainees will be enabled to care for people of all ages. In addition, trainees can also opt for a separate vocational qualification in health- and pediatric care or geriatric care.

The concept of the nursing specialist is important for the German social security regulations, when it comes to the question of who is allowed to provide which services. In general, the following three professions belong to the nursing staff:

• Nurse - Official name until 31.12.2019: ‘Gesundheits- und Krankenpfleger/in’

• Pediatric nurse - Official name until 31.12.2019: ‘Gesundheits- und Kinderkrankenpfleger/in’

• Nurse for the elderly - Official name until 31.12.2019: ‘Altenpfleger/in’

Note: At the beginning of 2020, the official job title changed to "Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann" for all three categories. However, the old terms are often still used.

b) Professional Permit ‘Berufserlaubnis’

A state permit is required to practice the nursing profession.

With a degree obtained abroad, permission can only be granted if the training completed abroad has been recognized as equivalent by the competent authority in Germany. In addition, German language skills must be at level B2 (more recently, some federal states require a professional language exam ‘Fachsprachenprüfung‘) in order to receive the nursing certificate (‘Berufserlaubnis’ aka ‘Berufsurkunde‘). If the foreign training is not equivalent, applicants have the choice between completing an adaptation course or taking a knowledge test.

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.

c) Adaptation Course ‘Anpassungslehrgang‘

Adaptation courses are offered in the form of practical training, theoretical instruction or a mixed form at hospitals/nursing homes or in cooperation between hospitals/nursing homes and educational institutions.
The aim is to establish that the applicants have the knowledge required for the exercise of their profession.

d) Knowledge Test ‘Kenntnisprüfung‘

The knowledge test comprises a practical and theoretical examination. The practical examination is usually carried out on the patient and is combined with an examination interview. If the examination is not passed, it can be repeated once.
The knowledge examination must be carried out in the form of a state examination before a state examination board and takes place at a state nursing school.

Visa Application

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 taking the knowledge test ‘Kenntnisprüfung‘.

For degrees obtained in a member state of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, the automatic recognition procedure applies.

For more details, continue reading part 2 of this blog post.

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.