Erlaubnis zum Führen der Berufsbezeichnung Pflegefachfrau oder Pflegefachmann bei Berufsqualifikation aus Drittstaaten Erteilung

Would you like to work as a nursing professional in Germany? Then you need a state permit. To obtain the state permit, you must submit an application and have your foreign professional qualification recognized.

The profession of nursing is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to work as a nursing professional in Germany, you need a state permit. With the permit, you can use the job title "nursing professional", "nurse woman" or "nursing professional" and work in the profession.

Even if you have a professional qualification from a so-called third country, you can still obtain state permission from the responsible authority in Germany. Third countries are all countries that are not part of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. To obtain permission, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognized. In the recognition process, the responsible authority generally compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks their equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of state permission.

You can also forgo the equivalence test and complete a knowledge test or an adaptation course directly. In this case, the responsible body will not carry out an equivalence test.

In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must also fulfill other requirements for the permit to be granted.

If your professional qualification comes from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, different rules apply.

You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.

• Application (available online)
• Documents according to leaflet (available online)
• Proof of language proficiency B2/ technical language test (see leaflet)
• Medical certificate (available online)
• Official certificate of good conduct according to § 30 Para. 5 BZRG

• You have successfully completed training as a nursing specialist outside of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and are entitled to work independently as a nursing specialist there.
• You want to work as a nurse in Germany.
• Personal suitability: You are reliable to work as a registered nurse and have no criminal record.
• Medical suitability: You can work mentally and physically as a nurse practitioner.
• You have German language skills at the required language level. This is usually language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

• You submit an application to the responsible authority for permission to use the professional title “nurse” or “nursing specialist”. Or you apply for the professional title “nursing specialist”. You can submit the application and the documents to the responsible authority, send them by post or upload them electronically. Do not send originals.
• The responsible body will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The responsible body will compare your professional qualification with the German professional qualification as a nursing professional. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification.
  • You can also forgo the equivalence test and complete a knowledge test or an adaptation course directly. In this case, the responsible body will not carry out an equivalence test.
• If your foreign professional qualification is equivalent, it will be recognized. The responsible authority can confirm the result to you in writing. You must still meet the other requirements. You will then be permitted to use the professional title of "nursing professional", "nursing specialist" or "nursing specialist".
  • Are there significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? Perhaps you can compensate for the differences with your professional experience, other knowledge, skills or competences (lifelong learning). Knowledge, skills and competences must be certified by an authority in the state in which you acquired the knowledge, skills or competences.
  • However, it may be that the essential differences cannot be compensated for by your professional experience, knowledge, skills or competences. In this case, the responsible body will tell you the essential differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification and why you cannot compensate for these essential differences. The responsible body will also tell you compensatory measures that you can take to compensate for the essential 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 nursing professional in Germany. There are various compensatory measures:
    • Adaptation period: The adaptation period lasts a maximum of three years.
    • Knowledge test: The knowledge test tests your knowledge in certain subjects and areas. The knowledge test includes an oral and practical part.
  • If you successfully complete the compensatory measure and meet all other requirements, you will be permitted to use the professional title “nurse”, “nurse professional” or “nursing specialist”.

• up to 2 months in the accelerated procedure
• up to 4 months in the regular procedure

The permit procedure (recognition procedure) also generally includes an examination of equivalence. You can apply for a separate notice of the result of the examination.

As a late repatriate, you can choose to go through the recognition process according to the laws mentioned here or according to the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide for yourself. The responsible authority will advise you on which process is right for you.

• The nursing profession is regulated in Germany and requires a state permit.
• With this permission, you may use the professional titles “nurse”, “nurse specialist” or “nursing professional”.
• Persons with a professional qualification from a third country can obtain state permission by having their qualification recognized.
• Third countries are all countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland.
• In the recognition process, the foreign qualification is compared with the German one and checked for equivalence.
• The equivalence of professional qualifications is an important prerequisite for the granting of state permission.
• You can avoid the equivalence test by completing a knowledge test or an adaptation period.
• In addition to equivalence, further requirements must be met for the permit to be granted.
• Different rules apply to qualifications from the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
• The application for recognition can also be submitted from abroad.