Bundesportal | Nursing Assistant; Applying for Recognition of Foreign Vocational Training

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Publisher

Bavaria

Last update or date of publication

October 5, 2026

The profession of “Nursing Assistant (Geriatric Care)” or “Nursing Assistant (General Nursing)” is not regulated in Bavaria. You may work in this field even without recognition of the equivalence of your foreign qualification.

However, you may only use the title “Nursing Assistant (Geriatric Care)” or “Nursing Assistant (General Nursing)” if the equivalence of your foreign qualification has been recognized.

Please note that applying for professional licensure through this website is only permitted if you intend to work in Bavaria. This is because only then is a Bavarian authority responsible. You must provide appropriate proof of your intended scope of practice (for possible forms of proof and exceptions, see “Required Documents”).

The following documents are required:
- Tabular list of training courses and, if applicable, of previous employment
- Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
- Proof of training acquired abroad
- Proof of relevant professional experience or other proof of qualifications (e.g. further vocational training or retraining certificates)
- Declaration as to whether and to which body an application for determination of equivalence has already been submitted
The application must be accompanied by a digital copy of the documents in German.
Proof of intent to work in Bavaria. The following are acceptable:
- Proof of having contacted potential employers in Bavaria (an application and a response are required)
- Invitation to a job interview with an employer in Bavaria
- Invitation to a work shadowing placement with an employer in Bavaria
- A job offer from an employer in Bavaria
- Employment contract or preliminary employment contract with an employer in Bavaria
- Business plan
- Location note from the Central Service Office for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) with a recommendation for the state of Bavaria
- Certificate of residence registration in Bavaria
Note: For applicants who are nationals of a Member State of the European Union, another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, or Switzerland, this documentation is not required, provided there are no specific reasons to the contrary.

Preconditions

Any person may apply for an equivalency assessment if they

has obtained a training certificate or other professional qualification in nursing assistance abroad and
intends to pursue gainful employment in Bavaria that corresponds to these professional qualifications.

“Proof of training/training certificate” means that the applicant must provide evidence of a vocational qualification obtained abroad.

“Intention to work” means that the applicant must intend to be employed in Bavaria. You must document this intention to the competent authority and, if requested, provide proof of it.

Further information can be found in the fact sheets on the website of the Bavarian State Office for Nursing (see “Further Links”).

The procedure usually costs between 40.00 and 70.00 EUR.

Basis for legal action

Art. 4 ff. Bayerisches Gesetz über die Feststellung der Gleichwertigkeit ausländischer Berufsqualifikationen (Bayerisches Berufsqualifikationsfeststellungsgesetz - BayBQFG)

Legal Remedies

An action may be brought against the decision before the appropriate administrative court.

Procedure

You must apply to the Bavarian State Office for Nursing to have your foreign training as a nursing assistant recognized.

Generally, you will receive confirmation within one month that your application has been received. The letter may also include a list of any missing documents that you will need to submit later.

Once the documents are complete, the office will assess whether there are significant differences between the professional qualification you obtained abroad and the qualification as a “Nursing Assistant (Geriatric Care)” or “Nursing Assistant (Medical Care).” If significant differences exist, these can be offset by other evidence of competence (e.g., continuing education, additional training) or by documented relevant professional experience.

If there are no significant differences, full equivalence will be established in a written decision.

Deadlines

none

Processing time

You will receive confirmation of receipt within one month of submitting the documents.

If all documents are complete, the competent authority must decide on equivalence within three months. This deadline is suspended as long as additional documents are still being requested.

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