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Permission to use the professional title "geriatric nurse" or "geriatric nurse" in the case of professional qualification from third countries Issuance
Service Description
The profession of geriatric nurse is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to work as a geriatric nurse in Germany, you need a state permit. With the permit, you may use the professional title "geriatric nurse" and work in the profession.
Even with a professional qualification from a so-called third country, you can obtain a state permit from the competent authority in Germany. Third countries are all countries that do not belong to the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. To obtain the permit, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognized.
On January 1, 2020, nursing education was reformed in Germany and the new Nursing Profession Act applies. There is a transition period for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications based on the Nursing Care Act. Under certain circumstances, your foreign professional qualification can still be recognized on a transitional basis under the old Nursing Care for the Elderly Act until December 31, 2024. The responsible office will advise you.
In the recognition procedure, the competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks the equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of the state permit.
In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must fulfill other requirements for the issuance of the permit. Further requirements are, for example, sufficient German language skills and health suitability.
If your professional qualification originates from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply.
You can also submit the application for the procedure from abroad.
Process flow
Application
You submit an application for permission to use the professional title "geriatric nurse" to the competent body. You can hand in the application with the documents at the competent office or send it by mail. Do not send originals. Sometimes you can send the application electronically. The competent office will inform you.
Checking the equivalence
The competent body will then check whether you meet all the requirements. One important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a geriatric nurse in accordance with the Nursing Professions Act or the Geriatric Care Act. 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 test
If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The competent body can confirm the result to you in writing. You still have to fulfill the other requirements. Then you will receive permission to use the professional title "geriatric 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 of the state in which you acquired the knowledge, skills or competences.
However, it may be that the essential differences cannot be compensated by your professional experience, knowledge, skills or competences. n this case, the competent authority will tell you the essential differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification and why you cannot compensate these essential differences.
The competent body will also tell you compensatory measures that you can take to make up for the substantial differences. ust in case you decide not to take compensatory measures, your professional qualification will not be recognized. Then you will not be allowed to work as a geriatric nurse in Germany.
Compensatory measures
There are different compensatory 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 examination includes an oral and practical part.
You can choose between an adaptation course or a knowledge test.
If you successfully complete the adjustment course and meet all other requirements, you will receive permission to use the occupational title "geriatric nurse".
Who should I contact?
Please contact the Thuringian State Administration Office.
Requirements
- You have a comparable professional qualification as a geriatric nurse from a third country.
- You want to work in Germany as a geriatric nurse.
- Personal suitability: You are reliable for work as a geriatric nurse and have no criminal record.
- Health suitability: You are mentally and physically able to work as a geriatric nurse.
- You have German language skills at the required level. This is usually language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Which documents are required?
The responsible office will tell you what 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 qualification (for example, certificates, professional certificate)
- Proof of education
- Proof of your relevant work experience in a profession comparable to geriatric care
- Evidence of other relevant knowledge for working as a geriatric nurse
- Information about an application for recognition that has already been submitted. Then indicate the office to which you submitted the application.
- Do you still live or work in a third country, i.e. not in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? Then you may need to prove that you have received a commitment from a health and care facility to work as a nurse in Germany.
You will usually hand in these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when you should hand in 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 inform you which documents you have to submit as a simple copy, as a certified copy or as an 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 have to submit the documents.
Processing duration
Processing Time: 4 MonthsThe competent office will inform you if any documents are missing. If the documents are complete, the procedure takes a maximum of 4 months.
Legal basis
- §§ Sections 40, 43, 58 (2) Nursing Professions Act (PflBG)
- §§ 43 ff. Nursing Professions Training and Examination Ordinance (PflAPrV)
or
- § 66a Paragraph 1 Nursing Professions Act (PflBG)
- in conjunction with. § Sections 1, 2 (3) and 4b of the Nursing Care for the Elderly Act (AltPflG) in the version applicable on December 31, 2019.
- i.V.m. § Section 21 of the Training and Examination Ordinance for the Occupation of Geriatric Nurse (AltPflAPrV) in the version applicable on December 31, 2019.
What else should I know?
Equivalency notice
The equivalence test (recognition procedure) is also carried out during the licensing procedure. You can apply for a separate decision on the result of the examination.
Procedure for late repatriates
As a late repatriate, you can either go through the recognition procedure according to the laws mentioned here or according to the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide this yourself. The competent office will advise you which procedure suits you.
Author
Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
Technically approved by
Thuringian Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health, Women and Family Affairs
Professionally released on
29.03.2023
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6Plus)
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