Staatliche Anerkennung als "Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegerin" oder "Gesundheits- und Krankenpfleger bei Berufsqualifikation aus Drittstaaten beantragen

You have acquired the professional qualification as a nurse abroad and want to work as a specialist in Germany. Since this profession is regulated in Germany, you must have your professional qualification recognised.

The activity of a nurse is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to work in this profession in Germany, you need a state permit. With this permit, you are allowed to use the professional title of the respective profession and work in the profession.

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.

If there are significant differences to German training, these can often be compensated for by an adaptation measure.
In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must also meet other requirements for the issuance of the permit. Other requirements are, for example, sufficient German language skills and health suitability.

You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.
 

• Completed application form
• Proof of identity (e.g. passport or ID card)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed as a result of marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of the content and duration of your training (e.g. Diploma Supplement, Transcript of Records)
• Proof of your professional experience in your profession (e.g. job references)
• Information about an application for recognition that has already been submitted. Then indicate to which office you submitted the application.
• Do you not yet live or work in the EU, EEA or Switzerland? Then you have to prove that you want to work in the profession in Germany. Evidence can be:
  • Job applications and interview invitations
  • Proof of your application for an entry visa for gainful employment
  • Personal statement about your project

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

• Proof of your personal suitability: Certificate of good conduct from Germany or from your country of origin (e.g. extract from the criminal record, Certificate of Good Standing). The documents must not be more than 3 months old at the time of application.
• Proof of your health suitability: medical certificate. The documents must not be more than 3 months old at the time of application.
• Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate

The competent authority will inform you which documents you need to show in the original or hand in as a copy. Some copies must be officially certified. We recommend that you do not send originals by post.

You must submit your documents in German. The translations must be carried out by publicly appointed or authorised translators.

The requirements for a recognition procedure are:

• You want to work in Germany.
• You have obtained a foreign state or state-recognized professional qualification.
• You can prove your professional qualification with a degree certificate.

In any case, state recognition also requires:

• health suitability,
• reliability for the exercise of the profession and
• the knowledge of the German language required for the exercise of the professional activity

The procedure costs money. The competent authority will inform you about the costs. The costs generally depend on the amount of work involved.

To submit an application to the competent authority:

• You can apply online. At a later stage in the recognition procedure, you will need to submit the documents as certified copies.
• You can also send the application by post to the competent authority. Do not send originals!
• You can submit the application with the documents to the competent authority. However, you will need to make an appointment.
• The competent authority will process your application:
• The competent authority receives the application. They will confirm that the application has been received within one month. Once the competent authority has received all the documents from you, it will process your application.
• The competent authority carries out an equivalence test: it compares your professional qualification with the German professional qualification. In doing so, the competent authority will take into account your professional experience, other qualifications and qualifications.
• If the equivalence test is successful, the competent authority will check the other requirements. In this case, you will usually have to prove your German language skills, your personal suitability and your health suitability.
• The equivalence test lasts a maximum of 4 months. At the end, the competent authority will send you a notification with the result.

The competent authority will inform you of the result in a notification:

Result: Recognition

• Your professional qualification and the German professional qualification are equivalent. They also meet all other requirements. Your professional qualification will be recognised. You will be granted permission to use the job title. You will receive a certificate for this. You have the same professional rights as a person with a German professional qualification.

Result: No recognition because the professional qualification is not equivalent.

• There are significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification. You could not compensate for these differences with your professional experience and other knowledge in the profession. Therefore, your professional qualification is not equivalent to the German professional qualification. Your professional qualification will not be recognised.
• If your professional qualification is not equivalent, you can take a compensatory measure. You can use a compensatory measure to compensate for significant differences. Significant differences are listed in your notification.
• There are various compensatory measures:
  • Adaptation period
  • Aptitude test/knowledge test

Result: No recognition because you do not meet all the requirements.

• Your professional qualification is equivalent. But you don't meet all the other requirements for permission to use the job title. You may still need to prove that you are personally suitable or that you have a certain knowledge of German. The competent authority will inform you which evidence is missing.

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. Details on this procedure can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to a counselling centre before filing a lawsuit.
 

The competent authority will confirm that your documents have arrived within one month. The competent authority will inform you if any documents are missing.

If the documents are complete, the examination of the equivalence of the training will take a maximum of 4 months.
 

No later than one month after receipt of your application by the competent authority: The competent authority will inform you of the receipt of the documents. It will let you know if any documents are missing. The procedure starts when the documents are complete.

After 4 months at the latest: You will receive a notification with the result.
 

Counselling centres and other institutions in connection with the immigration of skilled workers and the recognition of training completed abroad can be found at:

Certificate of equivalence

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

Procedure for ethnic German repatriates

As a late repatriate, you can either go through the recognition procedure in accordance with the laws mentioned here or in accordance with the Federal Expellees Act. This is up to you. The competent authority will advise you on which procedure is right for you

It is possible to take legal action before the administrative courts.

• Applying for state recognition as a "nurse" or "nurse with professional qualifications from third countries"
• To work as a nurse in Germany, you need a state permit.
• With the permit, you can legally call yourself a "health and nursing nurse" and work in the profession.
• Even with a professional qualification from a so-called third country, you can obtain a state permit in Germany. Third countries are all countries that do not belong to the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
• As of 1 January 2020, nursing training in Germany was reformed and the Nursing Professions Act applies. The profession on this basis is called "nurse" or "nursing specialist" and is new. There is a transitional period for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications on the basis of the Nursing Act. Until 31.12.2024, foreign professional qualifications may still be recognised as a nurse on a transitional basis.
• The Hessian State Office for Health and Care is responsible

Please contact Department IV3 Nursing Professions of the Hessian State Office for Health and Care.

Since 01.01.2023, the Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP) has been responsible.

• Forms/online services available: Yes
• Written form required: Yes
• Informal application possible: Yes
• Personal appearance required: No