Service Finder
Service Description
The profession of healthcare and pediatric nurse is regulated in Germany. This means that you need a state license to work as a healthcare and paediatric nurse in Germany. With the permit, you can use the job title "Gesundheits- und Kinderkrankenpflegerin" or "Gesundheits- und Kinderkrankenpfleger" and work in the profession. You can also apply to use the job title "Gesundheits- und Kinderkrankenpflegerfachperson".
You can also obtain a state permit from the competent authority in Germany with a professional qualification from a so-called third country. Third countries are all countries that do not belong to the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. In order to obtain the permit, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognized.
On January 1, 2020, nursing training in Germany was reformed and the new Nursing Professions Act came into force. There is a transitional period for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications on the basis of the Nursing Act. Your foreign professional qualification may still be recognized under the old Nursing Act on a transitional basis until 31 December 2024. The competent authority will advise you.
In the recognition procedure, the competent authority will compare your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and check the equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of a state license.
You can also dispense with an equivalence test and complete a knowledge test or an adaptation period directly. In this case, the competent authority will not carry out an equivalence test.
In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must also meet other requirements for the permit to be issued. Further requirements include, for example, sufficient German language skills and health suitability.
If your professional qualification comes from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply.
You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.
Process flow
Application
You submit an application to the competent authority for permission to use the professional title "Healthcare and pediatric nurse" or you apply for the professional title "Healthcare and pediatric nurse specialist".
You can submit the application with the documents to the relevant office, send it by post or upload it electronically. Do not send any originals.
Examination of equivalence
The competent body will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent authority will compare your professional qualification with the German professional qualification as a healthcare and pediatric nurse in accordance with the Nursing Act. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification.
You can also dispense with an equivalence test and complete a knowledge test or an adaptation period directly. In this case, the competent authority will not carry out an equivalence test.
Possible results of the equivalence test
If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The competent authority can confirm the result in writing. You must still meet the other requirements. You will then be granted permission to use the professional title "Healthcare and pediatric nurse", "Healthcare and pediatric nurse" or "Healthcare and pediatric nurse".
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 tell you the main differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification and why you cannot compensate for the main 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 healthcare and paediatric nurse in Germany.
Compensatory measures
There are various compensation measures:
- Adaptation course: The adaptation course lasts a maximum of 3 years.
- Knowledge examination: The knowledge examination tests your knowledge in certain subjects and areas. The knowledge test comprises an oral and practical part.
You can choose between an adaptation period or a knowledge test, even if you choose not to take an equivalence test.
If you successfully complete the compensation measure and meet all other requirements, you will receive a license to use the job title "healthcare and paediatric nurse", "healthcare and paediatric nurse" or "healthcare and paediatric nurse".
Who should I contact?
Please contact the Thuringian State Administration Office.
Requirements
- You have a comparable professional qualification as a healthcare and pediatric nurse from a third country.
- You want to work in Germany as a healthcare and pediatric nurse.
- Personal suitability: You are reliable for working as a healthcare and pediatric nurse and have no criminal record.
- Health suitability: You are mentally and physically able to work as a healthcare and pediatric nurse.
- You have German language skills at the required level. This is normally language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Which documents are required?
The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally
- Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
- Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
- Curriculum vitae
- Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
- Proof of training
- Proof of your relevant professional experience in a profession comparable to healthcare and pediatric nursing
- Proof of other relevant knowledge for working as a healthcare and pediatric nurse
- Information about an application for recognition that has already been submitted. Then state the office to which you have submitted the application.
- Proof that you wish to pursue gainful employment in Germany
- Do you still live or work in a third country, i.e. not in the EU, EEA or Switzerland? Then you may need to prove that you have received a letter of acceptance from a health and care institution to work as a care worker in Germany.
You usually submit these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when you should submit the documents:
- Proof of your personal suitability: criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin.
- Proof of your health suitability: Medical certificate.
- Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate
The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit as a simple copy, a certified copy or the original.
What are the fees?
The procedure costs money. The responsible office will inform you about the costs. The costs often depend on the effort required for processing.
The fee range is at least 80.00 Euro to 590.00 Euro.
Additional costs may arise (e.g. for translations, certifications or compensatory measures).
These costs vary individually.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
There is no deadline.
Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you must submit the documents.
Processing duration
Processing Time: 4 MonthsThe responsible office will inform you if any documents are missing. If the documents are complete, the procedure will take a maximum of 4 months.
Legal basis
- §§ Sections 40, 43, 58 (1), 64a (3) of the Nursing Professions Act (Pflegeberufegesetz - PflBG)
- §§ 43 ff. Training and Examination Ordinance for the Nursing Professions (Nursing Professions Training and Examination Ordinance - PflAPrV)
or
- §§ Sections 66a (1), 64a (3) of the Nursing Professions Act (Pflegeberufegesetz - PflBG)
- in conjunction with Sections 1 (1) sentence 1 no. 2, 2 (3) and (5d) of the Nursing Act (KrPflG) in the version applicable on December 31, 2019
- in conjunction with Sections 20b, 20c of the Training and Examination Ordinance for the Nursing Professions (KrPflAPrV) in the version valid on December 31, 2019
What else should I know?
Notification of equivalence
The equivalence check is always carried out during the approval procedure (recognition procedure). You can apply for a separate decision on the result of the assessment.
Procedure for late repatriates
As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either in accordance with the laws mentioned here or in accordance with the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide for yourself. The responsible office will advise you which procedure is right for you.
Further Information
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content per DeepL.
Technically approved by
Federal Ministry of Health
Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
Professionally released on
25.03.2024
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)
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