Anerkennung als Altenpflegerin oder Altenpfleger mit Berufsqualifikation aus EU/EWR/Schweiz beantragen

The activity of a geriatric nurse is regulated in Germany. This means that in order for you to be allowed to use the required professional title "geriatric nurse" in Germany, you need a state permit.

With this permit, you can work in institutions for the elderly without restrictions.

Even if you have a professional qualification from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can obtain state permission from the competent body (an authority) in Germany.

In order to obtain the permit, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognised.
In the recognition procedure, the competent authority compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks its equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the issuance of the state permit.
 
In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must meet other requirements for the full recognition of your professional qualification.

If your professional qualification is not from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, the procedure is different.

You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.

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

• Proof of identity (ID card or passport)
• Curriculum vitae in German in tabular form with your education and professional activities
• Officially certified copy of your proof of education
• Proof of your relevant professional experience as a geriatric nurse
• Proof of other relevant knowledge for working as a geriatric nurse
• Extract from the criminal record or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin as proof of your reliability (this proof must be no more than 3 months old at the time of application)
• Medical certificate of your health (This certificate must be no more than 3 months old at the time of application. The proof can be from an authority in your country of training.)  

The competent authority will inform you which documents you need to submit in the original or as a copy.

If your documents are not in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. Translations must be carried out by translators who are publicly appointed or authorised.

• You have a professional qualification as a geriatric nurse from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
• They are suitable for health. (This means that you can work mentally and physically as a geriatric nurse.)
• You are reliable to work as a geriatric nurse and have no criminal record.
• You have the necessary knowledge of German for the job. This is usually language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Equivalence test

You submit an application to the competent authority for permission to use the professional title "geriatric nurse". The competent authority will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important prerequisite is the professional qualification. The competent authority compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a geriatric nurse. The competent authority will check whether your professional qualification is equivalent. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

Possible results of the exam

If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognised. The authority can confirm the result to you in writing. You still have to meet the other requirements and prove your language skills. Then you will receive permission to use the professional title of "geriatric nurse" or "geriatric nurse".

If the competent authority identifies significant differences, you can compensate for the differences through your professional practice and other knowledge and skills (lifelong learning). You must provide proof of professional experience. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority in your country of origin.

However, it may be the case that this knowledge is not sufficient. You will not be able to compensate for the essential differences. In this case, your foreign professional qualification will not be recognised.

However, the competent authority will tell you the main differences and why you cannot compensate for the significant differences through your professional practice. You are then not allowed to work as a geriatric nurse. However, the competent authority will offer you the opportunity to complete an adaptation period or to take an aptitude test.

Adaptation period or aptitude test

If your professional qualification is not equivalent, you can choose between an aptitude test and a maximum three-year adaptation period. The aptitude test refers to the main differences in your professional qualifications. If you complete the adaptation period or pass the aptitude test (and meet all other requirements), you will be granted permission to use the professional title of "geriatric nurse".

The competent authority will confirm that your documents have arrived after a maximum of one month. The competent authority will inform you if any documents are missing.

If the documents are complete, the procedure will take a maximum of 4 months.

None.

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

• Freedom to provide services
  If you only want to work temporarily and occasionally as a self-employed service provider in Germany, you do not need a state permit to use the professional title. However, there are special requirements: you must report your work to the competent authority before the first job. The competent authority will inform you in detail about the procedure
• Certificate of equivalence
  In the authorisation procedure, the equivalence is also checked (recognition procedure). You can apply for a separate decision for the result of the examination.
• Electronic application
  You can also submit your application electronically. Applications can be submitted directly to the competent authority. You can also submit the request to the Point of Single Contact. The Point of Single Contact will help you and forward the application to the competent body that carries out the recognition procedure.
• Procedure for ethnic German repatriates
  As a late repatriate, you can either go through the recognition procedure according to the law mentioned here or according to the Federal Expellees Act. This is up to you. Your competent authority will advise you on this.

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. The decision will then be reviewed. Details on this 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.

• In Germany, you need a state permit to use the professional title "geriatric nurse" or "geriatric nurse".
• With the permit, you can officially call yourself a "geriatric nurse" or "geriatric nurse" and work in the profession without restriction.
• Even with professional qualifications from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can obtain a state permit in Germany.