Apply for recognition as a geriatric nurse with professional qualification from EU/EEA/Switzerland

Application

You submit an application for permission to use the professional title "geriatric nurse" or "geriatric nurse" to the competent authority. You can submit the application with the documents to the competent authority or send it by post. Do not send originals. Sometimes you can also send the application electronically. The competent authority will inform you.
 

Examination of equivalence

The competent authority will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important prerequisite is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent authority 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 recognised. The competent authority can confirm the result to you in writing. You still have to meet the other requirements. Then you will receive permission to use the professional title "geriatric nurse" or "geriatric nurse".

Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? Perhaps you can compensate for the differences with your work experience, other knowledge, skills or competences (lifelong learning). Knowledge, skills and competencies must be certified by an authority of the state in which you acquired the knowledge, skills or competences.

However, the material differences may not be compensated for by your work experience, knowledge, skills or competences. In 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 for these essential differences.

The competent authority will also provide you with 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 recognised. Then you are not allowed to work in Germany as a geriatric nurse.
 

Compensatory measures

There are various compensatory measures:

• Adaptation period: The adaptation period lasts a maximum of 3 years.

• Aptitude test: In the aptitude test, only those areas in which significant differences have been identified are examined. The aptitude test consists of a practical exam that is combined with an exam interview.

As a rule, you can choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test.

If you successfully complete the compensatory measure and meet all other requirements, you will receive permission to use the professional title "geriatric nurse" or "geriatric nurse".

Lower Saxony State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Family - Lüneburg Branch Office

Auf der Hude 2
21339 Lüneburg

• You have a comparable professional qualification as a geriatric nurse from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
• You want to work as a geriatric nurse in Germany.
• Personal suitability: You are reliable for working as a geriatric nurse and have no criminal record.
• Health suitability: You can work mentally and physically as a geriatric nurse.
• You have German language skills at the required language level. This is usually the language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The competent authority will tell you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally:

• Proof of identity (ID card or passport)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of training
• Proof of your relevant professional experience in a profession comparable to geriatric care
• Proof of further relevant knowledge for working as a geriatric nurse
• Information about an application for recognition that has already been submitted. Then indicate to which office 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 have to prove that you have received a commitment from a health and care facility to work as a nurse in Germany.
   

You usually hand in these documents later. The competent authority will inform you when you should hand in the documents:

• Proof of your personal suitability: extract from the criminal record or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin. The proof must be no more than 3 months old at the time of application.
• Proof of your health fitness: Medical certificate. The proof must be no more than 3 months old at the time of application.
• Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate
   

The competent authority will tell you which documents you need to submit as a simple copy, as a certified copy or in the original.

The costs generally depend on the effort required for processing.

In addition, additional costs may arise (e.g. for translations, certifications or compensatory measures such as an adaptation period or an aptitude test). These costs vary from person to person.

There is no deadline.

Sometimes documents are still missing in the procedure. The competent authority will then inform you by when you have to submit the documents.

• §§ 41 (2-7), 43, 58 (2) of the Nursing Professions Act (Nursing Professions Act - PflBG)
• §§ 43, 46, 47, 48 Training and Examination Ordinance for the Nursing Professions (Nursing Professions Training and Examination Ordinance - PflAPrV)

or

• Section 66a (2) of the Nursing Professions Act (Nursing Professions Act - PflBG)
• in conjunction with §§ 1, 2 para. 4-4c Geriatric Care Act (AltPflG) in the version valid on 31 December 2019
• in conjunction with § 21 of the Training and Examination Ordinance for the Profession of Geriatric Nurse (AltPflAPrV) in the version valid on 31 December 2019

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (e.g. file an objection). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to the competent authority before taking legal action against the decision.

Freedom to provide services

Would you like to offer services only sometimes and for a short time in Germany? Then most of the time you don't need the state permit. You must meet these requirements:

• You must be established in another state of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
• You will need to prove your professional qualification.
• You must notify the competent authority of your activity in writing.

The competent authority will inform you whether you are allowed to provide services or whether you have to take an aptitude test.

 
Notice of equivalence

In the approval procedure, the equivalence is also checked (recognition procedure). You can apply for a separate notification for the result of the examination.

Procedure for ethnic German repatriates

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

Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth

Federal Ministry of Health

Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training

08.12.2022

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.