Application
You apply to the competent authority for permission to use the professional title "Pflegefachfrau" or "Pflegefachmann". Or you can apply for the professional title "Pflegefachperson".
You can submit the application with the documents to the competent authority, send it by post or upload it electronically. Do not send any originals.
Examination of the application by the authority
The competent authority will check whether you meet all the requirements for being granted permission to use the professional title "Pflegefachperson", "Pflegefachfrau" or "Pflegefachmann". One requirement is that your professional qualification is recognized.
Automatic recognition
As a rule, the automatic recognition procedure applies if you began your professional training after your country of training joined the EU/EEA. There are other cases in which your professional qualification can be recognized automatically. The competent authority will inform you.
In the case of automatic recognition, the equivalence of your professional qualification is not checked individually. This means that if you meet all other requirements, you will receive permission to use the professional title "Pflegefachperson", "Pflegefachfrau" or "Pflegefachmann". The other requirements include your health suitability, reliability and German language skills.
Certificate of conformity for professional qualifications acquired before the country of training joined the EU/EEA
Vocational qualifications can also be automatically recognized if they were started before the EU/EEA accession of your country of training (or do not correspond to the legal designations). To do this, you must submit a certificate from the competent authority in your country of training stating that your professional qualification meets the minimum EU standards ("certificate of conformity"). If your professional qualification does not meet the minimum standards, you must provide proof of your professional experience. You must have worked as a nurse responsible for general care in your country of origin for 3 consecutive years in the 5 years prior to submitting your application. This must be confirmed by the authorities in your country of origin.
Examination of equivalence
If your professional qualification is not automatically recognized, the competent authority will check the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent authority will compare your professional qualification with the German professional qualification as a nurse. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification.
Possible results of the equivalence assessment
If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The competent authority can confirm the result to you in writing. You must still fulfill the other requirements. You will then receive permission to use the professional title "Pflegefachperson", "Pflegefachfrau" or "Pflegefachmann".
Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? You may be able to compensate for the differences through your professional experience, other knowledge, skills or competencies (lifelong learning). Knowledge, skills and competences must be certified by an authority in the country in which you acquired the knowledge, skills or competences.
However, it may be that the significant differences cannot be compensated for by your professional experience, knowledge, skills or competences. In this case, the competent authority will inform you of the significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification and why you cannot compensate for these significant differences.
The competent authority will also inform you of compensatory measures that you can take to compensate for the significant differences.
If you decide not to take compensatory measures, your professional qualification will not be recognized and you will not be allowed to work as a nurse in Germany.
Compensatory measures
There are various compensatory measures:
- Adaptation course: The adaptation course lasts a maximum of 3 years.
- Aptitude test: In the aptitude test, only those areas in which significant differences have been identified are tested. The aptitude test consists of a practical examination combined with an interview.
As a rule, you can choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test.
If you successfully complete the compensation measure and meet all other requirements, you will receive permission to use the professional title "Pflegefachperson", "Pflegefachfrau" or "Pflegefachmann".
