Your foreign professional qualification can be recognized upon application. You can also submit the application from abroad. However, you must have the intention to work in Thuringia as a health and nursing assistant. You must document this intention with proof, such as:

• Proof of applying for an entry visa to work or,
• Proof that you have had contact with potential employers.

If you are a national or resident of the EU, the EEA or a state equated by treaty and there are no special reasons against your intention, you do not have to provide proof.

In addition to the professional equivalence of your professional qualification, you must meet further requirements for the acquisition of the permit to hold the professional title of healthcare and nursing assistant:

• personal suitability (police clearance certificate),
• health suitability,
• knowledge of the German language (B2 language level).

Recognition can only be granted if the equivalence of your foreign professional qualification with the corresponding German professional qualification is determined by the competent body. In the procedure, your foreign professional qualification is compared with the German reference qualification. The competent body checks whether there are significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification. In addition to training, your professional experience gained in Germany or abroad as well as knowledge, skills and competencies acquired through lifelong learning may also be taken into account.

If the examination is positive, you will be granted permission to use the occupational title of healthcare and nursing assistant as part of your professional certification. You will be treated legally in the same way as persons with a corresponding German professional qualification.

If significant differences are found between your and the German reference qualification, you have the option of taking an adaptation measure (aptitude test or adaptation course) to compensate for the deficits found. The competent authority will inform you of the deficits identified in its decision. It will also inform you of the reasons why the deficits cannot be compensated by your professional experience or by knowledge, skills and competences acquired through lifelong learning. To compensate for the deficits identified, you can choose between an adaptation course and an aptitude test:

• Adaptationcourse: the adaptation course is a practical post-qualification, which means a course, a seminar or an internship. Often a course or seminar is combined with an internship. The content and duration of the adaptation course depend on the significant differences found between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification. After completing the adaptation course and fulfilling the other above-mentioned requirements, you will receive recognition of your foreign professional qualification from the competent authority and permission to use the professional title of healthcare and nursing assistant.
• Qualifying examination: A qualifying examination is an examination in which your qualification for the profession of a health care and nursing assistant is tested. A qualifying examination is not a new final examination. In the aptitude test, only the deficits identified by the competent authority are tested. The competent authority will make you an offer to take an aptitude test. The date for the aptitude test will be chosen so that you have the opportunity to take it no later than 6 months after your decision to take an aptitude test. If you have passed the aptitude test and fulfilled the other above-mentioned requirements, you will receive permission from the competent authority to use the occupational title of healthcare and nursing assistant.

You can also work as a nursing assistant without formal recognition. However, you will then not be able to use the occupational title of health care assistant and thus not be able to work to the full extent in this field.

As of January 18, 2016, you can also submit your application electronically via the technical systems of the point of single contact.

• Single point of contact
• Central Office for Foreign Education
• Certificate evaluation for foreign university qualifications
• Recognition in Germany" portal