Erlaubnis zum Führen der Berufsbezeichnung Altenpflegerin oder Altenpfleger bei Berufsqualifikation aus EU/EWR/Schweiz Erteilung

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 can use the job title “geriatric nurse” and work in the profession. You can also apply to use the job title “geriatric nurse specialist”.

Even if you have a professional qualification from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can still obtain state permission from the relevant authority in Germany. To obtain permission, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognized.

On January 1, 2020, nursing training was reformed in Germany 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 Elderly Care Act. Your foreign professional qualification may still be temporarily recognized under the old Elderly Care Act until December 31, 2024. The responsible authority will advise you.

During the recognition process, the responsible body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks their equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of state permission.

If your professional qualification does not come from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, different rules apply.

You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.

• Application (available online)
• Documents according to leaflet (available online)
• Proof of language proficiency B2/ technical language test (see leaflet)
• Medical certificate (available online)
• Official certificate of good conduct according to § 30 Para. 5 BZRG

• You have successfully completed training as a geriatric nurse in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and are entitled to work as a self-employed geriatric nurse there.
• You want to work as a geriatric nurse in Germany.
• Personal suitability: You are reliable for work as a geriatric nurse and have no criminal record.
• Medical suitability: You can work mentally and physically as a geriatric nurse.
• You have German language skills at the required language level. This is usually language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

• You submit your application to the responsible office. You can hand in the application and the documents to the responsible office, send it by post or upload it electronically. Do not send originals.
• The responsible authority will check whether you meet all the requirements.
• The responsible body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a geriatric nurse according to the Nursing Professions Act or the Geriatric Care Act.
• If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The responsible authority can confirm the result to you in writing. You must still meet the other requirements. You will then be permitted to use the professional title "geriatric care specialist", "geriatric nurse" or "geriatric nurse".
• Are there significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? Perhaps you can compensate for the differences with your professional experience, other knowledge, skills or competences (lifelong learning). Knowledge, skills and competences must be certified by an authority in the state in which you acquired the knowledge, skills or competences.
• However, it may be the case that the essential differences cannot be compensated for by your professional 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 responsible body will also tell you about compensatory measures you can take to compensate for the significant differences. If you decide not to take any compensatory measures, your professional qualification will not be recognized. You will then not be allowed to work as a geriatric nurse in Germany. 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 test combined with an interview.
• If you successfully complete the compensatory measure and meet all other requirements, you will be permitted to use the professional title “geriatric care specialist”, “geriatric nurse” or “geriatric nurse”.

• up to 2 months in the accelerated procedure
• up to 4 months in the regular procedure

Partial access to the profession for professional qualifications from the EU, EEA or Switzerland:

Your professional qualifications are not equivalent and the differences are too great? Then you may be able to work in the profession with partial professional access. With partial professional access, you can work in the profession even without recognition. There are certain requirements for this. Your professional qualification must include at least one so-called reserved activity of the German professional qualification. Reserved activities may only be carried out by specially trained people. You must also prove that you are personally suitable, medically suitable and have the required knowledge of German. With partial professional access, you may only take on certain tasks as a geriatric nurse. You apply for partial professional access to the responsible authority.

Do you only want to offer services in Germany occasionally and for a short period of time? In this case, you usually do not need a state permit. You must meet the following requirements:

• You must be established in another EU, EEA or Switzerland country.
• You must provide proof of your professional qualifications.
• You must provide evidence of German language skills at the required language level.
• You must prove your personal suitability.
• You must report your activity in writing to the responsible authority.

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

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

• To work as a geriatric nurse in Germany you need a government permit.
• With this permission, you can officially call yourself a “geriatric nurse” or “elderly care professional” and work in this profession.
• You can also obtain state permission in Germany if you have professional qualifications from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
• On January 1, 2020, nursing training was reformed in Germany 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 Elderly Care Act. Until December 31, 2024, foreign professional qualifications can, under certain circumstances, still be recognized on a transitional basis under the old Elderly Care Act.